The Coral release surprise album with video for ‘Let The Music Play’

On May 21, 2026

The Coral release surprise thirteenth album: 388

Video revealed for Let The Music Play

The Coral release surprise album with video for 'Let The Music Play'

Recorded in two weeks and inspired by Rocksteady, vocal groups of the early 60s, Ethiopiques compilations and “the highs, lows, births and deaths of the last three decades” 11-tracks bring the band back to the essence of being The Coral

★★★★ – MOJO Magazine 9/10 – UNCUT
★★★★ – Record Collector ★★★★ – Classic Pop

The Coral – 388 – the new album OUT NOW on Run On Records
Standard & Coloured Vinyl, CD, Digital
https://thecoral.co.uk/

** LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE **

** CLICK FOR LET THE MUSIC PLAY VIDEO HERE **

Two weeks after being released under the cover of a physical format only distribution, quietly stocked on independent record shop shelves, The Coral officially release their thirteenth studio album with a video for new single, Let The Music Play. Responding to rumour, the band officially releases 388 to the wider world via high street music stockists nationwide and digital shop windows today.

Singer and songwriter, James Skelly, says of the single: “The recording is an ode to the sound of cassette tapes by The Wailers and Lee Scratch Perry that we used to buy in second hand shops, Poundland and car boot sales. The song itself is us trying to make sense of the world but arriving at the fact that only music will ever make sense.”

TO READ THE CORAL’S FULL 388 STORY CLICK HERE

Image (c) John Johnson

Hitting the UK Official Album Chart Top Five with their last album, 2023’s Sea Of Mirrors, The Coral also hit the road on a run of festival dates this summer, opening with Southampton’s Summer Sessions on Fri 12 June 2026. All of the band’s imminent live appearances are confirmed as follows:

Fri 12 June: Southampton, Southampton Summer Sessions w/Amy MacDonald
Thu 18 June: Halifax, The Piece Hall w/Amy MacDonald
Sat 27 – Sun 28 June: Chelmsford, State Fayre 2026
Sun 12 July: Walton-on-Thames, The Electric Heart Festival
Sat 18 – Sun 19 July: Birkenhead, We Are Wirral 2026
Fri 24 July: Sheffield, Tramlines Festival
Thu 23 – Sun 26 July: Wadebridge, Rock Oyster Festival
Fri 31 July: Kendal, Kendal Calling
Fri 21 Aug: Trentham, Trentham Live w/Madness
Fri 28 Aug: Southsea, Victorious Festival 2026
Sat 29 Aug: Manchester, Wythenshawe Park w/Courteeners
Sun 30 Aug: Kingham, Big Feastival

Tickets for all upcoming shows, as well as orders for 388 on all available formats plus special album merchandise, can be found via links at www.thecoral.co.uk

The track listing for The Coral’s 388 is as follows:

1. Let The Music Play

2. Ride That Train

3. Leave It In The Past

4. You & Me (And The Beautiful Sea)

5. Shame

6. Here Come The Tears

7. Yellow Moon

8. Sad Girl

9. High Tide

10. Spirit Catcher

11. Crossing The Sands

Over the past three decades, The Coral have released six UK Top Five albums, including 2003’s Magic and Medicine, featuring noughties indie-defining single, Pass It On, alongside krautrock concept album, Nightfreaks and the Sons of Becker (2003), fourth album, The Invisible Invasion (2005) and the recent brace of Coral Island and Sea of Mirrors. The band’s biggest selling single, Dreaming of You, has entered the songbook of great British pop songs and was certified platinum in 2025, while their debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Prize. They were nominated for the BRIT Award for Best Group in 2004.

For pre-orders and information on all upcoming live dates, connect with The Coral at:

twitter.com/thecoralband
www.facebook.com/TheCoral
www.instagram.com/thecoralband

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