Honkin’ Down The Highway to Heavenly 

Forgive the 1992 me for completely sleeping on the whole Sarah Records movement back in high school.

Even growing up in proximity to Rhino Records in New Paltz (who no doubt carried Sarah titles back in the day) never helped to hip me to the music of such acts as The Orchids, The Field Mice and Boyracer.

It’s my own fault. Obviously I was reading the wrong magazines and listening to the wrong radio stations back then, cuz there’s no reason for a band as good as Heavenly to fly over my post-teenage head as I started college.

Nonetheless, introducing myself to Heavenly through their brand new album Highway to Heavenly has been one of the great joys of growing old in the digital age.

Clearly, I was right on time, as Highway marks the Oxford group’s first LP in 30 years when they released Operation Heavenly on Calvin Johnson’s K Records in 1996. At the time, it was surely tough for a band such as Heavenly to be properly heard above the din of a male-dominated alternative rock scene. Yet the group’s sweet sonic nature — dubbed “twee” by tastemakers of a certain pay scale — found its tribe, releasing four full-lengths that are a revelation to discover in 2026.

And that loyal tribe has been positively agog with anticipation for the release of Highway to Heavenly, which essentially picks up right where the band left off in ‘96. The band comprises original members Amelia Fletcher, Peter Momtchiloff, Cathy Rogers and Rob Pursey, who are now joined on drums by Ian Button, taking over for their fallen brother Mathew Fletcher, who they lost just before Operation Heavenly came out.

Yet resurrecting that timeless fusion of razor sharp politics and guitar pop joy as seamlessly as they do on Highway To Heavenly serves as a testament to the sound Fletcher helped pioneer 35 years ago.

Rock & Roll Globe is honored to have had the chance to interview Heavenly as they embark on a 30-date tour that kicks off in the United Kingdom before coming to this continent in April. Check out our chat below, where we discuss the new album, going viral on TikTok, the cringe factor of the word twee and more.

Highway to Heavenly is out now on the band’s own Skep Wax label.

 

The anticipation for this new album and tour is at a fever pitch on my Facebook feed! How does it feel to see the Heavenly name be greeted so warmly after all these years?

Cathy: We feel very flattered. It’s absurdly lucky to be getting this second bite at the warm greeting cherry. I think being an old band reforming it’s probably natural to have some nervousness about whether people will even notice that you are back, let alone be happy about it. But as we’ve been playing shows, we’ve felt that the enthusiasm from the audience seems to match our own. That makes us very happy.

Amelia: Brilliant. It has been quite emotional to reconnect with so many friends and fans that were around at the time. And also great to discover a whole set of younger fans. I also personally like the fact that our own daughters finally think we’re cool.

 

VIDEO: Heavenly “Portland Town”

What did you think about going viral on TikTok? What are your thoughts on TikTok and the way the younger generation take in pop culture?

Amelia: We were totally amazed by how crazy things went on TikTok. In retrospect I can see why ‘P.U.N.K. Girl’ works well in that context, although I’m still a bit confused about how a TikTok with me dancing to it with a wooden spoon in my hand could have received 1 million likes!

 

What prompted the band to revive the Heavenly name and reunite?

Rob: We gradually became aware that the band meant a lot to people, and that at least some of them would like to hear more from us. We also missed playing music with each other. As you know, the band came to a very abrupt and sad end because of Mathew’s death. Maybe it’s taken this long for us to feel OK about reviving the name.

Amelia: It all started with us agreeing to put out a Heavenly singles album a few years ago. With all the chatting and digging out of old photos and listening to songs, it was a natural next thing to think about. Realising there was genuine interest out there just gave us the extra little nudge we needed.

 

How has your work in other groups throughout the last 30 years informed the direction or development of the new album?

Rob: The sound of any group is the result of a mysterious chemistry that its members create. We’ve done quite a lot of different things over the years, in my case writing songs for Swansea Sound and working with poet Brian Bilston. But did that work affect my contribution to the Heavenly sound? I reckon not much. The chemistry of the group takes over, and you go with that!

Peter: I think I have learned to play in time better, and to focus on what gives a song its shape and drives it along.

Amelia: It was interesting going back to writing Heavenly songs, because it felt a bit like I’d never done anything else. Heavenly seems to control a slightly different part of my brain from any other band. The trickiest bit was writing lyrics that felt right, given that I am now 30 years older than the last time I wrote any Heavenly lyrics!

 

VIDEO: Highway to Heaven first episode 

I love the album title, as someone who had to watch the old Michael Landon TV show Highway to Heaven as a kid with my family here in the States. Where did the idea of the album title come from?

Cathy: One of our less recognised influences is an obscure rock outfit called AC/DC. Our Highway to Heavenly is where you end up if you make a handbrake turn off their Highway to Hell.

Rob: I have taken great delight in being able to make Highway to Heavenly bike bells, car stickers and T-shirts with busses on them. It’s a potent theme for unnecessary items.

 

What are your thoughts on the term “twee” as a label for your sound, historically? Cringe or cute?

Cathy: I suppose by now it is a case of ‘What you can’t disguise, emphasise’. I have never been particularly fond of it as a word and of course it was often used as a derogatory term back in the day. But then so was the word ‘nerd’ and look what’s happened to them. Upset the twee people at your peril.

Amelia: Every time I hear that term, I remember — as a teenager — excitedly playing my Mum a song by Strawberry Switchblade, and her saying ‘mmm, they’re rather twee, aren’t they?’. She was being disparaging, but somehow it only made me love that band more! I guess I’ve been getting my head around the term, very gradually, ever since then.

 

What new music are you listening to lately and how is it inspiring you creatively?

Cathy: I am a big fan of Frankie Cosmos. I went to see their show in London with my daughter who really loves music and going to gigs. Their songs are intricate in timing and melody but they wear the intricacy very lightly. I’m always a sucker for a good harmony and they have plenty. I’m also having a big moment with a French singer called Zaho de Sagazan. She’s really young, like in her mid 20s I think, but somehow seems too wise and deep for that to be possible – almost like a French chanteuse of old, with such a beautiful voice. And of course singing in French helps. I highly recommend her Les Symphonies des Eclairs.

Peter: I enjoy going to see indie bands like Panic Pocket and Former Champ, but at home I mainly listen to music that is at least forty years old. As far as guitar-playing inspiration is concerned, I just copy Steve Cropper.

Amelia: We end up mostly listening to the bands we put out on Skep Wax, so at the moment I’m mostly listening to Sassyhiya, The Cords, Would-be-goods, Tulpa, Railcard and Special Friend. But there is a lot of great stuff out there. On our US tour, we are excited to playing with a ton of bands we love: Jeanines, Lightheaded, Umbrellas, Chime School, Cootie Catcher, Humdrum and Good Flying Birds. But in terms of inspiration, like Pete, I probably go back to older music. Although not Steve Cropper!

 

Do you get a lot of young bands sending you demos still for Skep Wax?

Rob: Yes we do get sent a lot of demos. It’s reached the point now where we are having to say ‘no’ to things we really like. This is one of the least enjoyable aspects of running a label.

Amelia: But it’s still always worth sending them though. We love to hear them. And we do get to say yes occasionally!

 

What are your thoughts on touring the United States during this particular time in our country’s history?

Cathy: Yes, good question. It is a bit of a dilemma. I read news reports about U.S. tourism being hit because Europeans are somewhat boycotting the U.S. right now and I think Yay! Go Europe. But then I think of all the incredible people who are fighting against Trump and ICE and all that’s going on with all their might and I think the least we can do is go and play them some songs. An easy kind of solidarity in some ways, but showing up is sometimes important.

Amelia. Several of the songs on the album were influenced by what was then just starting to happen in the U.S. They are angry songs, and I’m not quite sure how I’ll feel singing them in the US, but it feels important to do so somehow.

I see Zine Things Happen dedicated their whole new issue to Heavenly. How important has zine culture been to the history of Heavenly and even Talulah Gosh beforehand?

Amelia: When we first started music, zines were honestly the main way people found out about bands. I bought them insatiably, and read them from cover to cover. Unlike the music press, which was always trying to be ‘cooler than thou’ zines were full of love and excitement and it was catching. I bought tons of singles based on enthusiastic fanzine articles, and they were really important for both Talulah Gosh and Heavenly.

Rob: It’s great that zines are making a comeback. I think they are useful tools at a time when people are losing faith in social media being able to communicate anything useful. And they always were an important part of the scene. People in bands, people who write zines, people who put on gigs, people who attend gigs – we are all part of the same extended DIY community.

 

Are there any plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Talulah via reissues and deluxe editions and cool box sets for nerds like me?

Rob: We have thought about this, and decided there are already plenty of ways of getting hold of the Talulah Gosh material. But — we have found a beautiful T-shirt that Mathew designed, with TG choo choo trains in different colours. There’s only one hand-printed example, and we thought we might make some of those. Would that offer any kind of nerd satisfaction?

 

What other Heavenly activity can we expect this year beyond the album and tour?

Rob: A long period of reflection, possibly lasting the whole summer.. After that — I have no idea!

Amelia: We’ve never done a 30 date tour before. We might just need a good lie-down.

 

TOUR DATES:

25 Feb COVENTRY,@ Just Dropped In (with CD/LP)

26 Feb LONDON @ The Lexington

28 Feb ATHENS @ Temple

5 Mar RAMSGATE @ Music Hall

6 Mar PARIS @ Petit Bain

8 Mar LONDON @ The Lexington (matinee, all ages)

14 Mar OXFORD @ The Nest

18 Mar MANCHESTER @ Yes

19 Mar GLASGOW @ Mono

20 Mar SUNDERLAND @ Pop Recs

21 Mar SHEFFIELD @ Sidney & Matilda

26 Mar BRIGHTON @ Hope & Ruin

4 Apr CARDIFF @ Wales Goes Pop

16 Apr WASHINGTON DC @ Black Cat

17 Apr PHILADELPHIA @ Johnny Brenda’s

18 Apr NEW YORK @ Bowery Ballroom

19 Apr BOSTON @ The Sinclair

21 Apr TORONTO @ The Great Hall

23 Apr CHICAGO @ Empty Bottle

7 May VALENCIA, @ Loco Club

8 May MADRID @ Sala Galileo Galilei

10 May SAN SEBASTIAN @ Sala Dabadaba

21 Jun SAN DIEGO @ Casbah

22 Jun LOS ANGELES @ Regent Theater

24 Jun SAN FRANCISCO @ Great American Music Hall

26 Jun PORTLAND @ Aladdin Theater

27 Jun SEATTLE @ The Crocodile

28 Jun VANCOUVER @ Hollywood Theatre

 

Tickets for most gigs are already on sale. The North American West Coast shows will go on sale on Jan. 9th. Latest gig details for all Skep Wax bands can be found at skepwax.com/live.

 

Heavenly

Highway To Heavenly

(Skep Wax)

Street date: Feb. 27, 2026

Track List:

SIDE A

01. Scene Stealing 3.51

02. Portland Town 3.12

03. Press Return 4.03

04. Skep Wax 3.00

05. Deflicted 3.57

06. Excuse Me 2.36

 

SIDE B

07. A Different Beat 4.59

08. Good Times 3.29

09. The Neverseen 4.06

10. She Is The One 4.01

11. That Last Day 3.20