Executive Overview
In an era defined by hyper-connectivity yet profound interpersonal isolation, the boundary between being digitally linked and genuinely understood has never felt more fragile. Enter This Is The Kit, the critically acclaimed musical project spearheaded by Paris-based singer-songwriter and banjolele virtuoso Kate Stables. Known for her deft lyricism, mesmerizing folk arrangements, and idiosyncratic rhythmic phrasing, Stables is returning with one of her most ambitious and collaborative bodies of work to date: her forthcoming studio album, Ghost Coat.
Slated for official release on January 15, 2027, via Memphis Industries, Ghost Coat arrives as a timely meditation on modern existence. The record interrogates pressing contemporary motifs—chief among them the psychological tolls of overconsumption, the heavy weight of solitude, and a deep-seated yearning for authentic human connection. Yet, rather than wallowing in isolation, Stables counters these modern anxieties with a radical communal spirit. The album features a glittering roster of guest vocalists and instrumentalists, including avant-folk luminary Richard Dawson, American songwriter Sam Amidon, guitar-wielding brothers Valentin and Marceau Portron of Portron Portron Lopez, and Emma Broughton (widely known as Blumi).
The announcement of Ghost Coat is accompanied by the release of its lead single, “Safety Valve,” a track that encapsulates the album’s thematic core: friendship, mutual aid, and the quiet grace of being truly heard. To celebrate the album’s rollout, This Is The Kit has also unveiled a massive, sweeping touring itinerary encompassing extensive live dates across the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe throughout late 2026 and 2027, alongside an extensive run of intimate UK solo instore performances.
Detailed Chronology: The Evolution of Ghost Coat
To understand the weight of Ghost Coat, one must trace the artistic trajectory of Kate Stables and her rotating cast of musical compatriots. Operating under the moniker This Is The Kit, Stables has spent over a decade quietly cementing her status as one of indie-folk’s most vital and singular voices. Her previous records have been widely praised for their intricate acoustic textures, brass-infused flourishes, and Stables’ distinctively soothing, narrative-driven vocal delivery.
However, the genesis of Ghost Coat marks a distinct departure in terms of collaborative scale. While writing the album, Stables found herself heavily preoccupied with the physical and emotional geometry of home. Living in Paris while maintaining a nomadic touring lifestyle, she began to question traditional definitions of domesticity and belonging.
Rather than working in isolation, Stables made a deliberate artistic choice to open the doors of her creative process to trusted peers. The recording sessions evolved into a communal summit of contemporary folk and experimental artists. By bringing in luminaries such as Richard Dawson and Sam Amidon, Stables ensured that Ghost Coat would not simply be a collection of solo compositions, but a shared dialogue.
The rollout culminates on January 15, 2027, with the release of the album on Memphis Industries. Leading up to this date, Stables will embark on a whirlwind series of solo instore appearances across independent record shops in the UK—starting at Margate’s Vinyl Store Jr on January 13, 2027, and winding through Kingston, Brighton, Oxford, Leeds, and Edinburgh, before culminating at London’s Rough Trade East on January 28. Immediately following, the full band will take to the road, launching their extensive international tour circuit with a landmark performance at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival on January 26, 2027.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Themes of Solitude, Consumption, and Community
The cultural landscape of the mid-2020s heavily informs the lyrical architecture of Ghost Coat. Sociologists and cultural critics have extensively documented the "loneliness epidemic," a modern phenomenon where digital abundance correlates with unprecedented levels of emotional isolation. Stables captures this paradox on the new record, examining how human beings navigate a world saturated by overconsumption yet starved of meaningful tactile experiences.
Furthermore, the album wrestles with the complex emotion of homesickness—not merely in a geographical sense, but existentially. For an artist who spends significant portions of the year traversing international borders, the concept of "home" undergoes a radical metamorphosis. It ceases to be a permanent physical structure and transforms into something relational.
This thematic focus is physically mirrored in the album’s production. Stables deliberately structured the recording sessions to highlight the unique timbres of her collaborators. In an era where digital vocal production often aims for hyper-processed uniformity, Ghost Coat leans in the opposite direction. It celebrates the idiosyncratic cracks, breaths, and raw emotional resonance of individual human voices. When asked about this approach, Stables noted the profound physiological impact that hearing a familiar voice can have on a listener—capable of inducing deep emotional catharsis or sudden, overwhelming joy.
Official Statements & Direct Perspectives
The artistic vision behind Ghost Coat and its lead single is best articulated through the reflections of Kate Stables herself. Discussing the collaborative spirit that permeates the record, the bandleader sheds light on her intentionality:
"I was really keen to not only ask people to sing on the album, but to make sure that you can hear their individual voices. When you hear the voice of someone that means a lot to you, it can destroy you (in a good way) or can make you feel amazing. It makes me happy hearing all the voices, especially because of the themes of friendship."
Elaborating specifically on the lead single, “Safety Valve,” Stables frames the track as a tribute to interpersonal rescue networks and everyday self-care:
"This is a song dedicated to friends who come to your rescue. A helping hand. Someone who listens and doesn’t judge. And getting out on your bike and feeling better."
Expanding upon the broader existential questions that dictated the album’s conceptual framework, Stables reflects on her evolving relationship with the idea of home:
"I was interested in exploring our relationship with home. Where home is, or was, where we come from, where we’re going. Sometimes it’s just where you put your bag down, especially for someone who travels a lot. Maybe it’s less to do with a place, and more who you’re with—people that make you feel like you’re at home."
To accompany the release of "Safety Valve," the band also shared a striking live performance video filmed at Bedford Esquires, directed by the visionary duo Lemon Thief (Narna Hue & Tom Jacob). The stripped-back, authentic visual framing of the session underscores the organic, unvarnished ethos of the music.
Future Outlook: Comprehensive Tour Itinerary & Live Dates
As anticipation builds for the arrival of Ghost Coat, fans worldwide will have ample opportunity to experience these new compositions in a live setting. The schedule includes intimate solo instore performances, major festival appearances, and extensive club and theatre tours spanning the UK, Europe, and North America.
Kate Stables Solo Instore Tour Dates (2027)
- Jan 13: Margate – Vinyl Store Jr @ WhereElse (7:00 PM)
- Jan 14: Kingston – Banquet @ All Saints Church (7:00 PM)
- Jan 15: Southsea – Pie and Vinyl (1:00 PM)
- Jan 15: Brighton – Resident (6:00 PM)
- Jan 16: Letchworth – Davids (Lunchtime instore)
- Jan 16: Oxford – Truck
- Jan 17: Huddersfield – Vinyl Tap (Lunchtime instore)
- Jan 17: Hull – Crash @ The New Adelphi
- Jan 18: Bury – Wax and Beans
- Jan 19: Leeds – Jumbo
- Jan 20: Nottingham – Rough Trade
- Jan 21: Southampton – Vinilo
- Jan 22: Marlborough – Sound Knowledge @ St. Peter’s
- Jan 25: Edinburgh – Assai
- Jan 28: London – Rough Trade East
This Is The Kit Full Band Tour Dates (2026–2027)
2026
- Nov 20: Geneva, CH – Les Créatives @ Salle Grand-Salève
- Nov 21: Vienna, AT – Bluebird Festival
- Dec 13: Bruges, BE – Duyster Festival @ Cactus
2027: UK, Ireland & European Leg (Spring & Autumn)
- Jan 26: Glasgow, UK – Celtic Connections @ Fruitmarket
- Jan 30: Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon
- Mar 10: Sheffield, UK – Crookes Social Club
- Mar 11: Gateshead, UK – The Glasshouse
- Mar 12: Liverpool, UK – Hangar34
- Mar 13: Coventry, UK – Coventry Central Library
- Mar 14: Cambridge, UK – Junction 1
- Apr 24: Zurich, CH – Bogen F
- Apr 25: Basel, CH – Kuppel
- Apr 28: Heidelberg, DE – Karlstorbahnhof
- Apr 29: Berlin, DE – Frannz Club
- May 01: Copenhagen, DK – Vega
- May 02: Hamburg, DE – Knust
- May 04: Paris, FR – Maroquinerie
- May 06: Antwerp, BE – De Roma
- May 07: Amsterdam, NL – Tolhuistuin
- Sep 24: Dublin, IE – Button Factory
- Sep 25: Galway, IE – Roisin Dubh
- Sep 26: Cork, IE – Live at St Luke’s
- Sep 28: Cardiff, UK – Tramshed
- Sep 29: Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
- Oct 01: Manchester, UK – New Century Hall
- Oct 03: Birmingham, UK – The Crossing
- Oct 07: London, UK – Roundhouse
2027: North American Spring Tour
- Mar 23: Kingston, NY, US – Tubby’s
- Mar 24: New York, NY, US – Le Poisson Rouge
- Mar 25: Somerville, MA, US – Warehouse XI
- Mar 26: Burlington, VT, US – Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
- Mar 27: Montreal, QC, CA – Théâtre Fairmount
- Mar 29: Toronto, ON, CA – The Garrison
- Mar 30: Ann Arbor, MI, US – The Ark
- Apr 01–03: Knoxville, TN, US – Big Ears Festival
- Apr 04: Minneapolis, MN, US – Turf Club
- Apr 06: Stoughton, WI, US – Stoughton Opera House
- Apr 07: Chicago, IL, US – Constellation
- Apr 09: Pittsburgh, PA, US – The Warhol Theater
- Apr 10: Washington, DC, US – Songbyrd
- Apr 11: Philadelphia, PA, US – Johnny Brenda’s
Ghost Coat is available for pre-order and pre-saving now via Memphis Industries.
