The Maccabees will either split up or make new music and become a “functioning band” again in 2026.
The Toothpaste Kisses band announced plans to disband in 2016, before performing a series of farewell gigs the following year.
However, they reunited in 2024 and returned to the stage this year, including headlining All Points East and playing Glastonbury.
Guitarist Felix White has now admitted that their shows next year – which they are yet to announce – will be the decider for whether they continue as a band and hit the studio again for their first new music since their 2015 LP Marks to Prove It.
The Whatever will be, will be: A Matter of Life and Football author told the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year Award: “After we played at Glastonbury and All Points East this year, we thought that might just be it, but everyone had such a good time. It felt so euphoric, so why wouldn’t we want to do that again!”
Asked if a follow-up to Marks To Prove It is on the cards, he replied: “The answer is, we don’t know.
“Having those shows in next year means we’ve got enough time to think about it and see which way it’s going to go. If The Maccabees keep going beyond that point, we’d want to feel like a functioning band that are making music and are there for a reason.”
He insisted the dates “will either be the last Maccabees shows, or we’ll try and make some music and see where it goes.”
Felix admitted it’s been challenging juggling the group’s activities with his other work commitments.
White added: “I’ve found it really hard to juggle all the things I’ve been doing over the past year or so. When The Maccabees was the only thing in my life, I had to dedicate a large chunk of time to it in order for it to work.
“I didn’t really have the space to even consider it this year, but it’s starting to clear now. As long as I don’t get too good an idea for another sports book, it’ll more likely, but we’ll see what happens!”
The musician admits that he needs to take a break and figure out “what’s next for me creatively”.
He explained: “I haven’t got another book in my mind at the moment.
“I’ve had a really mad year where I was doing a film score, writing my book around the FA Cup, playing in The Maccabees, doing the Tailenders podcast and then Jimmy [Anderson] and I went on tour!
“So, I’m just going to have a couple of months of stopping and working out what’s next for me creatively.”