MA25 - Marion and Goldblade to join Buzzcocks for Anniversary show

MA25 - Marion and Goldblade to join Buzzcocks for Anniversary show

Manchester Academy is thrilled to unveil the first acts who will be joining Buzzcocks in our celebration of the iconic venue's 25th Anniversary.

We can now reveal that cult Brit Pop era titans Marion and 90s punk revivalists Goldblade will join the legendary headliners to mark the special occasion on 10th October 2015.

Marion first cut their teeth at the Manchester Academy on an NME tour in January 1995 alongside Veruca Salt having formed only 18 months previous. Led by wild eyed front-man Jaime Harding, Manchester's stately rock unit would later return to headline Academy 2 a further three times over their career including a triumphant reunion gig at the venue in 2011.

Expressing his delight at their addition to the line up and return to Manchester Academy, vocalist and songwriter for the group Jaime Harding said:

"It feels like Marion have come full circle, playing our first hometown Manchester show with our huge inspiration, old friends the Buzzcocks. Feels like beautiful karma."

Goldblade aren't short of a few run-ins with the venue either. Formed out of the ashes of visceral upstarts The Membranes by the band's anarchic leader John Robb, the band hit the Academy for the first time in April 1997 on their 'Home Turf' tour, before returning as friends of the venue for many more shows throughout the noughties.

Now with the Academy back in their sights, the band will support their Mancunian punk brethren Buzzcocks to get the celebrations off with a bang as they rip through tracks from their 11 album strong repertoire.       

Taking place on the 10th October 2015, Marion and Goldblade are the first acts announced so far to support the formerly announced bill-toppers Buzzcocks. Additional line up announcements are still to come. 

Furthermore, the show will launch a year-long series of unique commemorative gigs planned by the venue in honour of its special anniversary (see line up announcements so far below for details).

Previously we announced that Manchester's very own Buzzcocks, the band who opened the venue in October 1990 would return to mark the 25th Anniversary of the venue. The band will bring their 2015 The Way Tour for their first gig at the venue in over 6 years.

Look out for a further announcement confirming more  special guests who will be joining Buzzcocks + Marion + Goldblade for this 25th anniversary show. 

Doors 4.00pm / Curfew 11pm / Tickets £20.00 Advance STBF

Tickets

Tickets are now on General Sale for BUZZCOCKS + Very Special Guests MARION + GOLDBLADE + Supports taking place on 10th October 2015 at:

TICKETLINE: https://manchesteracademy.ticketline.co.uk/order/tickets/13303039/buzzcocks-manchester-academy-1-2015-10-10-16-00-00

Telephone: 0161 832 1111

Happy Mondays 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' 25th anniversary tour

Happy Mondays 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' 25th anniversary tour

Manchester’s legendary Happy Mondays have confirmed a eighteen-date tour for November and December 2015 to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the band’s classic album ‘Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches’ - with the band set to perform the album in its entirety, in addition to other hits.

Looking ahead to the tour Happy Mondays’ frontman Shaun Ryder said, “Great to be doing twenty-five years of ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills…’. Here’s to another twenty-five years. I'm going to remember it this time.”

Ryder added, “There’s some really great work on ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills…’. It was the album that put us on Top of The Pops.”

Released on 27th November 1990, ‘Pills 'n' Thrills…’ spent thirty-one weeks on the UK albums chart, peaking at #4, and was preceded by the release of Happy Mondays’ biggest hit singles, ‘Step On’ and ‘Kinky Afro’, which both reached #5 in the UK singles chart.

The tour will kick-off on Thursday, 5th November at O2 Guildhall, Southampton and will end on Wednesday, 10th December at Dublin’s Vicar St. 

The full tour dates are as follows:

November

Thu 5th - Southampton, O2 Guildhall 

Fri 6th - Birmingham, O2 Academy* 

Thu 12th - Sheffield, O2 Academy* 

Fri 13th - Liverpool, O2 Academy*

Sat 14th - Newcastle, O2 Academy* 

Sun 15th - Glasgow, O2 Academy* 

Fri 20th - Manchester, Academy 

Sat 21st - Leeds, O2 Academy* 

Thu 26th - Nottingham, Rock City 

Fri 27th - Norwich, UEA 

Sat 28th - Bristol, O2 Academy* 

Sun 29th - Cardiff, Cardiff Uni The Great Hall 

December

Thu 3rd - London, O2 Academy Brixton*

Fri 4th – Lincoln, Engine Shed 

Sat 5th - Cambridge, Corn Exchange 

Sun 6th - Oxford, O2 Academy* 

Wed 9th - Llandudno, Venue Cymru 

Thu 10th December, Dublin, Vicar St 

Ticket pre-sale is from 9.00am on 15th April via See Tickets (http://happymondays.seetickets.com/go/happymondayspresale), before going on general sale at 9.00am on 17th April

*Tickets from Ticketweb.co.uk / 0844 477 2000

Texas announce new single Are You Ready

Texas announce new single Are You Ready

Texas celebrated their 25th anniversary earlier this year with the release of their incredible new album 'Texas 25' which stormed in at #5 in the official UK album chart and #1 in the Independent chart. The new album contained a number of brand new songs along with the very best of the multi-million selling (over 38 million album sales so far), multi-platinum, Ivor Novello Award winning band.

The latest single to be taken from 'Texas 25' is a brand new song, 'Are You Ready' which is released on 25th May 2015. 'Are You Ready' was written by Texas advocates Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone alongside Karen Anne (Overton) and recorded by the band in Glasgow and New York. The song hails back to Texas' classic sound – perfectly crafted pop music with a twist of soul that allows Sharleen's signature vocal melody to float effortlessly over the top.

'Texas 25' contains three further brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth & Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

Following on from their forthcoming sold out spring tour commencing this month, Texas recently announced a four date UK tour this December which sees them perform at some of the UK's iconic venues.

Full December tour dates:

Sunday 13th December London, Roundhouse

Tuesday 15th December Bristol, Colston Hall

Wednesday 16th December Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Friday 18th December Glasgow, The SSE Hydro

Ticket information is available at www.texas.uk.com

Texas Announce December UK Tour Dates

Texas Announce December UK Tour Dates

Texas have celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of their incredible new album 'Texas 25' which stormed in at #5 in the official UK album chart and #1 in the Independent chart. With a forthcoming sold out spring tour commencing next month, Texas have announced a four date UK tour this December which sees them perform at some of the UK's iconic venues.

This year marks 25 years of Texas, in which time they have sold over 38 million albums, toured across the world and been awarded with an Ivor Novello Award. 'Texas 25' contains four brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth and Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

Full UK tour dates:

Sunday 13th December London, Roundhouse

Tuesday 15th December Bristol, Colston Hall

Wednesday 16th December Manchester, Bridgewater Hall

Friday 18th December Glasgow, The SSE Hydro

Presale tickets are available via Ticketmaster from Wednesday 4th March at 9am. General tickets are on sale from Friday 9th March at 10am.

Ticket information is available at www.texas.uk.com

Texas share new single Start A Family from latest album Texas 25

Texas share new single Start A Family from latest album Texas 25

TEXAS celebrate their 25th Anniversary in style with the release of their latest album 'Texas 25' which contains brand new songs along with the very best of the multi-million selling (over 38 million album sales so far), multi-platinum, Ivor Novello Award winning band.

The first single to be taken from 'Texas 25' is a brand new song, 'Start A Family' which is released on the same day as the album – February 16th 2015.

'Start A Family' is written by Texas stalwarts Sharleen Spiteri and Johnny McElhone along with newcomers Karen-Anne and Jack Townes. The track was recorded by Texas in Glasgow and New York. The song is is classic Texas – beautiful soulful pop with a stunning melody built around Sharleen's powerful and evocative vocal. 'Start A Family' will come with a cinematic video starring longtime Texas fan Alan Rickman, who memorably danced the tango with Sharleen in the video for 'In Demand' back in 2000.

Meanwhile 'Texas 25' contains three further brand new songs and highlights from the bands greatest hits completely re-recorded and re-worked for 2015 with acclaimed NYC soul outfit Truth and Soul (Amy Winehouse, Adele).

Recorded in the Queens studio of Truth and Soul and mixed at The Black Key's Dan Auerbach's Nashville studios, working on 'Texas 25' was a chance for Sharleen Spiteri and the boys to hear Black Eyed Boy, Halo, I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Summer Son, The Conversation with new ears. 'It was incredible to be able to reflect on our body of work after 25 years and rework the tracks in a way that somehow is the very essence of what we've always been about, soul music.' says Sharleen.

https://soundcloud.com/texastheband/inner-smile-truth-soul-session/

In 2015, Texas will present the findings of their 25 years in pop in a new, intimate arrangement, 'An Evening With…' in which Sharleen will talk through her amazing career and the band will play as a four piece skiffle ensemble as punctuation points.

'AN EVENING WITH TEXAS'

APRIL 2015

SATURDAY 18 BRIGHTON DOME

SUNDAY 19 BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL

MONDAY 20 SALFORD THE LOWRY

WEDNESDAY 22 GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL

FRIDAY 24 DUNFERMLINE ALHAMBRA

SATURDAY 25 EDINBURGH QUEENS HALL

MONDAY 27 GATESHEAD THE SAGE

TUESDAY 28 HULL CITY HALL

WEDNESDAY 29 NOTTINGHAM ROYAL CONCERT HALL

MAY 2015

FRIDAY 1 BATH FORUM

SATURDAY 2 LONDON PALLADIUM

SUNDAY 3 MARGATE WINTER GARDENS

TUESDAY 5 CARDIFF ST DAVIDS HALL

WEDNESDAY 6 READING HEXAGON

Texas tickets are available from www.livenation.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk