After three phenomenal SOLD OUT performances last week, it is proudly announced that Glasgow’s finest THE ALMIGHTY will be back to play more headline shows!
The band’s original lineup of Ricky Warwick, Stumpy Monroe, Floyd London and Andy “Tantrum” McCafferty will continue the three in a row concept under the title ‘THREE ‘N’ EASY’ with shows at the end of November 2024, but also have taken the unprecedented move to also announce three more shows at the end of November 2025 at the same time!
Both runs will end at the famed Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow on November 30th each year to celebrate Scotland’s Patron Saint on St. Andrews Day.
Lead Vocalist / Guitarist Ricky Warwick: “Well what can we say … we wanted to see how the reaction was to the band reforming before deciding anything going forward and the fans last week made it a no brainer for us … we had to play more shows! So here we are announcing two years worth of shows at once, small runs to keep it special, ending at hallowed ground each for our “annual” St. Andrews Day Party! A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who turned out in force to see us this year so on behalf of Stumpy, Floyd, Tantrum and myself, we are very honoured and proud everyone stuck with us and blew the roof off everynight … see you next year!”
The dates are as follows: THREE ‘N’ EASY 2024 Thursday 28th November 2024 – CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange Friday 29th November 2024 – WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill Saturday 30th November 2024 – GLASGOW, Barrowland Ballroom
THREE ‘N’ EASY 2025 Friday 28th November 2025 – PORTSMOUTH, Guildhall Saturday 29th November 2025 – NOTTINGHAM, Rock City Sunday 30th November 2025 – GLASGOW, Barrowland Ballroom
Special guests on all shows to be announced.
Tickets go on general sale for all shows Wednesday December 13th at 10am Glasgow tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk Whilst Cambridge, Wolverhampton, Portsmouth & Nottingham tickets are from www.myticket.co.uk
The Libertines are delighted to announce the release of a wonderful new song, a Shakespearean tale of blood and revenge, entitled Night of The Hunter, which is taken from the band’s forthcoming fourth studio album, All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade.
Peter and Carl discuss Night Of The Hunter:
Peter“We got the title from Charles Laughton’s directorial debut Night Of The Hunter starring Robert Mitchum as a preacher with ‘LOVE’ and ‘HATE’ tattooed on his knuckles. The song’s about not staying ahead of the law. This fella doesn’t really know why his mate’s dead, but he’s got a feeling his mate had it coming to him. He fucked with the wrong people, and he stole something he shouldn’t have, and he got stabbed. So, he’s angry and hurt and he has to go and get revenge, so he does and that’s it for him, basically. Once he has stabbed the lad who stabbed his mate, that’s it for him. He lashed out in revenge and he knows they’re coming to get him and he’s not even going to try and run because he knows he’ll just be running forever.
Carl“I started writing a riff and it ended up sounding a bit like Swan Lake, and everyone went, ‘Yeah!’ Then we got Peter’s theremin player in which took about a day to get in tune, then he played that sequence and it worked beautifully.”
“The idea of getting carted off for ten years is horrendous… the condemned man dies 1000 times.”
All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, The Libertines’ first new album in nine years, is released on 8th March ’24 through EMI and isavailable to preorder here: https://TheLibertines.lnk.to/AQOTEEPR
All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade features eleven new Libertines songs and was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Dimitri Tikovoï (The Horrors/Charli XCX/Becky Hill) and recorded at The Albion Rooms in Margate. Recorded in just four weeks earlier this year during February and March and finished over seven days at La Ferme de Gestein Studios in Normandy, with additional production and mixed by Dan Grech-Marguerat (Lana Del Rey/Liam Gallagher/Paul McCartney).
All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade will be available on CD, deluxe CD, 12” vinyl in limited edition coloured variants, deluxe double vinyl cassette and digital download.
The Libertines are Peter Doherty – vocals/guitar, Carl Barât – vocals/guitar, John Hassall – bass guitar and Gary Powell– drums. The band have released three albums: Up The Bracket (2002); The Libertines (2004); and Anthems For Doomed Youth (2015).
The Libertines play the following club shows over the next three months, all of which sold out within minutes of going on sale.
Fresh and fighting fit from a lengthy European tour, Ruts DC return this month with an extensive December tour and a new video for ‘Faces In The Sky’, the opening track from last years acclaimed ‘Counterculture?’ album.
“The video captures the intention of the song,” says bassist and singer John ‘Segs’ Jennings. “It’s the paranoia of these modern times. The lyric reads, ‘How can we tear the dream from a lie?’ – Beware the tech you wish for.”
The video perfectly compliments the songs sense of foreboding and dread, yet like all great Ruts DC compositions, it’s defiant and bold in its lyrical and musical approach.
Always a thrilling live band, Ruts DC will be ending 2023 with a run of dates in December, displaying once again their impeccable musicianship and endless back-catalogue of rousing anthems.
Catch Ruts DC on tour this month at the following dates:
December:
7th Colchester, Arts Centre (*Support from The Duel)
8th Dublin, The Workman’s Club
9th Belfast, Voodoo
10th London, The Garage (*Support from The Duel)
13th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
14th Glasgow, Oran Mor
15th Edinburgh, Mash House
16th Manchester, The Ritz
17th Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
19th Exeter, Phoenix (*Support from The Duel)
20th Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach (*Support from The Duel)
21st Southampton, The 1865 (*Support from The Duel)
22nd Guildford, Suburbs @The Holyroyd (*Support from The Duel)
Birmingham proto-punks BLACK BOMBERS have unveiled a new video from their forthcoming new album.
‘The Price’ casts a withering eye over the antics of the UK government, particularly with regard to their handing of the Covid pandemic.
Coincidentally, the video drops on the same day that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared before the official Covid Inquiry.
“The running of the country seemed like a game show,” says guitarist and vocalist Alan Byron. “Matt Hancock appearing on reality TV months after the song was penned only seemed to confirm that. A huge part of the population seeming blind to the culling of the most vulnerable – and of the VIP lane making obscene amounts of money out of PPE.
“On a personal level the band lost several loved ones, parents, life-long friends, and had to deal with all the restrictions around hospital visiting and funerals – basically, following all the rules that, in time, we found the lawmakers were breaking themselves. ‘The Price’ expresses all of that anger and frustration.”
The single is drawn from the quartet’s second album Vive La Révolution, their first album to feature new lead guitarist Steve Crittall, formerly of The Godfathers and the UK Subs. The album was produced and mixed by Crittall and Alex McGowan (Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind, Urban Voodoo Machine) at Space Eko East Studios in East London and follows on from 2019’s mini-album Volume 4.
Out on 26 January through Easy Action, ‘Vive La Révolution’ is available to pre-order here.
Black Bombers play The Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Sunday 10 December with Desperate Measures.
SLAM DUNK // WINTER JAM TOUR – JANUARY 2024 & Angry Side headline tour in April & May
Following their most successful, mostly sold out UK tour to date throughout October and November, MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP have now been invited to join the SLAM DUNK WINTER JAM TOUR in January 2024 alongside Zebrahead, Teenage Bottle Rocket and [Spunge].
Championed by the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show, Vive Le Rock, Kerrang, Radio X and many others, the band have released two new singles this year – Rebound and Shut Your Mouth – as a prelude to their second album, scheduled for release in 2024.
With their dynamic sound and candid lyrics, the band explores themes such as loss, betrayal, anxiety, heartbreak, environmental concerns and political unrest, all while exuding the punk attitude and the prowess that sets them apart.
Millie Manders and The Shutup have built a strong reputation through their live shows and versatile discography, including their debut album Telling Truths, Breaking Ties and the hugely popular cover of the massive Little Mix global hit Sweet Melody. Their live performances have graced such notable festival stages as Slam Dunk, Bearded Theory, North West Calling, Rebellion, Kendal Calling and Boomtown, and they’ve previously supported the likes of Less Than Jake and Ferocious Dog on tour.
Beyond their music, the band’s commitment to sustainability and charity is always evident, prioritising eco-friendly merchandise and raising funds for charitable causes through limited edition artwork and clothing sales. With their dedication to making a positive impact in the music industry, Millie Manders and The Shutup continue to be a vital voice in the burgeoning cross-genre punk scene.
Fresh off the back of a hugely successful UK tour throughout the autumn with several sold out shows, London based cross-genre punk band MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP have announced their ANGRY SIDE TOUR for April and May 2024.
Powerhouse lead vocalist Millie says of the forthcoming Angry Side single from the album: “Angry Side is about teenage angst, and I am so excited to bring that energy with us to stages around the UK.”
PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT TO PLAY HEADSTOCK MENTAL HEALTH FUNDRAISER AT MANCHESTER STAR & GARTER – THE HOME OF THE IAN CURTIS MURAL
The intimate event will include a Q&A with Peter Hook plus a Joy Division set with his band
The Star & Garter is home to the stunning mural of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis
Tickets to the exclusive event will be allocated via a ticket ballot on ticketing site Skiddle
Proceeds from ticket sales will support Shout, the mental health text support charity
Music & Mental Wellbeing Festival, Headstock, has announced that Peter Hook & The Light will play a one-off mental health fundraising event on Friday 12 April 2024 at Manchester Star & Garter, one of the city’s best loved independent live music venues.
pic: Mark L Hill
Peter Hook & The Light: An Evening of Music & Conversation will see the legendary Joy Division and New Order bassist take part in a hosted Q&A to discuss his time with Joy Division as well as his close friendship with Ian Curtis. Later in the evening, Peter will be joined on stage by his band to play a Joy Division set for just 200 lucky fans.
Proceeds from this special Headstock event will go to support mental health charity Shout. The gig will also take place in memory of Ian Curtis who tragically lost his life to suicide in May 1980.
Arguably one of the most influential and pioneering bands of all time, Joy Division was a post-punk rock band formed in Salford in 1976 by Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, with Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris joining shortly after.
This year (2023) Joy Division received an inaugural nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside iconic, globally renowned artists and bands such as Kate Bush, Iron Maiden, George Michael and Rage Against The Machine.
Peter Hook & The Light have announced a special one-off event at the intimate (200 capacity) Star & Garter in Manchester on Friday 12 April 2024 to raise funds for the mental health charity Shout.
The evening will see a hosted Q&A session with the legendary Joy Division and New Order bassist and a full live set of Joy Division songs with his band. Given the limited capacity of the venue, tickets will be allocated via a ballot launched on Skiddle.
Peter Hook says: “I have campaigned for a long time for Ian and Joy Division to be commemorated anyway and anywhere possible. From the statue in Macclesfield – still ongoing – to the mural in Macclesfield, to the mural in Manchester and the upcoming one in Stockport. I will only rest when every town in Great Britain has something.
“I am immensely proud of Ian and our work as Joy Division, and to celebrate it in this way is such a pleasure. I am hoping to bring Ian’s best man at his wedding and childhood friend Kevin Briggs to join me, so fans can get a real insight into this wonderful man and artist. To play at such an iconic venue as the Star & Garter just seals the deal perfectly.”
Given the limited capacity of the venue (200) tickets will be allocated via a ballot to be launched on Skiddle from Monday 4 December 2023 at https://skiddle.com/e/37141791 and will remain open until Friday 2 February 2024. Each successful ballot entrant will be allocated two tickets to the event.
Pricing for the ticket ballot as follows:
1 x ballot entry = £10
3 x ballot entries = £15
10 x ballot entries = £20
Money raised via the ticket ballot will go to support Shout’s free and confidential 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Atheer Al-Salim, founder of Headstock, said: “We are so grateful to Peter Hook and his band who are giving up their time and talent to help us raise much needed funds to support our charity partner Shout and their life-saving text support service. The evening promises to be a poignant moment for Manchester, and an event of huge musical and cultural significance for the city.”
Victoria Hornby, CEO of Shout, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Peter Hook & The Light and Headstock for putting on this very special event which will raise vital funds for us to keep the Shout text messaging support service running 24/7. Our volunteers take up to 2,000 conversations with children, young people and adults in urgent need of mental health support every day, and every £10 raised funds a conversation that could save a life.”
The Grade II listed Star & Garter is home to the recently reinstated mural of Peter Hook’s former Joy Division bandmate Ian Curtis, which was unveiled ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day in September 2023. The event at the Star & Garter – which has also hosted bands such as Courteeners, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Bring Me The Horizon – is taking place seven months after the stunning mural of Ian Curtis was completed by renowned Manchester street artist Akse.
The mural is based on a photograph of Ian Curtis taken by Belgian photographer Phillipe Carly and depicts the Joy Division front man shortly before the release of the band’s second album, Closer, and on the eve of their first North American tour.
ABOUT HEADSTOCK: Headstock is a Manchester-based social enterprise that works to create music-led solutions to raise money and awareness for mental health charities. Through the power of music and shared experiences, their goal is to create change by changing the conversation around mental health. Headstock launched in October 2019 and was initially set up as a direct response to the disproportionate level of mental health issues across greater Manchester and the North West.
ABOUT SHOUT 85258: Shout is the UK’s first and only free and confidential 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Shout launched publicly in May 2019 and has since had more than 1.7 million conversations with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support. As a digital service, Shout became increasingly critical during Covid-19, being one of the few mental health support services able to operate as normal at that time.
Once in a Lifetime Performance Features Special Guests including Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols), and Tony Kanal (No Doubt) Buy Here
A spectacular special event, immortalised for the big screen; legendary punk icon, Billy Idol, makes history by playing the first ever concert in front of the world famous Hoover Dam. Kicking off his sell-out 2023 North American spring and summer tour, the once in a lifetime performance, which illuminated the surrounding Black Canyon of the Colorado River and the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, features a career-spanning run of chart-topping hits including ‘Dancing with Myself’, ‘Eyes Without a Face’, ‘Rebel Yell’ and ‘White Wedding’. One of the most recognisable faces and voices of rock’n’roll, with over 40 million album sales, and numerous platinum albums worldwide, the hell-raising rock star is joined on stage by his longtime band including his collaborator and lead guitarist of over 40 years, Steve Stevens, with special guest stars including The Kills’ Alison Mosshart, former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, and No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal.
‘What A F*cking Nightmare’ – Due Out 9th February 2024 via Pure Noise Records pre-order: Here
Upcoming US, UK, EU Shows -Dates w/ Madball, Scowl, Sunami, Home Front, and More
Pic : Gavin Watson
The Chisel are back! The punk rabble-rousers have returned with the announcement of their highly anticipated new album, What A F*cking Nightmare, due out February 9th from Pure Noise Records. Recorded by John Atkinson and produced by Jonah Falco (Chubby & The Gang, High Vis, Home Front) the album is a high energy blend of Oi! hooks and hardcore stomp that’s sure to please fans of all things loud and catchy.
To celebrate the announcement of What A F*cking Nightmare, The Chisel have shared its lead single, “F*ck ‘Em.” The livewire track follows previous single “Cry Your Eyes Out” (which drew attention from the likes of Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, and more, and will also appear on the new album), and highlights the band’s ability to channel catchiness and ferocity in equal measure. Vocalist Cal Graham discussed the new song saying, “the song’s about people who talk but don’t have much to say: gobshites and over-opinionated knobheads.”
What A F*cking Nightmare is due out 9th February 2024 via Pure Noise Records.
Upcoming Shows: 7th December London, UK @ The George Tavern (album announce show)
26th January New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom + 27th-28th January Baltimore, MD @ Disturbin’ The Peace 27th January Baltimore, MD @ Metro Baltimore (Disturbin’ The Peace Aftershow)
1st February Leeds, UK @ Key Club * 2nd February Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny 2 * 3rd February Edinburgh, UK @ The Wee Red * 4th February Manchester, UK @ Star & Garter * 5th February Birmingham, UK @ The Flapper * 9th February Cambridge, UK @ Portland Arms * 10th February St Albans, UK @ The Horn * 11th February Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store * 16th February Southhampton, UK @ The Joiners * 17th February Bristol, UK @ Exchange * 18th February Cardiff, UK @ The Globe * 23rd February Turnbridge Wells, UK @ Forum * 24th February London, UK @ 100 Club * 25th February Nottingham, UK @ The Bodega *
29th February Drachten, NL @ Iduna ^ 1st March Essen, DE @ Westadthalle ^ 2nd March Valenciennes, FR @ Salle Des Nympheas ^ 3rd March Maastricht, NL @ Muziekgieterij ^ 4th March Strasbourgh, FR @ La Laiterie ^ 5th March Heidelberg, DE @ Karlstorbahnhof ^ 6th March Munchen, DE @ Backstage ^ 7th March Ostrava, CZ @ Barrak Music Club ^ 8th March Warzawa, PL @ Proxima ^ 9th March Dresden, DE @ Tante Ju ^ 10th March Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus ^
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have announced their new album ‘Dark Rainbow’ for release on 26th January 2024.
The band are also sharing the album’s lead single “Man of the Hour”, which was given its airplay debut by Clara Amfo on her BBC Radio 1 Future Sounds show last night.
New single “Man of the Hour” makes it clear that we are entering into a whole new era for The Rattlesnakes. Self-evaluation and reflection are very much on the agenda throughout ‘Dark Rainbow‘, and they pave the way for a sound that puts southern gothic balladry and crooning alt-rock to the front. A sonic evolution and emotional complexity powers this soul-searching expedition that reaches into the very heart of identity and pulls from it the wisdom that can only come from lived experience. The lyrics to “Man of the Hour” question the idea of rock stardom and where it fits in 2023, recognising a character that we all could, to our own detriment, be or aspire to. Singer Frank Carter elaborates:
“We talk about how rock and roll will never die, but we never really talk about how maybe the idea of the rock star should die. The whole concept and what it means has always been this glamorised moment, but ultimately when I put that suit on, it didn’t go very well for me.”
“I’m just witnessing the world change so quickly and I’m still trying to come to terms with who I am and what the authentic version of me is. By giving people what I thought they wanted I think I got further and further away from who I actually am.”
Hear new single “Man of the Hour” on streaming services here and watch the video directed by Ruth Hundumahere.
The last time that many UK fans will have witnessed the band will have been at their sold-out Alexandra Palace show in London, or on the mainstages at Download and Reading & Leeds festivals, or headlining this summer’s 2000 Trees Festival. In the wake of ‘Dark Rainbow’’s release in January, the band will also be embarking on their biggest tour to date as they announce details of headline shows through the UK for 2024.
Fans can now pre-order the album for access to pre-sales.
All tickets will be on sale from Friday 6th October at 10am local time from the band’s website here.
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes UK Tour 2024
06 Feb – The Great Hall, Cardiff, UK 07 Feb – O2 Academy, Bristol, UK 09 Feb – Academy, Manchester, UK 10 Feb – Northumbria Uni Student’s Union, Newcastle, UK 11 Feb – Barrowland, Glasgow, UK 13 Feb – O2 Academy, Leeds, UK 14 Feb – Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK 15 Feb – Roundhouse, London, UK 16 Feb – Roundhouse, London, UK
It’s not often I get excited about hearing a new album these days so cynical and jaded one can often feel when hearing so much new music (and old) but I did get a little flutter of the pulse when I saw that The Loveless had actually completed a full album of material and pre-sales were available through the Cadiz website. so as the saying goes a fool can often be parted with their money and I clicked the purchase button.
The band has previously released two very limited edition EPs which feature some of the songs featured on this thirteen-track album. The album kicks off in a raunchy style with an original composition ‘Wild In The Streets’ and their credentials are laid bare and the cards are on the table. X has form and once played with punks legendry icon Stiv Bator before his untimely death but will be most known for being an integral member of 80s punks Sigue Sigue Sputnik as well as playing with Adam Ant. It should also come as no surprise that Almond has a history of post-punk even when his pop career took off as the vocalist for Soft Cell but this Bowie, Iggy & Reid-influenced garage rock adventure is a fresh and vibrant romp through the late 60s and 70s garage rock genre from the covers they take ownership of and the original songs they insert through this love letter to good time underground Garage/glam rock.
‘Wild In The Streets’ is the perfect uptempo opener and showcasing Almond and X’s songwriting and their love of some loud, raw guitars and all things sleazy Rock n Roll. ‘Putty In Your Hands’ is a groovy bubblegum blowing hypnotic slice of Rock n Roll. It’s the zipped up, collars-turned-up leather jacket we all wish we could pull off whilst leaning on the jukebox whilst chewing on a lucky strike, no filter of course. There’s more to these cats than just being a covers band, to be fair even if they were they’re one formidable and cool covers band. Having Iggy’s rhythm section along for the ride adds yet more authenticity and throw a guest appearance from Glen Matlock on ‘Pills’ and you have a covers band that knows a thing or two about garage punk n roll and they are cooking on gas and we’re only halfway through side one.
Their take on The Sorrows ‘Take A Heart’ perfectly suits Almond’s vocal style and to be fair running through The Kinks ‘I’m Not Like Anybody Else’ is a smokey and exceptional take and rather than going for a better know song from the Davies catalogue they’ve chosen well. The last track on side one is the smouldering slow burner ‘Dark Side’ that suits Almond’s crooner persona but the beauty is in the guitar breaks that pepper the track like shooting stars in a misty evening sky lighting up everything beneath it showcasing a band who are right on the money and in love with what they do adding authenticity and star quality to a fantastic side of music.
Flipping it over side two begins with another Almond and Neil X composition ‘Nothing At All’ and then a few cover tracks the first culled from their previously released EP ‘Hot Hard & Ready’ before chasing through another Alice Cooper band track the fantastic ‘Under My Wheels’ but then they delve into the 13th Floor Elevator Roky Erickson track ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ again pure garage rock goldust. In a moment of clarity and pardon my ignorance, but, the trippy take of ‘Shape Of Things To Come’ ties it all together in a homer moment because the original is from this fictional band Max Frost and the Troopers taken from the movie ‘Wild In The Streets’. There you go for anyone else (like me) who might be a bit slow on the intake. which only leaves ‘I’ll Be Gone’ and we’re out of here and a thoroughly enjoyable and authentic record is done and dusted and their love of the music shines through and infects anyone within listening distance of the speakers. What a way to draw 2023 to a close than with a really enjoyable Rock n Roll record that makes me warm and happy whilst a tip of the hat to the past and fist bump to the future we should never forget where we’ve come from and thanks to records like this we won’t – to the songwriters they’ve chosen to represent so well and who helped shape this record I thank because The Loveless just became my Christmas party album for 2023. Buy It!
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