Bernard Butler has returned with Irish Goodbye, his first new solo release since 2024. Released through 355 Recordings, the song finds the former Suede guitarist and acclaimed producer drawing on a difficult personal period — and rediscovering the records that first made him want to create music.

The single follows his 2024 album Good Grief and the live EP Live At The Green Note. Rather than simply returning to familiar guitar-led territory, Butler has described a recording process that pushed him beyond his usual approach.

From a guitar hook to something less familiar

Butler says the song began with a guitar figure before he brought an old synthesiser, a drum machine and slap bass into the arrangement. It is an intriguing combination for a musician whose name remains closely associated with the guitar sound of early Suede, but whose career as a songwriter and producer has always been wider than that association.

Reflecting on the song’s origins, Butler has spoken about a difficult couple of months last summer and the need to push through creative and personal uncertainty. He has also described returning to favourite records for a sense of energy and perspective.

For Imminent Infinity, that is the most compelling angle: not simply a Britpop-era figure returning, but a musician with decades of experience using unfamiliar instruments to find his way back to the instinct that made him write songs in the first place.

Butler’s history with Suede remains part of the wider UK guitar-music story. Read our recent coverage of Suede’s latest live developments.

Bernard Butler’s 2027 UK tour dates

Butler is also preparing a UK run next spring, with performances featuring new songs alongside material from across his career:

  • 26 May – The Lantern, Bristol
  • 27 May – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
  • 28 May – Bush Hall, London
  • 1 June – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
  • 2 June – The Cluny, Newcastle
  • 3 June – The Deaf Institute, Manchester

Tickets for the new dates are due to go on sale on Friday 13 November. Fans should check individual venue and official artist listings for availability and any changes.

Irish Goodbye is out now via 355 Recordings.

Sources: The Line of Best Fit; Brudenell Social Club / artist announcement; XS Noize.