AV Sunset, the UK‑based experimental instrumental quartet, have released their new single ‘The Cheerleading Elite’ on 6 July 2026. Described by The Line of Best Fit as “a rush of layered synth pedals, loopers, tremolos, octave effects and off‑kilter reverbs,” and called “the closest thing to a banger that the meditative styles of post‑rock can offer” by Noizze, the track serves as a pivotal moment ahead of the band’s forthcoming album.
The single is the first offering from Vs Reality, due on 4 September 2026 via Vandalism Begins At Home Records. Recorded at The Arch in Southport with producer Tom Peters and mastered by Stephen Kerrison, the album expands on the track’s theme of cutting through confusion with a surge of optimism. Guitar effects are kept minimal, mainly reverb, delay and a touch of Ebow, so the focus stays on the interplay between the four instruments and the dynamic performances.
“The most delicate song on the record…until that riff drops in the final third,” the band note, highlighting the track’s balance of restraint and impact. Vs Reality builds each song as its own sonic environment, reflecting a world where fact and fiction increasingly blur. Designer Gavin Singleton’s artwork captures this fractured sense of reality, filled with interference, redactions and hidden messages.
Originally formed during the tail‑end of lockdown in Northampton/Milton Keynes, AV Sunset self‑released their debut album Disconnects in December 2023. They have since toured across the UK, sharing stages with ASIWYFA, Slow Crush, Hubris, Press to Meco, VLMV and others, earning a dedicated following among instrumental and post‑rock fans worldwide.
A handful of UK live dates are now on sale, including a newly announced Manchester show at The Kamera Ballroom on 17 October 2026. The band say they “write with live performance in mind” and are eager to bring the energy of these tracks to audiences, promising “absolute slam” moments.
Upcoming gigs
- 12 Jun ‘26 – Cambridge, Portland Arms
- 10 Jul ‘26 – Peterborough, Ostrich Inn
- 5 Sep ‘26 – Birmingham, Rainbow
- 18 Sep ‘26 – Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
- 3 Oct ‘26 – Luton, The Castle
- 16 Oct ‘26 – Nottingham, JT Soar
- 17 Oct ‘26 – Manchester, The Kamera Ballroom
For more, visit https://www.avsunset.com, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music or Bandcamp.