Arctic Monkeys are back with a brand new single, “Opening Night,” to raise money for charity, aiding children affected by the war in Gaza.
For 30 years, War Child, a non-profit organization, has protected, educated, and supported children who are affected by war with aid and mental health response. They released their first compilation album, Help, in 1995, to raise funds for young people affected by the Bosnian War. The album featured acts like Oasis, Radiohead, Blur, and Sinéad O’Connor.
“No child should be part of war. Ever. Donate and sign up via link in bio to hear more news about forthcoming music releases,” the charity’s record label, War Child Records, captioned in an Instagram post.
The band is joined by a mix of British and international artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, Beabadoobee, Depeche Mode, Wet Leg, The Last Dinner Party, Fontaines D.C., and Arlo Parks.
The four-minute track sounds like what the band has continued to put out over the years, with instrumentation and production that are far less prominent on their previous two albums, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018) and The Car (2022). “Tonight is heavy on one sidе, sort of like / A set of cherry red and white loaded dice / You’ve got something on your mind, and so have I / I can see it from here, oh-oh-oh,” the chorus goes.
“Opening Night” marks the English-based rock band’s first new music since the release of their critically-acclaimed seventh studio album, The Car, in October 2022. They performed for Filipino fans for the first time in March 2023 at the Filinvest City Events Grounds as part of their album tour. The same year, they headlined the Pyramid Stage at the iconic Glastonbury Festival.
Listen to “Opening Night” below: