Arkells Return with Surprise Single “Handshake Thugs” Out Now

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Today, 9X JUNO Award winners Arkells release their surprise single “Handshake Thugs,” out now via Universal Music Canada and Virgin Music Group. The track marks their first new music since their latest album, Between Us, arrived earlier this spring.

Featuring the No. 1 singles “Next Summer” and “Money,” Between Us asks blunt questions about the noise of modern life and where meaning can still be found. “Handshake Thugs” carries that sentiment forward, taking aim at leaders who divide people while protecting their own power.

Inspired to get the song out of their system and into their live set, Arkells wrote the track in early September, recorded it a few weeks later with producer Gus van Go, and immediately started playing it live on tour in the UK this fall. Today’s release coincides with U.S. midterm Election Day, a date the band felt was especially topical to share the music.

“We tend to think of thugs as people who steal, cause havoc, and make our lives less safe,” says frontman Max Kerman. “But these are largely imagined boogie men. The real thugs sit at the top, make deals for themselves, and eat first, before everyone else. Handshake Thugs is a song for the 99%, inspired by the 1%.”

As Arkells continue their 2026 global touring cycle, they return to Canada for another series of their Between Us City Takeover shows – a one of a kind tour stop where fans can experience the band live over 3 nights, in 3 different local clubs.

The up-close-and-personal goal of the tour has been to bring the new music to distinctive live settings, built around in-person connection. Previous sold-out City Takeovers took place in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Arkells continue the run, starting tomorrow night, in Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa, before closing out the year with anticipated holiday shows in Niagara and St. John’s, NL.

2026 “BETWEEN US” CITY TAKEOVER DATES:

November 5, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina SOLD OUT

November 6, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK – Capitol Music Club SOLD OUT

November 7, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre SOLD OUT

November 10, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – Side Stage SOLD OUT

November 11, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – The Park Theatre SOLD OUT

November 12, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre

November 25, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – The 27 Club SOLD OUT

November 26, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – The Bronson Centre SOLD OUT

November 27, 2026 – Ottawa, ON – HISTORY Ottawa SOLD OUT

2026 HOLIDAY “SLEIGH THE NIGHT” DATES:

December 17, 2026 – Niagara Falls, ON – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

December 18, 2026 – St. John’s, NL – JAG Soundhouse SOLD OUT

December 19, 2026 – St. John’s, NL – JAG Soundhouse SOLD OUT

About ARKELLS:
Whether they’re rocking stadiums, making a beeline for the discotheque, or gathering around the campfire, the implicit message of Arkells is always the same: everyone is welcome here. Since the beginning, Arkells have never wavered in their mission to be the house band that soundtracks the greatest nights of your life and emotional support in your darkest hours. Thanks to their steady and eclectic ethos, Arkells have continued to evolve musically, while making everyone feel right at home. As one of the most heavily rotated acts on radio, and all-time record holders of the JUNO Award for “Group of the Year,” Arkells have extended their reach beyond borders by infiltrating all corners of pop culture; from global sports telecasts and top-tier video games to the stages of Coachella and Bonnaroo. The band’s longevity is ultimately a function of their commitment to never coasting on past glories and to always live completely in the moment. Even through their impressive history together, Arkells still approach every gig as an opportunity to prove themselves to the unconverted; as they’re fond of saying, each time they take the stage, “we understand the assignment.” The first rule of rock ‘n’ roll is to play every show like it’s your last—but as Arkells prove night after night, it’s just as important to hold onto the unbridled energy and enthusiasm of your first. With their new record, Between Us, the band achieves the impossible: how do we make our new songs feel like the past and the future at the same time? It’s 11 songs of their best songwriting to date, produced by legendary producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Death Cab for Cutie, Wallows).

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