Jamie T Can No Longer Afford European Tours After Brexit

Jamie T has revealed that touring Europe is currently beyond his budget.

British musicians have faced rising costs when performing in the EU since Brexit, with additional paperwork, more expensive transport and fees associated with crossing borders. For Jamie T, the modest income he receives from royalties isn't enough to cover those expenses.

Speaking to The i newspaper, he said: “I get some royalty cheques, but they’re not huge. We do make money from [concert] tickets. That’s the main bit.

“Gigging is expensive, because I’ve got a band. I can’t tour Europe anymore. I don’t think we’ve been back there since Brexit.”

Jamie T is still exploring ways to perform beyond the UK, but acknowledged that financially, "it's not adding up at the moment.”

He also spoke about supporting his musicians: “I want to keep the band working, too. And albums don’t go on as long as they used to. It feels like they get released and then disappear. Which is alright for me, because I mostly enjoy writing records these days. That’s where I feel happiest.

“Yeah, it would be nice to tour more. But I’m getting older now. I can’t really complain. I’ve been in it for 20 years. I’m happy to still be here.”

Having found fame as a teenager during the noughties indie scene with songs including Sheila and Sticks and Stones, Jamie T is revisiting those formative years on his new album, Ghosts (100 Days of Morning), before moving into a different stage of his life.

Discussing the album, which arrives on Friday (09.10.26), he said: “It’s hard to grow up as a musician when you start so early and you’re known for things you wrote when you were 17.

“So I was keen to make one last record that was looking back on those times. In order to tie it up in a bow, and maybe move on a bit.”