Following the massive critical success of 2022’s Weather Alive, Beth Orton has officially detailed her next chapter. Her new studio album, The Ground Above, is set for release on June 26, 2026, via Partisan Records. Alongside the announcement, Orton has shared the lead single, "Waiting," a life-affirming track that blends the soulful influences of Laura Nyro and Terry Callier with Orton’s signature emotional depth.
Continuing the trajectory of her recent work, Orton took the reins as self-producer for The Ground Above. The album was sculpted over a year-long process, staying true to the raw, instinct-led energy of live studio interplay. Orton acted as both bandleader and producer, collaborating with an elite circle of musicians including Nick Hakim, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, and drummers Tom Skinner and Chris Vatalaro.
The record is described as Orton’s most direct and unapologetic music to date. Moving through themes of identity, motherhood, and survival, the album is structured in two halves: the first explores fragmented, searching terrain, while the second opens into expansive, warm melodic forms.
Orton has remained a singular voice in contemporary music since her 1996 debut, Trailer Park. However, it was Weather Alive that signaled a major creative reinvention, earning "Best New Music" honors from Pitchfork and widespread acclaim from The New York Times. Early response to the title track of The Ground Above suggests that Orton is operating at the peak of her powers, with Stereogum hailing the new material as an "honest to God epic."
To celebrate the release, Orton will return to the stage for an extensive headline tour throughout September and October. The North American leg kicks off in Washington, D.C., on September 15, visiting intimate venues like Los Angeles’ Troubadour and New York’s Le Poisson Rouge.
The tour then moves to the UK in October, starting in Brighton and concluding with a prestigious performance at London’s Alexandra Palace Theatre on October 22. Before the headline dates, Orton is also slated to appear at the Latitude Festival in July. Tickets for all dates are expected to go on sale following the album's release.
