Portsmouth darkwave outfit Magnetic Skies to play Southampton show
As their sophomore album Fragments approaches, acclaimed Portsmouth band Magnetic Skies take to the road for their first ever UK headline tour, with a show just down the road in Southampton on Wednesday 12th November at Heartbreakers.
Initially setting out as a duo in 2019, Magnetic Skies was born as a studio-based project created by lead vocalist and keys player Simon Kent and Jo Womar also on keys, driven by a shared love of 80s synth-driven post-punk.
They began building their sound and continually released EPs throughout 2020, using pulsing, vintage analogue synths and pumping bass to create a signature sound of evocative electronica mixed with darkwave - classic yet delightfully futuristic all at once.
Eventually, the band created their long awaited full-length album Empire Falling, released in late 2023 to praise for their fusion of darkwave and synthpop to create something familiar yet fresh. Voicing their support online were the likes of Louder Than War, God Is In The TV, When The Horn Blows, and Backseat Mafia, alongside press titles such as Electronic Sound, Classic Pop, Computer Music, MusicRadar and Blitzed Magazine.
On 7th November, Magnetic Skies will release the follow-up effort - entitled Fragments, it picks up where the debut left off and runs with it, attempting to make sense of the deep-set cracks in today’s world and set against a dramatic landscape of analogue electronics and soaring vocals.
Speaking about the album, frontman Simon Kent explains, ‘“Fragments” reflects a fractured, fast-moving world where identity, intimacy, and meaning are increasingly elusive; life, memory, relationships, and reality are broken into pieces, and each track is trying to gather those pieces into something coherent and meaningful. There’s a yearning for reconnection, with moments of clarity, love, and transcendence to offer salvation.’
Over the years, the band have opened sold-out shows for the likes of Altered Images, Heaven 17, Empathy Test and Then Jerico. November 2025 marks the first time Magnetic Skies will embark on a headline tour of their own.
‘We’re really excited to play our first headline tour, especially in smaller, more intimate venues where we can truly connect with people,’ Kent says.‘Our goal is to create an immersive, almost cinematic atmosphere that draws the audience into the world of the album. We’ve spent a lot of time shaping the sound and visuals to reflect the mood of Fragments, so hopefully each show feels like a complete experience, not just a gig.’
Magnetic Skies will be playing live across the UK throughout November. Tickets are on sale now, purchase your tickets here.
Wednesday 5th November – The Victoria, Birmingham
Thursday 6th November – The Grace, London
Wednesday 12th November – Heartbreakers, Southampton
Wednesday 19th November – The Hug & Pint, Glasgow
The new Magnetic Skies album Fragments is available for pre-save.