The 36-page programme is something of a collector’s item, with unseen archive photos of the band on the road, plus an in-depth interview with the band’s drummer, Matt Helders.
This isn’t the first time Arctic Monkeys have teamed up with The Big Issue. In August last year, Alex Turner gave them the exclusive global interview where he announced the band’s latest and seventh studio album, The Car – the record the band are currently on tour.
It was a generous story to give then, to a street paper that’s also a social enterprise initiative, giving people who are experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably housed the chance to sell issues of the paper.
Announcement time! @ArcticMonkeys and Big Issue have joined forces to produce the souvenir programme for the homecoming leg of the band’s globe-trotting tour. pic.twitter.com/WuHFcoEAQd
— The Big Issue (@BigIssue) May 29, 2023
And now, all the proceeds of the band’s official tour programme will be going to The Big Issue too.
The Big Issue have also been covering the rise of the Sheffield rock darlings since 2006.
In his interview with the street paper for the programme, Helders explains the band’s reason for their latest collaboration, saying, “The obvious reason is the good work you do.
“But it’s not just that,” he added. “It is good journalism as well as being a good cause.”
We say amen to that.
For those not lucky enough to make it to the band’s current run of UK and Ireland tour dates, fans can still buy a programme online from The Big Issue site, which retail at a decent £10.
