FRIKO Announces SOMETHING WORTH WAITING FOR Expanded Edition, Out Sept. 11
The Chicago band recorded the bonus tracks with producer John Congleton during the original album sessions.
Friko—the Chicago based band of vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan, drummer Bailey Minzenberger, guitarist Korgan Robb, and bassist David Fuller—have announced an Expanded Edition of their sophomore album 'Something Worth Waiting For,' out September 11th, 2026 via ATO Records. The original album landed in Most Anticipated of 2026 lists from Pitchfork and The New York Times and on Best of The Year So Far lists from NPR Music, Stereogum, Consequence, Paste, Rough Trade, Exclaim, and more. The digital-only Expanded Edition will feature 4 brand new songs, recorded with producer John Congleton during the aforementioned album sessions, and 2 demos for standout single 'Seven Degrees' and the title-track 'Something Worth Waiting For.'
The group has also released 'Necessary,' a live-wire track that boasts the raucous energy that has enraptured crowds on Friko's multi-continent-spanning tour. Kapetan explains, 'This was actually the first new song we ever played live as a four piece. An ode to imposter syndrome and trying to convince yourself out of that feeling.'
The band recently recorded a performance for KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic where they played crowd favorites 'Choo Choo,' 'Still Around,' 'Seven Degrees,' 'Alice,' and 'Certainty.'
After a successful run in Asia where Friko performed to thousands at Japan's Fuji Rock festival and sold out all three of their China dates, the band is currently hitting the European festival circuit including appearances at Haldern Pop, AFF, Ypsigrock, Paredes De Coura, La Route Du Rock, Green Man, Pstereo, Into The Great Wide Open, and more. They will support Nation of Language across the UK, headline a show at London's Moth Club (Aug. 17th) and perform an in-store at Rough Trade East (Aug. 24th). Following, they will embark on a massive headline tour across North America this fall concluding with their first appearance at Corona Capital and a hometown victory lap at The Salt Shed. Tickets are on sale and available at whoisfriko.com.
With Something Worth Waiting For, Friko mined inspiration from their endless state of motion over the past two years, arriving at a body of work that speaks to a more existential form of movement. Recorded with producer John Congleton (a Grammy Award-winner known for his work with St. Vincent, Mannequin Pussy, Mogwai, and more) at his studio in Los Angeles, Something Worth Waiting For bears a heightened urgency that Friko partly attribute to a profound shift in their production process. And with the addition of Robb and Fuller to Friko's lineup, Kapetan and Minzenberger found an ideal match for their viscerally attuned yet voraciously creative sensibilities.
In the making of their sophomore full-length, the band gained a powerful new clarity on their purpose and vision while embracing an even bolder sense of abandon, exploring everything from noise-rock to avant-garde classical to '70s-era symphonic balladry. Equal parts sonically extravagant and emotionally searing, Something Worth Waiting For ultimately locates a wildly elusive balance between the wide-eyed idealism of youth and the self-possessed grit of lived experience.
Something Worth Waiting For (Expanded Edition) Tracklisting
1. Guess
2. Still Around
3. Choo Choo
4. Alice
5. Certainty
6. Hot Air Balloon
7. Seven Degrees
8. Something Worth Waiting For
9. Dear Bicycle
10. Necessary
11. Dirty Diamond
12. Look At Ya Now
13. Rock Song
14. Seven Degrees (Demo)
15. Something Worth Waiting For (Demo)
Friko Tour Dates
Sat. Aug. 15 – St. Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock
Mon. Aug. 17 - London, UK @ Moth Club
Wed. Aug. 19 – London, UK @ Village Underground (w/ Nation of Language)
Thu. Aug. 20 - South Wales, UK @ Green Man Festival
Sat. Aug. 22 – Trondheim, NO @ PSTEREO
Sun. Aug. 23 – Liverpool, UK @ Camp and Furnace (w/ Nation of Language)
Mon. Aug. 24 - London, UK @ Rough Trade East
Tue. Aug. 25 – Leeds, UK @ Irish Centre (w/ Nation of Language)
Wed. Aug. 26 – Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol (w/ Nation of Language)
Fri. Aug. 28 - Vlieland, NL @ Into The Great Wide Open
Sat. Aug. 29 – The Hague, NL @ Paard van Stal
Tue. Sep. 8 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Thu. Sep. 10 - Houston, TX @ Womh - Upstairs
Fri. Sep. 11 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Sat. Sep. 12 - Dallas, TX @ Rubber Gloves Patio
Mon. Sep. 14 - Denver, CO @ Marquis
Wed. Sep. 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Fri. Sep. 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Sat. Sep. 19 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Sun. Sep. 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sid The Cat Auditorium
Mon. Sep. 21 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Thu. Sep. 24 - Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
Fri. Sep. 25 - Seattle, WA @ Baba Yaga
Sat. Sep. 26 - Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Wed. Sep. 30 - Morrison, CA @ Red Rocks (w/ Back Seat Lovers)
Thu. Oct. 15 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line (venue upgrade)
Fri. Oct. 16 - Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
Sat. Oct. 17 - Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch
Mon. Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
Tue. Oct. 20 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
Thu. Oct. 22 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Fri. Oct. 23 - New York, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Sat. Oct. 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
Mon. Oct. 26 - Washington, DC @ Atlantis
Tue. Oct. 27 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall
Wed. Oct. 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Fri. Oct. 30 - Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room
Sat. Oct. 31 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar
Fri. Nov. 20 - Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capital Festival
Sat. Dec. 19 - Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed (w/ Ratboys)
Photo Credit: Adam Powell
Photo Credit: Adam Powell
