Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish indie rock band formed in Glasgow in 2002 by Alex Kapranos (vocals/guitar), Bob Hardy (bass), Paul Thomson (drums), and Nick McCarthy (guitar/keyboards). Their breakthrough came with the single "Take Me Out" and their debut album Franz Ferdinand (2004), which won the Mercury Prize and established them internationally. Subsequent albums—including You Could Have It So Much Better (2005), Tonight (2009), Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013), and Always Ascending (2018)—showcased the band's evolving sound. After lineup changes in 2016 and 2021, the band welcomed Julian Corrie (keyboards/guitar), Dino Bardot (guitar), and Audrey Tait (drums). On January 10, 2025, they released their sixth studio album The Human Fear, themed around existential anxiety and resilience. Songs like "Audacious", "Hooked", and "Night or Day" led the album, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart and number one in Scotland. The album was introduced with the bold lead single "Audacious" and an expressive video that encapsulates the album’s emotional depth. In early 2025, Franz Ferdinand embarked on a European tour including intimate acoustic sets in Glasgow and headline shows in Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, London, and North America. With the refreshed lineup, their performances remain engaging, energetic, and creatively forward-looking.