The Drums

• Sell out London’s Heaven in one day!
• Additional date on the 9th June added due to popular demand

Tickets for The Drums headline show @ the 900 capacity venue, Heaven on 8^th June were put on sale this morning and have SOLD OUT in one day!

An additional date @ Heaven on the 9^th June has now been added.

Tuesday 8^th June – Heaven, London – SOLD OUT

NEW DATE DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND:

Wednesday 9^th June – Heaven, London

Heaven, London:

Under The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NG

Tickets go on sale Friday 12^th March

£11.50 www.gigsandtours.com

The band’s as yet untitled debut album will be released in June on Moshi Moshi / Island Records.

Released on March 29^th, the first single from the album will be brand new track ‘Best Friend’, which has fast become a live favourite with its soaring chorus and guitarist Jacob Graham’s impassioned tambourine playing.

Additionally, The Drums will be appearing as the special guests on Florence and the Machine’s May UK tour.

Florence and the Machine support dates:

02-May – Dublin, Olympia Theatre

03-May – Dublin, Olympia Theatre

05-May – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange

06-May – Edinburgh, Corn Exchange

07-May – Blackpool, Empress Ballroom

09-May – Blackpool, Empress Ballroom

10-May – Wolverhampton, Civic Theatre

11-May – Wolverhampton, Civic Theatre

13-May – London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo

14-May – London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo

15-May – London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo

The Drums’ ‘Summertime!’ EP is out now on Moshi Moshi / Island Records.

IS TROPICAL announce FREE London show

New Young Pony Club Tour (March 2010)

Good Shoes Tour (April 2010)

The Big Pink Tour (May 2010)

MARCH – New Young Pony Club Tour

15th PORTSMOUTH – Wedgewood Rooms
16th BIRMINGHAM – Academy 2
17th BRISTOL – Thekla
18th OXFORD – Academy 2
20th MANCHESTER – Moho
21st LEEDS – Cockpit 2
22nd NOTTINGHAM – Stealth
23rd GLASGOW – King Tuts
25th NEWCASTLE – Academy 2
26th LIVERPOOL – Korova
27th CAMBRIDGE – Junction 2

They will then return to London to play a free show at Pure Groove on 29th March:

http://www.puregroove.co.uk/in-store.aspx?CntProv=Events&CntItem=f64e60cd-faff-4973-bf10-733164e545fd

Is Tropical will be keeping themselves busy by going straight back on the road with Good Shoes. Here are full dates:

APRIL – Good Shoes Tour

19th NORWICH – Arts Centre
20th SOUTHEND – Chinnerys
21st LONDON – Dingwalls
22nd BRIGHTON – Audio
23rd GLOUCESTER – Guildhall
24th PORTSMOUTH – Wedgewood Rooms
26th EXETER – Cavern
27th WOLVERHAMPTON – Little Civic
28th MANCHESTER – Deaf Institute
30th HULL – The Lamp
1st May – DERBY – The Royal

Is Tropical will then be joining The Big Pink on their May tour:

MAY – The Big Pink Tour

7th OXFORD – Academy
8th SHEFFIELD – Leadmill
9th GLASGOW – Garage
11th MANCHESTER – Academy 2
12th BIRMINGHAM – Acdemy 2
13th LONDON – Forum

After all this touring, Is Tropical will be back in the studio with Jimmy Robertson (Klaxons, The Big Pink) to record the follow up to their debut single When O’When.

The Suzukis Announce first London show:
Free single launch @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen – March 22nd
Debut single ‘Built In’ released on March 22nd on Deltasoni

From Jerry Lee Lewis to At The Drive-In, via The Stooges and The Sex Pistols, there is a lineage of rock and roll bands united by the same primeval energy and visceral power.

Hailing from Wigan, a quartet called The Suzukis, are creating a mighty storm that taps into this same raw, primal aggression and marks them out as one of the most exciting new bands to reignite people’s faith in rock and roll. It’s been a long time coming, but The Suzukis may just be the first new British group for a long while for the disaffected youth to embrace. A band that matches the sullen boredom and nihilistic pent-up anger of battered, small-town Britain with a fistful of big anthems.

Released on March 22nd through Deltasonic, Built In is The Suzukis’ debut single and a scathing demolition of celebrity culture to boot. Cutting lyrics over wall of sound guitars and over driven bass make for an exhilarating listen that stands the band out from both the current crop of limp indie bands and also the faux-emo punk from the US.

To celebrate thee release, The Suzukis have announced a free single launch for later this month. It will be their first ever London show:

Monday March 22^nd
Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London
2- 4 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6NU
Free / 8pm

To witness The Suzukis’ front man Chris Veasey’s spat out vocal delivery and staring-into-the-void stance, is to realise that for some people, being in a band is simply more than a career choice. Some people are born to do nothing else. A front man who manages to scare the first five rows at the band’s gigs, whilst also writing some of the most succinct lyrics about what it is to be living in Britain in 2010.

The Suzukis have got that punk rock, raw power, except there is no agenda here, no freaky wardrobe; just four lads creating a huge wall of sound the only way they know how.

The band’s debut album will follow in May 2010.

Everything Everything
NME Radar Tour – April & May 2010

Everything Everything are pleased to announce a much coveted spot on this spring’s NME Radar Tour. They will play the co-headline slot with fellow Mancunians, Hurts while NYC newcomer Darwin Deez holds the support.

The tour opens in Glasgow on April 26 and runs through to the closing show in Northampton on May 12.

This will follow the bands SXSW jaunt (playing the official Fader & NME parties amongst others) and a support gig for Wild Beasts in London on April 22.

This extensive NME tour will serve to showcase some exciting new material the boys have been working on whilst recording their debut album, due for release this summer on Geffen UK.

Full NME dates:

April 26          Glasgow

April 27          Preston, 53 Degrees

April 28          Manchester, Academy 3

April 30          Stoke, Sugarmill

May 2             Middlesborough

May 4             Oxford Academy 2

May 5             Bristol Thekla

May 6             Wrexham, Central Station

May 8             York, Duchess

May 9             Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms

May 10           London, KOKO

May 11           Norwich, Waterfront

May 12           Northampton, Roadmender

www.everything-everything.co.uk

www.myspace.com/everythingeverthinguk

FRANK TURNER
HEADLINE SHOW AT LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

Having sold out London’s Roundhouse venue 2 months in advance, Frank Turner is overwhelmingly excited to announce that he will be headlining London’s Brixton’s 02 Academy later on this year.

The show will be his largest headline gig so far and an incredible achievement considering his humble beginnings of playing tiny venues, house parties, pubs, car parks and anywhere else that would have him – only a few years ago. Testament if ever there was need for one, that Frank Turner has turned underground cult status into a mainstream success story.

Frank says: “Life has been getting increasingly surreal in recent years, but headlining Brixton really is something special; I’m not sure I ever dared dream I’d get to this stage. It’s an honour.”

The news comes just weeks before Frank embarks on his huge headline tour running throughout March, culminating in the sold out Roundhouse gig on 24th March.
Coinciding with the tour Frank will also release a live version of hit single ‘Long Live The Queen’ digitally and on limited 7” vinyl on 22nd March 2010. Recorded at Frank’s incendiary sold out O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire show which took place last October, ‘Long Live The Queen’ captures the energy and passion of a triumphant pinnacle of Frank’s solo career. It features on ‘Take To The Road’ – an all encompassing DVD/CD package also released on 22nd March through Xtra Mile Recordings. Picking up where 2007’s ‘All About The Destination’ DVD left off it includes the entire live set from O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the sold out show at Union Chapel at Christmas, as well as promo videos, tour diaries, backstage interviews, a photo gallery and the audio of the Shepherd’s Bush gig as a bonus CD disc.

Full dates are:

HEADLINE UK TOUR
MARCH
15 Northumbria Uni, Newcastle
16 Edinburgh Picture House
17 Manchester Academy
18 Leeds 02 Academy
19 Bristol 02 Academy SOLD OUT
21 Birmingham O2 Academy
22 Norwich Waterfront
23 Portsmouth Pyramids
24 London Roundhouse SOLD OUT
**EXTRA DATE ADDED DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND**
DECEMBER
12 LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

Following the tour Frank will release the beautiful song ‘Isabel’ as the third single to be taken from his Top 40 album ‘Poetry Of The Deed’. To be released on 12th April 2010

Currently supporting Flogging Molly on their huge arena tour in the USA and having recently sold out solo shows in Toronto, Montreal and LA – the international plot continues to grow with a confirmed set at Coachella Festival in April, dates on the Revival Tour in Australia, gigs in Hong Kong and a slot at the famous Calgary Folk Festival in July.
Further summer festivals to be announced over the next few months.

www.frank-turner.com & www.myspace.com/frankturner

London based pop punksters The Famous Class release their ‘Make Or Break’ EP on TFC Records on April 5 2010.

The Famous Class are on a mission to bring a little bounce, a little cheer back to the masses. From the insanely catchy first single ‘Emily’ to the driving groove of ‘Losing The Game’, each of the five tracks on their imminently released debut EP are paeans to positivity.

“Lots of bands shy-away from making upbeat music,” says frontman Stoo, “But at times like these, there is more demand than ever for something more uplifting, and we love what we do, and we hope people will hear that in our music.”

Growing up on a diet of American pop-punk, this quartet have combined this much loved sound with a distinctly British twist to create something as driving and danceable as it is infectious and melodic.

The EP will be distributed online via i-Tunes, and will include their first single ‘Emily’, which will be supported by a music video. Also CD copies will be sold via the band’s online store and the flagship Oxford Circus HMV.

The band, consisting of Stoo on vocals and guitar, Justin on bass and vocals, Ben on guitar and Joe on drums, have already garnered something of a reputation as a stella live proposition too. Gigs at respected venues like the Barfly, the O2 Academy and The Scala in London have highlighted just how much FUN people can have at a The Famous Class show.

And now the band are looking to hit the road again and travel to all four corners of the UK, in support of their debut ‘Make or Break’ EP.

Shows to be announced soon. Check http://www.myspace.com/thefamousclass

The Famous Class take great pride in being a completely D.I.Y band, having total control of everything they do, from writing the music, to designing their own CD packaging and T-shirts, and making their own music video.

“We’re just four guys making music and getting it out there,” says Stoo. “There’s no label, no management… nobody making choices for us. That gives us the freedom to be who we are and make a band that we, ourselves would want to hear”.

And on April 5, you can hear ‘em too!

http://www.myspace.com/thefamousclass

The Best New Rock Festival in the World
High Voltage, the UK’s new prestige rock festival, launches in July 2010 with headline appearances from

Emerson, Lake & Palmer and ZZ Top
The dates: July 24 and 25, 2010.
The place: Victoria Park, London, UK.

Further acts announced…

Transatlantic, Venom, UFO, The Quireboys, The Union, Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa

High Voltage is the must-see rock event of 2010 – a two-day festival featuring the very best in classic rock, progressive rock and metal. Custom built by rock fans, for rock fans.

Topping the bill are the legendary Emerson, Lake & Palmer and ZZ Top.

The latest additions add to an already stellar lineup that will run across two days and three stages – Main Stage, Prog Stage and Metal Stage.

Transatlantic (Prog Stage) – A rare performance from the prog rock supergroup made up of Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), Neal Morse (ex-Spock’s Beard) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). The band released their latest album “The Whirlwind” in late 2009 to widespread critical acclaim.

Venom (Metal Stage) – Venom are the legendary British metal band whose seminal 1982 album Black Metal spawned an entire genre. Acknowledged as a major influence by Metallica, Slayer and countless extreme metal bands, Venom are still led by iconic frontman Cronos, who was a guest star on Dave Grohl’s Probot album.

UFO (Main Stage) – One of the all-time great hard rock bands. In the ‘70s they released a series of classic albums including Phenomenon, Force It, Lights Out, Obsession and the definitive live double album Strangers In The Night. Now featuring guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore alongside vocalist Phil Mogg, bassist Pete Way, drummer Andy Parker and guitarist/keyboard player Paul Raymond, UFO celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2009.

The Quireboys (Main Stage) – The Quireboys are, in their own words, “purveyors of the finest English good time rock ‘n’ roll since 1984” – a band in the tradition of The Rolling Stones and the Faces. And 20 years after their debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy hit number two on the UK chart, the Quireboys’ current album Halfpenny Dancer proves they’re still one of Britain’s great rock ‘n’ roll bands.

The Union (Main Stage) – The Union is a new band formed by Luke Morley, formerly the guitarist for legendary UK rock band Thunder and ex Winterville vocalist/guitarist Peter Shoulder. The band are currently somewhere deep in the English countryside devoting themselves to the songwriting process and expect to emerge later in the year to perform their debut shows. The album promises to be an inspired mix of blues infused rock featuring the stunning and unique vocals of Peter Shoulder.

Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa (Prog Stage) – Dweezil Zappa and band play a greatest hits set of the music from his father, the maverick rock legend Frank Zappa. The band returns to the UK for the first time since a sellout tour in 2008.

Confirmed lineup to date is as follows…

Main stage – Emerson, Lake & Palmer, ZZ Top, Foreigner, Heaven & Hell, Bachman Turner, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Moore, UFO, The Answer, The Quireboys, The Union…

Prog Stage – Transatlantic, Asia, Zappa Plays Zappa, Marillion, Argent, Steve Hackett, Focus, Pendragon, Uriah Heep, Magnum, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, The Reasoning, Touchstone…

Metal Stage – Black Label Society, Down, Venom, Clutch…

High Voltage is the festival all true rock fans have been waiting for – custom built by rock fans for rock fans. The High Voltage team has been to every rock festival imaginable – taking what they have learned to build a festival unlike any other.

First of all there’s the music: two amazing headliners AND three unique stages specially curated to cater for different sides of the rock audience, and a brilliant supporting cast playing special must-see sets. Then there’s the festival itself. The facilities will be second to none: great food, proper beer, clean toilets, deluxe hospitality packages, designated hotels, free shuttle transport. This is somewhere you take the whole family.

High Voltage offers a new and unique festival experience for rock fans of all ages. Only High Voltage gives ticket buyers the freedom to design their own bespoke festival package – which can include accommodation, transport, parking and VIP bar access. Early bird ticket purchasers will be able to upgrade their tickets with a host of options from the 9^th February 2010.

Standard tickets are prices £135 (for weekend tickets) and £75 (for day tickets).

There is no booking fee for Classic Rock Presents High Voltage tickets.

Tickets are available from www.highvoltagefestival.com or 24hr cc ticketline 0871 230 5582.

Please check the websites below for further updates

www.highvoltagefestival.com

www.classicrockmagazine.com

Japandroids

• Announce 7″ single series of unreleased songs
• First release “Art Czars” out April 12^th
• New May UK tour dates announced
• ICA show next week sold out!

After a string of triumphant debut shows in the UK last year, which saw the Vancouver two-piece bring their explosive live act to packed out audiences, Japandroids have confirmed they will return to Europe for a string of UK shows in May including an appearance at The Great Escape Festival. Having sold out London’s ICA, 6 weeks in advance of their headline show next week, Japandroids will be playing The Garage when they return in May.

New May 2010 dates

Thursday 13^th May – Saturday 15^th May – The Great Escape, Brighton

Monday 17^th May – DiScover @ The Harley, Sheffield

Tuesday 18^th May – Jericho, Oxford

Wednesday 19^th May – Joiners, Southampton

Thursday 20^th May – The Garage, London

Additionally, the duo has announced they will be releasing a five-part series of 7″ singles throughout 2010 on Polyvinyl Records. Each limited edition 7″ will feature a previously unreleased track from the ‘Post Nothing’ sessions alongside a cover. Japandroids devised the 7″ series as a way to give something back to their fans while the band is in the midst of heavy touring and unable to record a full album. Each two-song 7″ will be recorded during the brief period of time the band is at home between tours.

First up, released on April 12^th is ‘Art Czars’, the clear coloured vinyl will also feature ‘Racer-X’ – a Big Black cover and live favourite. You can preorder it here plus it will also be available for digital download:

http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/index.php?id=1002

Catch Japandroids next week when they hit our shores for their mini UK tour

February 2010 dates:

Monday 22^nd February – Freebutt, Brighton

Tuesday 23^rd February – ICA, London

Wednesday 24^th February – Cockpit 3, Leeds

Thursday 25^th February – Deaf Institute, Manchester

Friday 26^th February – King Tuts, Glasgow

Saturday 27^th February – Korova, Liverpool

Japandroids’ critically acclaimed debut album ‘Post-Nothing’ is out now on Polyvinyl.

www.myspace.com/japandroids

SHABBY ROGUE INTERVIEW

Words: Caroline Pawson

Hailing from London, Shabby Rogue are a 4-piece Indie/Acoustic act. They’ll be releasing their second album ‘By Hook and By Crook’ on 1st March 2010.

Listen to new track: My Life As A Secret Agent
www.myspace.com/shabbyrogue

Questions answered by drummer – Terry Green

Can you describe the band in 3 words?

Good gooder goodest, would normally take a bit longer than 3 words but that kinda describes bits of us, {have deliberately missed out the bad words from the three as noone needs to know about that} OK, ugly, bad, nasty.

How did you all get into music?

From my personal view, it was through listening to it. Lets face it, it’s everywhere, you can’t get into a lift nowadays without some bloody music playing, my family used to play it a lot on vinyl records, this was before the dinosaurs, I like to keep that tradition going and, whenever possible, I just buy vinyl, aaaah Can on vinyl!!!!

What makes Shabby Rogue different to other bands in the same genre?

Beards, hatred of each other, love of each other, indifference to each other. I don’t think we’re massively different to be honest, but I do think we’re good. We have a very open minded way of writing, whoever has come up with something will normally have vocals to accompany it, this might mean they don’t feel as comfortable playing their chosen instrument so instead of pouring scorn on that person, we just change instruments, this normally gives a completely different angle on a song if you know what I mean. I also think its massively important to have a deep love for what you’re doing, no matter how bad it all gets!

You’re mainly based in London at the moment, when do you plan on spreading out to other parts of the UK?

Good question, we really want to spread our wings further, its just getting it all kicked off, we’re all pensioners now so being in the back of a van for long distances plays havoc with my colostomy bag {joke}, I think we’ll get out there pretty soon, we’ve contacted millions of festivals and now we just sit and wait and hope. We defo hope to get up North a bit more this year.

You’re releasing your second album ‘By Hook and By Crook’ next month (1st March), how does it feel to be able to put a full length CD out there? Where are fans able to buy it?

Well, to be honest, this is about the 5th album that I’ve been involved in and it never changes, each one you make is always not quite good enough, as the release date approaches, all the little things come crawling back that you know you could have done better, it’ll never change. On a plus note, there’s been some top reviews and that always boosts your ego a bit. Its actually incredibly hard this band business oh woe is me etc. etc. It’s available everywhere, Itunes, CDbaby etc. Nowhere else, ignore the free downloads….pleeaaassseeeee!!!!!!!!!

You’ve had some radio play recently, what’s it like knowing that a wider audience are able to listen to your music?

Its a good feeling, makes taking over the world that bit easier.

Who has been your favourite band to play alongside and why?

Ooooh, good question, I’d say for me of all time would be Trumans Water, this was many years ago but they’re just such an awesome band that I’ll never forget them, there still going, went to see them a couple of years ago, GOOD MEN!! Of more modern times its not actually a band as such [although he'll kill me for saying that] Thomas Truax, a one man band who constructs his own instruments from scratch, bike wheels, tumble dryer tubes, his newest band member is an ariel. He has the ability to produce fantastic sounds from the quaintest of angles, a bit like Jean Tinguely meeting Kraftwerk on a full moon!!!

You’re playing the Surface Unsigned festival this year, how’d it feel finding out you were in the line up?

Its always good to be considered for a gig, Glastonbury would blow my mind [literally!!!]

What can we expect from a live performance?

Hopefully, lots of good music, played with heart and soul, lots of jumping around, a possible attack on the drums by Tom [He's partial to that kinda thing], some banter and we normally round it all off with a sacrifice :-}

Have you got any parting words?

That last line was a joke!!!!!!!

MEN
Return to the UK for one-off show
Monday 12^th April- Cargo, London

TICKETS: £9.50ADV

0844 477 1000 (24 HRS)

WWW.TICKETWEB.CO.UK

WWW.SEETICKETS.COM

New York band MEN are set to return to the UK for a one-off London show in April. The Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective consists of core members JD Samson (Le Tigre) Michael O’Neill (Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR) and this show follows their packed-out shows in London and Brighton earlier this year.

MEN, who are at present unsigned, have also recently completed U.S. tours with both Peaches and Gossip, their debut, self-released EP is available to buy online now, and this show sees them take a break from recording their debut album.

MEN focus on the energy of live performance and radical potential of dance music. Their music speaks of issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and the  demand for liberties through lyrical content and an inventive, high energy stage show.

The group began in 2007 with the DJ/production/remix team of LE TIGRE members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. With LE TIGRE on hiatus, when the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with JD’s other new project HIRSUTE. JD and Hirsute members Michael and Ginger now comprise the core of MEN, with Johanna and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers.

MEN: JD Samson, Michael and Ginger

www.myspace.com/men