Ahead of their final tour as Cabaret Voltaire, Stephen ‘Mal’ Mallinder and Chris Watson have released their live album, But What Time Is It Really?, out today via Memetune.
The North American tour, and their first shows here in over 30 years, will see the band on the West Coast beginning May 4th, returning to the East Coast in September. Support across the dates will come from I Speak Machine, and ISM’s Tara Busch will also stand in for Chris Watson. The full live band is as follows; Stephen Mallinder – vocals, bass, keyboards, samples, Benge – keyboards, electronic drums, Eric Random – keyboards, guitar, and Tara Busch – keyboards, samples.
Tara says, “Cabaret Voltaire have always been a huge influence on ISM – the grit, the raw electricity, not to mention their visuals and art direction – and it’s truly thrilling to be supporting them in the US. I’m also very excited to be standing in for Chris Watson on synths & samples. I relish this as someone that loves performing and getting a deeper, “nerdier” look at how sounds and songs are created and executed live by bands I love – and Cabaret Voltaire is as good as it gets!”
The album – which will be available on vinyl and CD via the band’s webstore and on the upcoming tour – was recorded during last year’s jubilant sold-out UK tour. Marking 50 years since the live launch of one of Britain’s most influential electronic bands (at the Sheffield Students Union Refectory on May 13th, 1975), Stephen Mallinder and Chris Watson were joined by Eric Random and Oliver Harrap for an eagerly anticipated and long-awaited tour.
But What Time Is It Really? perfectly captures the mood of the UK dates. Fans travelled across the world to see the band present new arrangements of classic Cabs tracks such as ‘Sensoria’, ‘Crackdown’, ‘Do Right’ and ‘Spies in the Wires’ alongside ‘Tinsley Viaduct’, a contemporary piece of musique concrète composed by Chris Watson. The album was engineered and mixed by Benge, recorded by Joe Peat, mastered by James Trevasus with artwork by Dan Conway and Paul Burgess, based on Conway’s live visuals on the tour.
Says Chris Watson, “This record captures the powerful essence of contemporary live performance and establishes a visceral connection to the history of the band.”
Stephen Mallinder goes on to say, ‘It was an opportunity to capture the shows as a unique moment in time but also give people the opportunity to have a memento. Something that presented sounds and music, with respect to Richard’s memory, that also transcended time.”
CABARET VOLTAIRE FINAL TOUR:
4 May – Seattle, WA (US), Moore Theatre^
6 May – Vancouver (CA), Commodore^
8 May – Portland, OR (US), Roseland Theater^
10 May – Denver, CO (US), Summit^
12 May – Los Angeles CA (US), The Bellwether^
15 May – San Francisco CA (US), The Warfield^
29 May – Malmö (SW), Plan B
30 May – Stockholm (SW), Slaktkyrkan
31 May – Oslo (NO), Søn
2 June – Berlin, Betonhalle
5 June – Paris, Elysée Montmartre
10 June – Warsaw (PL), Ephemera Festival
12 June – Brussels, AB
13 June – Amsterdam, Paradiso
18 June – Barcelona, Sónar
19 June – Lausanne, Docks
26 June – Zagreb, Tvornica Kulture
11 September – Dallas, TX (US), Granada Theater^
15 September – Chicago, IL (US), Metro^
16 September – Chicago, IL (US), Metro^
18 September – Toronto, ON (CA), Phoenix Concert Theatre^
19 September – Montreal, QC (CA), Sat^
21 September – Boston, MA (US), The Wilbur^
25 September – New York, NY (US), Knockdown Center^
26 September – Philadelphia, PA (US), Underground Arts^
7 October – Dublin, The Academy
8 October – Belfast, Limelight
10 October – Birmingham, Town Hall*
11 October – Liverpool, Arts Club*
13 October – Nottingham, Rock City*
14 October – Cardiff, The Globe*
15 October – Bath, Forum*
17 October – Newcastle, Boiler Shop*
18 October – Glasgow, Barrowland*
19 October – Manchester, Albert Hall*
21 October – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion*
22 October – London, Roundhouse*
25 October – Sheffield, Octagon*
*w/ GAZELLE TWIN
^ w/ I SPEAK MACHINE
In the current climate of social turmoil and political manipulation, the prescient work of Cabaret Voltaire continues to be necessary. The sounds, words, images and films of the band still resonate loudly, continuing to challenge the status quo.
The events in 2026 will curate this essential work and to acknowledge the timeless energy and to mark the continuing significance and power of what Cabaret Voltaire achieved. Original members Chris Watson and Stephen Mallinder are committed to stay true to the enduring vision of Cabaret Voltaire. The performance will cover the arc of their formidable output – from early experiments, and the first Rough Trade / Factory releases, through the band’s Doublevision video label and into the work with renowned producers such as Adrian Sherwood and Marshall Jefferson.
But What Time Is It Really? Is out on CD today and on vinyl from May 22nd via the Cabaret Voltaire store, as well as across the band’s final tour dates.
