The Wedding Present - Maxi
To be released on 5 December 2025
Revisiting the concept of Mini! - Pre-order here
In 1996, The Wedding Present released Mini – an EP featuring six tracks that all had connections to motoring. Almost thirty years on, David Gedge has revisited the concept with Maxi, a brand-new, six-track EP which is again loosely based around the theme of driving. But this time… the result is significantly more expansive.
Maxi will be released on 5 December but is available to pre-order now on clear 10" vinyl and CD.
Maxi arrives swiftly after the release of 40 (order here) – a commemorative reflection of The Wedding Present’s complex and fascinating catalogue across four-vinyl and four-CD formats, with the compilation’s final track being ‘Hot Wheels’ – a track from Maxi.
Although Maxi follows the same concept as Mini, the 2025 model of The Wedding Present’s vehicle is discernibly grander, with Gedge hinting that guitarist Rachael Wood – who was new to the band at the time of writing – might be one of the reasons why. ‘Scream, If You Want To Go Faster’ – the opening track – mesmerises with a slow-building, post-rock feel before it revs up to set the EP’s tone and flows into the infectious riff of ‘Grand Prix’ – itself driven forward by the complexities of Wood’s playing.
‘Hot Wheels’ and ‘Two For The Road’ – tracks three & four – are unmistakably Wedding Present. Gedge’s urgent guitar playing and lyrics shine their headlights on the challenges of the heart, and allow the listener to return to terra firma with a more familiar sound that effortlessly stands alongside classic Wedding Present releases. ‘Interceptor’ – track five – is steered by the bass until a roaring guitar and pounding drums shift gears to bring the listener back full circle to the post-rock feel of Maxi’s opening track. Crossing the EP’s finishing line is the epic ‘Silver Shadow’, another track that shifts in tempo, evoking a feeling of tenderness alongside the elated emotion of finding the one. Maxi undoubtedly takes the listener on a journey. This really is The Wedding Present at their creative best, pushing both the boundaries of their sound and the expectations of the listener, while the lyrics provocatively paint pictures in a way that only David Gedge can manage.
“As I said in my sleeve notes for 40, the songs we recorded for Maxi were written relatively quickly because I had felt particularly inspired, both lyrically – with situations occurring in my life – and musically – writing with the then recently-arrived Rachael. The resulting tracks feel bigger and moodier than we’ve had for a while… and they’re certainly feistier, thanks to The Wedding Present’s new rock queen and her armoury of guitars and pedals!” (David Gedge)
Tickets are now on sale for the band’s 40th Anniversary Tour which starts in September and includes support from – amongst others – Mozart Estate, The Loft and Belle & Chain.
23/09 Chester – Live Rooms with Voodoo Radio
25/09 Cork – Cypress Avenue with West Wickhams
26/09 Limerick – Dolan’s with West Wickhams
27/09 Dublin – Whelan’s with West Wickhams
28/09 Belfast – Empire Music Hall with West Wickhams
02/10 Lyme Regis – Marine Theatre with West Wickhams
03/10 Bristol – O2 Academy with Mozart Estate
04/10 Aldershot – West End Centre with West Wickhams
05/10 Dover – Booking Hall with Paolo Ruiu
08/10 Glasgow – Garage with The Loft
09/10 Newcastle upon Tyne – Boiler Shop with The Loft
10/10 Manchester – O2 Ritz with Mozart Estate
11/10 Nottingham – Rock City with The Loft
15/10 Portsmouth – Wedgewood Rooms with The Loft
16/10 Norwich – Waterfront with The Loft
17/10 Sheffield – Leadmill with The Loft
18/10 Liverpool – O2 Academy with Mozart Estate
23/10 Birmingham – O2 Institute with Mozart Estate
24/10 Oxford – O2 Academy with Mozart Estate
25/10 London – O2 Forum Kentish Town with Mozart Estate and Belle & Chain
26/10 Stowmarket – John Peel Centre with Paolo Ruiu
Maxi Track List
Scream, If You Want To Go Faster
Grand Prix
Hot Wheels
Two For The Road
Interceptor
Silver Shadow
