2023’s ‘Loving Arms’ raised the roof and smashed setlists to smithereens with its soaring horns and rousing, all-in-together vocals, becoming a fixture on the BBC 6 Music playlist off the back of extensive championing from Craig Charles and described as “an absolute triumph” by Lauren Laverne.

‘Loving Arms’ would also charm the audiences of BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley and Trevor Nelson, the figurehead for Lack of Afro’s critically acclaimed ‘Square One’ LP (“ridiculously infectious, big-hearted and joyful” – Clash magazine), serving as both a musical and personal return to the top of the funk & soul league from the South West’s multi-million streaming musician and soundtracker.

Following a successful return to the live arena in 2024 and keeping ears open with two volumes of the ‘From The Volt’ series collecting rarities and re-ups, Lack of Afro is ready to go again. Warming hearts and revving the wheels on your rollerskates, ‘Make It Shine’ is a funk & soul beacon catching the glare of the glitterball: Greg Blackman’s smooth vocals are the cause for hip-hip-hoorays and Saturday night fever, and with its celebratory disco strings and guitars, the pair prove once again that music remains the answer.

Itching to retake the stage across the UK and Europe in his natural environment under the lights and wooing front rows, Lack of Afro announces his largest ever tour across the country in late 2025 supporting a new LP of fresh material, once again promising a funk & soul spectacle full of style and sparkle.

‘Love Dealer’ is the name of the new album, with the celebrated producer, bandleader and multi-million-streamed multi-instrumentalist handing out generous amounts of gold medal grooves from the top of the glitterball, on the follow-up to 2023’s lauded ‘Square One’.

“‘Love Dealer’ is aimed unequivocally at the dancefloor” says Lack of Afro’s Adam Gibbons, taking the album the length and breadth of the UK, from Carlisle to Falmouth, from Glasgow to his hometown of Exeter, across a 23 date swansong in the Autumn. “As an artist, I wanted to push myself in a slightly new direction – more into the land of disco and a four to the floor sound. ‘Love Dealer’ is quintessentially an upbeat record, full of joy, optimism and hope for the future”.

‘Love Dealer’ kicked off with the radiant disco of ‘Make It Shine’ featuring regular vocal accomplice and ‘Loving Arms’ lieutenant Greg Blackman: supported by 6 Music’s Craig Charles and Chris Hawkins, Radio 2’s Spoony and Tony Blackburn, it would spend an unprecedented 10 weeks on the Jazz FM playlist.

Double A-side delight takes ‘Love Dealer’ to the next level: when the beat kicks and the “Walls Start Rockin’”, clubs will go dizzy to a disco-glistened house funker that glides across the dancefloor, with a filtered vocal chop sprinkling some French touch over the assembled love train. ‘Heart & Soul’ follows suit, hitting you where you need it most with a smooth injection of ‘Groovejet’-style fuel, and contemplative piano solos basking in the surrounding glam and sparkle.

“The thrill of seeing people on a dancefloor, all collectively locked into a track that you’ve produced – there’s nothing like it!” Let the ‘Love Dealer’ do his thing and watch Lack of Afro work his magic for the dancefloor tonic of 2025!

+ special guest DJs Nick Peacock (Glasgow) and Simon Hodge (Edinburgh)