Two Door Cinema Club
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Bangor, County Down , Northern Ireland |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Two Door Cinema Club is a rock group originating from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, established in 2007. The band consists of three members: Alex Trimble, who handles vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion, and synthesizers; Sam Halliday on lead guitar and backing vocals; and Kevin Baird playing bass, synthesizers, and providing backing vocals.
Their first studio album, Tourist History, was initially launched on 1 March 2010 under the French independent label Kitsuné Music, followed by a US release on 27 April 2010 through Glassnote Records. This album received a nomination for the Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year in 2010.
The follow-up album, Beacon, released on 3 September 2012, debuted at the top position on the Irish Albums Chart and secured the second spot on the UK Albums Chart.
Their third studio effort, Gameshow, was unveiled on 14 October 2016. The lead single "Are We Ready? (Wreck)" premiered on Annie Mac’s show on BBC Radio 1. Prior to the album's release, singles such as "Bad Decisions" and "Gameshow" were also issued.
The band’s fourth album, False Alarm, came out on 21 June 2019, featuring singles like "Satellite" and "Talk". Since then, Two Door Cinema Club has consistently appeared at prominent festivals including Reading and Leeds Festival and Glastonbury Festival.
Formation
Alex Trimble and Sam Halliday first crossed paths at Bangor Grammar School, eventually meeting Kevin Baird. Initially, they performed under the name Life Without Rory at age 16 on the show ATL Rock School, where they finished in last place. They produced demos such as "Safe in Silence" and "Conscripted By Choice" before disbanding. A live recording of another track titled "You Missed the Point" is available online.
Following this, Trimble, Halliday, and Baird regrouped to form a new band without a fixed drummer; temporary drummer Owen Bullington departed due to differing creative visions. The name Two Door Cinema Club was inspired by Halliday’s mispronunciation of their local Tudor Cinema. In 2007, as their social media following expanded, they decided to forgo university to dedicate themselves fully to studio work.
Early releases and Four Words to Stand On (2007–2009)
Their self-produced EP titled Four Words to Stand On was released on 26 March 2008 and attracted considerable online attention. Ryan Mitchell handled mixing and mastering duties. The band re-released this EP publicly in March 2018 to commemorate its tenth anniversary.
Tourist History (2009–2011)
Recording for their debut album began in July 2009 at Eastcote Studios in London with producer Eliot James. Mixing sessions were completed in September 2009 by Phillipe Zdar at Motorbass studio located in Paris.
The album Tourist History was officially announced in January 2010 and saw staggered release dates: 26 February in Ireland, 1 March in the UK, and 27 April in the US. It included singles such as "Something Good Can Work", "I Can Talk"—which featured in EA Sports' FIFA 11—and "Undercover Martyn".
On 18 January 2011, Two Door Cinema Club performed "What You Know" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which became their most successful track from the album.
Beacon (2011–2013)
By April 2012, the group revealed that their sophomore album was approaching completion. On 20 June 2012, they announced the album's title, Beacon, with a UK release scheduled for 3 September 2012 and an international launch on 4 September. The project was produced by Jacknife Lee, renowned for his collaborations with artists such as U2, R.E.M., and Snow Patrol, representing a deliberate partnership aimed at refining their musical style.
The album’s lead single, "Sleep Alone," was initially made available for streaming on 19 July 2012 and officially released two days later on 21 July. Its accompanying music video premiered on 8 August. The song further gained visibility through its inclusion in the EA Sports video game, FIFA 13.
In October, the band announced "Sun" as the second single, which was released on 18 November, with its music video debuting earlier on 11 October.
Following the album launch, Two Door Cinema Club released a four-part tour documentary entitled What We See, which captured footage from their European summer tour in 2012. Directed by Gregg Houston of Babysweet Sessions, this series offered fans an intimate look at the band’s touring experience, strengthening fan connection and loyalty.
In December 2012, the band confirmed their appearance at Scotland’s major music event, T in the Park 2013, set for July.
Changing of the Seasons EP (2013–2016)
On 8 August 2013, Two Door Cinema Club announced their Changing of the Seasons EP, with its title track serving as the lead single released on 20 August. The song premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 15 August. During a BBC interview in July 2013, frontman Alex Trimble disclosed that work had commenced on their third studio album, aiming for an early 2015 release. Around this period, the band ended their association with Kitsuné Records and signed with Parlophone Records, a former subsidiary of EMI.
Gameshow (2016–2019)
In January 2016, Two Door Cinema Club confirmed plans to release new material within the year, presumably their third album. On 4 April, they announced that recording for their third studio album, Gameshow, had been completed ahead of their Glastonbury Festival appearance. Prior to its release, they performed the title track live in Boston.
The album’s artwork and lead single "Are We Ready? (Wreck)" premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 14 June 2016, coinciding with the start of pre-orders for the album. Additional singles included "Bad Decisions" and "Gameshow". The music video for "Are We Ready? (Wreck)" was released on 6 July, and the track was featured in EA Sports’ FIFA 17. Gameshow officially launched on 14 October 2016.
False Alarm (2019)
In February 2019, Two Door Cinema Club teased their fourth studio album via social media channels.
The first single from this upcoming album, "Talk," was released on 18 March 2019.
On 24 April 2019, they followed up with "Satellite" and simultaneously announced the album titled False Alarm.
Prior to the full album release on 21 June 2019, two additional singles—"Dirty Air" and "Once"—were issued.
Keep On Smiling (2022)
During their May 2022 concerts in Brazil, Two Door Cinema Club enlisted folk artist David Clements to provide vocals, as Alex Trimble was unable to enter the country due to COVID-19 vaccination-related medical restrictions.
On 16 June 2022, the band unveiled "Wonderful Life," serving as the lead single from their fifth studio album, Keep On Smiling.
Following this, the second single titled "Lucky" was released on 28 July, supported by a promotional campaign themed around lottery scratch cards.
The full album was made available digitally on 2 September 2022 through Lower Third Records and Prolifica Inc. A limited edition vinyl pressing of 5,000 units was issued on 4 November via PIAS in Europe and Glassnote in North America. In a deliberate move opposing multi-format releases and album bundles—which often affect indie artists' chart performance—the group destroyed the album's master recordings to prevent any future CD or re-release editions.
In September 2023, Two Door Cinema Club introduced the single "Sure Enough."
By March 2024, they followed up with "Happy Customers," clarifying that these recent singles are independent releases rather than components of an upcoming album. This approach aligns with Halliday’s perspective that the conventional album format now "feels very dated."
Other projects
In July 2012, Alex Trimble took part in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, performing "Caliban's Dream," a piece composed by Rick Smith of Underworld. The event’s creative director, filmmaker Danny Boyle, personally selected Trimble for this role.
Trimble has also produced the debut album for Anteros (band). In December 2023, he co-authored Ariel Pink’s track "Rudolph's Laptop," which comments on the Hunter Biden laptop controversy, collaborating with Pink and former Mumford & Sons guitarist Winston Marshall.
Members
- Alex Trimble – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, drums, percussion
- Sam Halliday – lead guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals
- Kevin Baird – bass guitar, synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals
Touring and recording members
- Benjamin Thompson – drums
- Andrew Lindsay – rhythm guitar, synthesizers, keyboards, backing vocals, Topo Chico bottles
Discography
- Tourist History (2010)
- Beacon (2012)
- Gameshow (2016)
- False Alarm (2019)
- Keep On Smiling (2022)
Awards
In December 2009, Two Door Cinema Club appeared in the BBC's Sound of... 2010 list. Their debut album Tourist History earned the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year 2010, marking their first major accolade. The band generously donated the prize funds to Abaana, a charity based in Northern Ireland. Additionally, they secured the Breaking Woodie award from mtvU.
At the 2010 Triple J Hottest 100, their tracks "Undercover Martyn" and "I Can Talk" ranked at numbers 21 and 72 respectively. In subsequent years, "Sun" placed 37 and "Sleep Alone" reached number 90 in 2012; while "Changing of the Seasons" attained position 71 in 2013.
Two Door Cinema Club garnered several nominations at the NME Awards over the years: best new band and best album in 2011; best live band in 2012; and best British band in 2014.
Tours
Two Door Cinema Club has acted as a supporting band for artists such as autoKratz, Delphic, Foals, Phoenix, and Metronomy, notably opening for Phoenix during their 2010 tour across the United States.
Following the release of Tourist History, the group embarked on a tour across the UK and Ireland in March 2010, performing at several distinguished university May Balls. That year, they also took part in prominent festivals including the iTunes Festival, Red Bull Bedroom Jam Futures Stage at T in the Park, NME Stage at both Reading Festival and Leeds Festival, as well as headlining the main stage at Oxegen. Additional festival appearances included Southside, Hurricane, Benicassim, Australia's Splendour in the Grass, and Ireland's Electric Picnic. Their 2010 tour extended to eastern territories such as Australia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
In January 2011, Two Door Cinema Club co-headlined a North American tour with Canadian band Tokyo Police Club, supported by Work Drugs and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. That year also saw them perform at the Orange Evolution Festival alongside numerous other festivals like Glastonbury Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Oxegen, Parklife Festival, Lollapalooza, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Portugal’s Paredes de Coura, Open'er Festival, and Maryland's Virgin Mobile FreeFest.
After completing summer festival appearances in 2011, the band undertook a three-week tour across the United States prior to recording their sophomore album in Glasgow. They returned to American stages later that year before resuming festival performances.
In March 2012, Two Door Cinema Club toured South Africa with promotional shows supported by local musicians in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The band conducted several U.S. tours during May-June and September-October 2012 while headlining the NME Awards Tour and undertaking a short UK and Irish tour.
Their 2012 festival itinerary featured Portugal’s SW TMN Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Bestival on the Isle of Wight, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and Verona’s A Perfect Day Festival.
Early in 2013, Two Door Cinema Club launched a comprehensive UK tour beginning in Belfast with sold-out performances including Dublin’s O2 Arena and London’s Brixton Academy; Bastille and Swim Deep provided support. This was followed by a three-week European tour supported by Dog Is Dead and The 1975, concluding with their largest London concert at Alexandra Palace. Summer festivals included Scotland’s T in the Park, England’s Virgin Media V Festival, Portugal’s NOS Alive, as well as their fourth appearance at Glastonbury. They also played Colombia’s Estéreo Picnic.
In July 2017, the band performed at Australia’s Splendour in the Grass Music Festival with accompanying shows in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.
Planned tours across Europe and North America for 2022 were cancelled due to bassist Kevin Baird’s health challenges; he publicly revealed his struggle with an "incurable autoimmune disease" and scheduled surgery for October 2022.
Film and television
- The tracks "Something Good Can Work" and "Do You Want It All" were part of the soundtrack for the 2011 motion picture Chalet Girl.
- "This is the Life" was featured in the 2011 film Soul Surfer.
- An episode of Teen Wolf incorporated the song "Do You Want It All?".
- The song "What You Know" was included in Dynamo: Magician Impossible.
- The 2012 comedy series Pramface included "What You Know", "Something Good Can Work", and "Settle" in its episodes.
- Jesse Marco’s remix of "Sun" was part of the 2013 film Now You See Me soundtrack.
- The 2016 movie The Edge of Seventeen featured the track "Bad Decisions".
- In season 3, episode 5 of The Inbetweeners, "Something Good Can Work" was played.
- The instrumental version of "What You Know" was used in season 1, episode 1 of Extra Gear.
- Both "Bad Decisions" and "What You Know" appeared in season 8, episode 10 of My Kitchen Rules.
- Season 3, episode 1 of The Vampire Diaries included "What You Know".
- The song "You're Not Stubborn" was featured in season 6, episode 19 of Grey's Anatomy.
- In season 1, episode 1 of The Russell Howard Hour, the songs "Come Back Home" and "I Can Talk" were presented.
- From early 2015 until early 2020, the weather segment on Chilean news program Ahora Noticias (later known as Meganoticias Alerta) used an instrumental track of "What You Know".
- Series 7, episode 2 of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, broadcast in September 2024, included "Something Good Can Work".
Commercial
- Television advertisements for Vodafone and Meteor featured the songs "Something Good Can Work" and "Undercover Martyn".
- Retailer Hollister Co. incorporated "Sleep Alone" and "Next Year" into their autumn 2012 store playlist.
- A commercial promoting Autumn 2012 collections by designers Henry Holland, Jasper Conran, and Julien Macdonald for Debenhams showcased the track "This Is The Life"; this song had also been utilized in earlier Debenhams campaigns.
- TV adverts for Telkomsel Loop and Indomie Kuliner Indonesia during 2014 included the song "What You Know".
- The brand Fat Face used "Something Good Can Work" in their advertising; additionally, in 2021, Northern Ireland Executive campaigns encouraging responsible conduct after easing coronavirus restrictions also featured this track.
Video games
- On November 25, 2010, the song "What You Know" became available as a free download on Tap Tap Revenge 3, also appearing in both Tap Tap Revenge and Tap Tap Revenge 4.
- The soundtrack for Gran Turismo 5 included the track "Undercover Martyn".
- Both FIFA 11 and NBA 2K11 soundtracks feature the song "I Can Talk".
- The Xbox 360 Kinect game Kinect Adventures! incorporated the track "You're Not Stubborn".
- Included in the soundtrack for EA Sports’s FIFA 13 is the song "Sleep Alone".
- The Twelves remix version of "Something Good Can Work" appeared in both SSX and Forza Horizon soundtracks.
- The song "Are We Ready? (Wreck)" is part of the music lineup for FIFA 17.
- Online gameplay mode for Guitar Hero Live features the track "What You Know".
- The soundtrack for Dream League Soccer 2025 includes the song "Sure Enough".
Radio
- The track "What You Know" is used without attribution as the theme tune for the BBC Radio 4 program It's Not What You Know, presented by Joe Lycett.