New Stereophonics music on way, says Kelly Jones

Kelly Jones's latest project is Far From Saints - a musical collaboration with Texan musicians Patty Lyn and Dwight Baker

New music from Stereophonics will be out in 2024, frontman Kelly Jones has confirmed.

He says we can also expect another solo album from him - as well as possibly more recordings with his latest collaboration, Far From Saints.

It comes as that band embark on their first UK tour, on the back of a top five album.

"I've been enjoying bouncing from project to project," said Jones.

"I've been very committed to the Stereophonics thing for like 26-27 years, and it's been nice to do other things and it only reignites the other things anyway."

Far From Saints brings Jones together with Texan vocalist Patty Lyn and musician Dwight Baker, who perform as The Wind and the Wave.

They started collaborating while supporting Jones on a solo tour in the US in 2019.

"It gave us something to do in the day and not to worry about the show in the night," said Jones.

"One thing led to another and we recorded it."

It took them just nine days to finish the album, but then the Covid pandemic happened, and the recordings sat unreleased until this summer.

As well as top five in the UK album charts, their eponymous album also made it to number one in both Americana and Country album charts.

Patty Lyn, who takes many of the lead vocals and duets throughout with Jones, described the album as "a very happy accident".

"It was a unique experience, it's organic, it just happened, " she said as they prepared to take to the stage in Llandudno, Conwy county, for the first of three dates in Jones's homeland.

Jones' Far From Saints has embarked on a 20-date tour of the UK, culminating at the Utilita Arena (formerly Motorpoint) in Cardiff on 7 December

The focus of the 20-date tour is in more intimate venues rather than massive stadiums, finishing in Cardiff.

Originally, it was supposed to be at St David's Hall, but it was closed due to issues with Raac concrete, forcing a switch to the Utilita Arena (formerly Motorpoint).

"We got together playing theatres, when I was doing my solo tour. I like playing theatres," said Jones.

The Cardiff finale on 7 December is one of the few that still has tickets available for new fans, with most of the other shows selling out.

Jones said he would then be looking towards the new year, and new projects, and revealed Stereophonics have already recorded new material.

"We've done some new songs, we're going to be bringing them out next year. We were mixing them just last week actually, so, yeah we've been doing bits and pieces."

Jones said he hoped the releases would be out after next summer and then it would be time for the Stereophonics machine "rolling again".

"I made a record for myself last April, and that may come out in the spring," he added.

More Stereophonics in 2024? It is time to get the band machine "rolling" says Kelly Jones

Jones said he and the rest of Far From Saints were also trying to pin down getting back into the studio again to record more material together.

It comes as Jones looks forward to a special birthday in 2024, when he will turn 50.

"Someone once said you leave with one bag at 21 and when you're a bit older you look around and you have a lot more bags," reflected Jones.

"I've got a lot more bags these day, and I don't mean physically - I mean metaphorically - bags and baggage."

Far From Saints bandmate Dwight Baker chipped in: "There's a lyric in that somewhere."

"Yeah," nodded Jones.