Julia Jacklin Releases New Single 'The Hardest Thing' Ahead of Album Launch *The Gem*

Julia Jacklin's New Single and Upcoming Album

Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin has just released her latest single, “The Hardest Thing,” marking the third glimpse into her highly anticipated fourth album, *The Gem*, which drops on September 25 through 4AD. This new track comes paired with an artistic single-shot music video, captured from a helicopter flying over Melbourne, which adds a visually stunning layer to her already engaging narrative. Jacklin has teamed up with producer Robert Muinos for this project, and the album's origins trace back to her personal journey. The title, *The Gem*, pays homage to a Collingwood bar where she found her footing after relocating to Melbourne in 2017. A significant portion of the album was recorded in the Rat Shack Studios, situated above that very pub, with contributions from her friends—Jacob Diamond on guitar, Mimi Gilbert on bass, and Jess Elwood on drums. If you're following her evolution as an artist, this project seems like a natural progression; it feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. At the heart of *The Gem* is a theme that Jacklin has articulated as the “central question” of her life: the desire to love and to be free at the same time. After an extensive year filled with recording and fine-tuning, this album reflects her journey of reconnecting with significant people and places that have shaped her experience. What’s more, Jacklin isn’t stopping at the release of her album. She’s gearing up for an ambitious tour, set to span across North America, the UK, and Europe starting in October, with additional dates extending into 2027. You can listen to “The Hardest Thing” in the player below, and for those considering catching her live, don’t miss the comprehensive tour schedule that follows.

Tour Schedule

Jacklin's tour kicks off with a plethora of dates, hitting key cities across the continent: **October** - 20: San Diego, The Observatory North Park - 22: Los Angeles, The Wiltern - 23: San Francisco, The Castro Theatre (SOLD OUT) - 24: San Francisco, The Castro Theatre - 26: Portland, Crystal Ballroom (SOLD OUT) - 27: Vancouver, Commodore Ballroom - 28: Seattle, The Moore Theatre - 30: Salt Lake City, Metro Music Hall - 31: Denver, Gothic Theatre **November** - 2: Dallas, Studio at Bomb Factory - 3: Austin, Radio/East - 4: Houston, White Oak Music Hall (Downstairs) - 6: Atlanta, Variety Playhouse - 7: Nashville, Brooklyn Bowl - 9: Raleigh, Cat’s Cradle - 10: Washington D.C., Lincoln Theatre - 11: Pittsburgh, Mr. Small’s Theatre - 13: Minneapolis, First Avenue - 14: Chicago, The Riviera Theatre - 15: Toronto, Danforth Music Hall - 17: Montreal, Théâtre Beanfield - 19: New York, Brooklyn Paramount - 20: Boston, Royale - 21: Philadelphia, Union Transfer - 30: Liverpool, Jacaranda (rescheduled solo in-store show + signing) **December** - 1: Nottingham, Rough Trade (rescheduled solo in-store show + signing) **February 2027** - 13: Birmingham, Town Hall - 14: Manchester, Albert Hall - 15: Dublin, National Stadium - 17: Glasgow, Barrowland Ballroom - 18: Bristol, Beacon - 19: London, Eventim Apollo - 21: Brussels, Botanique - 22: Berlin, Festsaal Kreuzberg - 23: Hamburg, Kent Club - 24: Copenhagen, DR Koncerthuset - 26: Amsterdam, Paradiso - 27: Paris, Cabaret Sauvage **March 2027** - 1: Barcelona, La [2] de Apolo - 2: Madrid, Sala Mon Live - 3: Lisbon, LAV If you're eager to catch Jacklin live, be sure to grab your tickets [here](https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7816&awinaffid=736261&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.seetickets.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DJulia%20Jacklin).

Looking Ahead: The Great Escape's 2027 Vision

The Great Escape has announced an intriguing first fifty acts slated for the 2027 festival. This initial lineup already hints at a diverse blend of established names and fresh talent set to take the stage. While it might seem early to make judgments, this advance reveal is more significant than you might think. It sets the tone for an event that thrives on discovery and curation, encouraging festival-goers to mark their calendars and prepare for a vibrant experience. With hundreds of artists often vying for a spot, being included among this first batch signals an artist's potential trajectory. Artists' booking at The Great Escape often provides essential momentum in their careers. This year, you’ll see rising stars alongside those who have made a serious impact on the music scene, making for a festival that promises to be both nostalgic and forward-looking. As the industry recalibrates in a post-pandemic world, festivals will need to adapt. There’s a palpable shift towards ensuring inclusivity, representing a wider array of genres and backgrounds. The way acts are cross-promoted within this lineup also speaks volumes about how festival planners are thinking about the future of live music. That said, while the fanfare around these announcements builds excitement, it's essential to consider how ticket sales will pan out. Will the continued interest in live events sustain audience enthusiasm over two years? And are festival organizers already preparing for potential challenges? The numbers around festival attendance and artist engagement post-pandemic have been shaky at best, so it’s an open question how this translates into actual turnout. Take this announcement as a launching pad for speculation but keep an eye on how the event shapes up. For those involved in the music scene, whether as artists, promoters, or fans, the way these lineups evolve will give crucial insights into industry trends. So buckle up—The Great Escape 2027 might just prove to be a pivotal moment on the festival calendar.