BOY & BEAR SHARE NEW DOUBLE A-SIDE SINGLE ‘ROSES’ + ‘LOST CONTROL’

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TAKEN FROM NEW ALBUM TRIPPING OVER TIME SET FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 12

+ ANNOUNCE STACKED 2026 BRISBANE RIVERSTAGE PERFORMANCE FOR MAY 8 WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE DREGGS, BEAR’S DEN (UK) + RAGEFLOWER

Today beloved indie alternative act Boy & Bear double down on utter sonic magic, releasing a new double A-Side single Roses and Lost Control. Taken from the group’s forthcoming sixth studio album Tripping Over Time, set for release Friday December 12, Roses and Lost Control are the perfect reflection of the past, present and future of Boy & Bear’s iconic sound, also accompanying the announcement today of a mammoth new live performance locked in for 2026, with the group headlining a stacked lineup at Brisbane’s Riverstage next May, joined by The Dreggs, Bear’s Den (UK) and Rageflower. And with a special one-off performance at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt set to take place next month, the same week as the release of Tripping Over Time, this brand new Boy & Bear chapter is truly shaping up to be one for the ages.

Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Riverstage show go on sale on Friday November 21 at 10am AEST from www.boyandbear.com/, with a fan presale going live on Wednesday November 19 at 10am AEST. Limited tickets to their Sydney Opera House Forecourt show are still available via www.sydneyoperahouse.com/on-the-steps/boy-and-bear, and all other tickets available via www.boyandbear.com/.

Balancing their love of indie folk and pop music (and “an unconscious nod to The Shins” shares vocalist and guitarist Dave Hosking) on Roses, along with a jangly ode to self-reflection and hope merged with subtle Tom Petty-esque hues on Lost Control, Boy & Bear’s new double A-Side single offers a breath of fresh air from the five-piece without sacrificing their trademark core sound permeating throughout. Between the warm and buoyant soundscape of Roses and the hypnotic effortless charm of Lost Control, Boy & Bear also traverse themes of mortality and matters of the heart, as Daveelaborates, “The concept of Roses is pretty simple really. Life is short and death is inevitable but that’s also the greatest motivator for life. Maybe conceptually it’s a little morbid but the song’s vibe is far from that. We always wanted it to feel reflective and not too weighty. Sometimes pairing heavier concepts with lighter sonics can lead to interesting results and hopefully that’s what the listener gets to experience here. Ultimately, it’s a constant reminder to keep appreciating the joys in life big and small.”

“Lost Control is in a strange way a love song,” Dave continues. “I’ve had significant challenges in my life over the past few years and sometimes these personal challenges can start to impede themselves on our intimate relationships. Almost as if they become some polygamous third party that takes over the space. But we’ve managed. The challenges have bonded us closer than ever and I think this song is a homage to that.”

Teaming up with Australian-born, LA-based producer Justin Stanley (Prince, Beck, Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, Mark Ronson) to bring their creative vision to life for both Roses and Lost Control, and the broader new upcoming LP due out next month, Tripping Through Time will also mark album #6 for Boy & Bear, and a second entirely independent affair following on from their 2023 self-titled full-length. And the Boy & Bear good news only keeps rolling as the group approach the release of Tripping Over Time, with a monumental new performance to add to their live dance card in 2026, taking over Brisbane’s beloved Riverstage with a horde of amazing hand-picked acts.

“It’s an iconic gig and Brisbane has been off the charts for us for the last few tours – we sold the most tickets of any city in Aus there last time which is pretty crazy,” shares Dave. “I can’t wait to see The Dreggs play, haven’t had the pleasure yet. We’ve been mates with Bear’s Den for more years than we care to admit, they have a way with melody and beautiful harmonies and I’m looking forward to seeing it on a big stage. And well done pop music is pretty timeless, it’ll be cool to see where Rageflower is next year when the show happens! It’s exciting to have something fresh on the bill.”

Recently announcing their monumental upcoming performance on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt on December 14, joined by special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven, some lucky fans will also be able to snag the ultimate Boy & Bear experience, with the band today announcing an exclusive competition that will see two winners score two return flights, one nights accommodation in Sydney, a meet and greet with the band, and a signed limited edition poster from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt performance. To enter, simply pre-order Tripping Over Time, either vinyl, CD or digital download, from the band’s Australian webstore https://www.boyandbear.com/, register for the competition – and you and a friend may be sharing time and space for this Boy & Bearmilestone later this year.

When it comes to Boy & Bear, it’s not a cliché to declare they are one of those rare bands who genuinely need little introduction. A group renowned and endlessly beloved for weaving personal experiences with personal themes, Boy & Bear wield their trademark blend of vintage pop, alternative elements and folk edges into something uniquely their own. Instantly winning hearts and minds via their 2011 debut album Moonfire, which also saw the group take home five ARIA Award wins and secure double-Platinum status, Boy & Bear have since cemented their ever-burgeoning legacy with 2013’s Harlequin Dream, 2015’s Limit of Love, 2019’s Suck on Light and, most recently, their 2023 self-titled album. Between releasing multiple #1 charting albums, top 10 debuts, snagging seven ARIA Award nominations and five wins and generating over half a billion streams in the process, Boy & Bear are also one of the country’s most in-demand live acts, whether headlining or supporting the likes of Mumford & Sons, Chris Isaak and Crowded House.

Off the back of previously selling the most headline tickets of their career globally, Boy & Bear are closing out 2025 in spectacular fashion, both with the upcoming release of their entirely independent new album, and also with their biggest headline show to date locked in for December 14, performing on the steps at the iconic Sydney Opera House Forecourt with special guests Hollow Coves and Darcie Haven. A longtime dream in the making, revealed poignantly recently online with Boy & Bear members and brothers Tim Hart and Jon Hart detailing their connection to the Opera House and live music, the band will also appear at Good Day Sunshine on November 29 and kick off 2026 with a performance at Launceston’s Festivale on February 1 next year ahead of their freshly announced curated headline performance on May 8 at Brisbane’s Riverstage.

“I think it’s a great time to be an independent artist, but it also keeps you on your toes,” Dave concludes. “There’s no label to blame ha, but we’re fortunate to have an amazing team in the inner circle of B&B. In many ways, being indie requires us all to become content creators, which isn’t really why any of us got into this, but we’re trying to find ways to keep that fun and creative.”

Roses / Lost Control is out today.

Tripping Over Time album is set for release Friday December 12 and available to pre-save now.

Tickets for Boy & Bear’s Riverstage show go on sale on Friday November 21 at 10am AEST available here.

Pre-Order: TRIPPING OVER TIME