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Sep 11, 2024 By Mark Redfern Photography by Wendy Lynch Redfern

Danish art-rock band Mew have announced that they are splitting up, but they will still perform two final farewell concerts next year. The band have issued a statement. Check it out below, followed by the details of the shows and a selection of videos and music from Mew.

Mew formed in 1995 and released their debut album, A Triumph for Man, in 1997. Their third album, 2003’s Frengers, garnered the band international attention and most of its tracks were re-recordings of songs from their first two albums. 2005’s And the Glass Handed Kites cemented the band’s legacy. Mew’s final album, Visuals, their seventh, came out in 2017.

Mew’s founding members were Jonas Bjerre, Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen, Johan Wohlert, and Bo Madsen, with Wohlert taking a break from the band from 2006 to 2013 and Madsen leaving Mew in 2015. (The band also features touring members Nick Watts and Mads Wegner.)

We first interviewed Mew in Issue 6 of Under the Radar’s print magazine, in 2004, in honor of the international release of Frengers. And we’ve covered them extensively ever since, with the band also performing at two of our SXSW events over the years.

Bjerre issued this statement about the split:

“Dearest Frengers

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Mew! It’s been quite a journey, that’s brought me and my lovely band mates on countless adventures, for which I am eternally grateful. And none of it could have happened if not for you Frengers and your support. This is something I’ve never taken for granted, and never will.

For me, this journey will be coming to an end. Next year will be my last year with Mew. I have come to the realization that it’s time for me personally to embark on a different journey, and focus on other creative projects. I am so happy that we get to play these farewell shows, and that I get to go on one last trip with my dear friends and co-founders Johan and Silas, as well as the Doc and Mads Wegner. I will be writing a longer post about all of this soon. For now, I can’t wait to see you out there at the shows next year!

Love, Jonas.”

The band collectively released this statement:

“30 years? Nobody in their right mind would have imagined us still being here back in 1995, when we started out, making noise in Jonas’ teenage bedroom. But we did! Maybe we were out of our minds, on a mission. We dared to dream, and dream big—together.

Today we have been around the world - played more shows than we can remember and yet it feels just like yesterday, sitting there in that noisy bedroom trying to become a band. We want to invite all of our Frengers around the world to celebration of our 30 years of being Mew. We are beyond excited to play these shows as they mark a truly exceptional occasion for us, for you and for Mew.

Sincerely yours, Johan, Silas, Jonas.”

Mew 2025 Farewell Shows:

05-29 Aarhus, Denmark - Aarhus Congress Center
05-31 Copenhagen, Denmark - Royal Arena

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