HotWax hit the 2026 tour circuit to showcase their latest album

HotWax Set to Bring Hot Shock to the Stage on Major 2026 Tour

Hastings rock trio HotWax are gearing up for a significant 22-date headline tour in January and February 2026, marking their biggest run yet in support of their acclaimed debut album, Hot Shock.

Released in March 2025, the album has cemented the band’s status, and this tour aims to capture the raw, celebrated energy of their live performances while also championing the UK’s grassroots music scene.

The commitment to independent venues is clear, with the first four UK dates kicking off as part of Independent Venue Week, and the remaining shows held in partnership with the Music Venue Trust.

The core of HotWax is built on the long-standing collaboration between childhood friends Sim-Savage and bassist Lola Sam, who started writing music together at the age of 12 before later connecting with drummer Alfie Sayers at music college.

This deep-seated chemistry has been honed through relentless touring, with the band playing over 200 blistering live shows in the last 18 months, securing slots at major festivals like Reading + Leeds and Download, and supporting acts such as Royal Blood and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. It is this formidable live reputation that defines them. As Clash observed, “they’re a total inspiration – wicked songwriting, stunning stage presence, and a sheer, raw, couldn’t-give-a-flying attitude that punches you to the gut.”

The urgency of the band’s stage presence was the driving force behind the recording of Hot Shock. Following a particularly chaotic and sweaty gig, acclaimed producer Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice, Boygenius) insisted on recording the album, stating her desire for it to sound like the energy in the room and feel like a party. Marks co-produced the record with Steph Marziano (Picture Parlour, Cassandra Jenkins), purposely bringing a crowd of the band’s friends into RAK Studios to capture the spontaneous feel of a live show. The success of this approach was recognized by Dork, who remarked that “Hot Shock feels like 3 friends catching lightning in a bottle and somehow keeping the lid on.” The band further cemented this high-energy recording ethos with a session at Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa’s studio in Joshua Tree.

Musically, the album is a fierce statement that quickly resonated with critics and fans alike. Rough Trade perfectly summed up the defining sound, calling the record a “snarling, swaggering statement of grunge-laced punk that we’ve reached for time and again in 2025.” This sound helped propel Hot Shock to a UK Record Store Chart number one, a UK Top 40 placement, and widespread critical acclaim, including being named Rough Trade’s Album of the Month. NME was equally effusive in its five-star review, declaring: “HotWax’s debut album is full of filthy rock’n’roll that’s made for dancing. That next great guitar band has arrived.”

Beyond the undeniable force of the music, the album also carries a deeper pulse of vulnerability informed by the whirlwind of life on the road. Bassist Lola Sam touched on the thematic depth, explaining that “Touring and constantly living in the moment can be chaotic. But there’s also a feeling of knowing that the more life experience we gain, the more fearless we become.” It is this blend of rock-and-roll bravado and introspective reflection that makes Hot Shock such a compelling listen, and the upcoming tour promises to translate that experience directly to the crowd. Support on the tour will come from Jeanie and the White Boys and Slag.

HotWax UK Tour Dates 2026