Manchester’s The Courteeners have announced a sizeable UK tour for March 2010.

“I really can’t wait for the rest of the country to get the chance to hear our new songs live – they’re going to blow everyone away,” lead singer Liam Fray claimed to NME.COM. “For me, playing live is what it’s all about – standing on the stage, seeing all those faces singing back at us. There are no other fans in the UK that are as dedicated – or as well dressed – as ours. See you down the front.”

Tickets go on sale on Friday morning (4th December) at 9am. Catch the guys at:

Thursday 4th March 2010 – Hull University
Friday 5th March 2010 – Lincoln Engine Shed
Saturday 6th March 2010 – Liverpool University
Monday 8th March 2010 – Nottingham Rock City
Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Bristol O2 Academy
Thursday 11th March 2010 – Norwich UEA
Friday 12th March 2010 – Blackpool Empress Ballroom
Monday 15th March 2010 – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Tuesday 16th March 2010 – Oxford O2 Academy
Thursday 18th March 2010 – London O2 Brixton Academy
Friday 19th March 2010 – Sheffield O2 Academy
Saturday 20th March 2010 – Birmingham O2 Academy
Monday 22nd March 2010 – Newcastle O2 Academy
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 – Edinburgh Picture House
Wednesday 24th March 2010 – Glasgow O2 Academy
Friday 26th March 2010 – Leeds O2 Academy

So yesterday I went to see Batman: The Dark Knight at London’s IMAX cinema, and we were blown away at the quality and sound of it on such a big screen. I’d already seen it before on a normal cinema screen, but yesterday was definitely worth the three hour journey each way. Of course, with so much time on a bus and tube, I got through some serious listening on my iPod.

Having received Bloc Party’s Talons on Tuesday night, it’s been pretty much on repeat the whole time. Simply amazing, and is so far right up there with Ion Square as my favourite track of Intimacy. The video fits the song perfectly, and is suitably dark and brooding as Kele’s lyrics.

The press release comments:

Talking about Talons singer Kele said, “we wanted to keep things fresh and we thought the fans would be more excited to get a new song rather than something off the album. Talons is one of the last songs we recorded during the Intimacy sessions and I always had it in mind to be one of the extra tracks we promised for the CD if it turned out well. It turned out great so we decided to make it the next single. I’m enjoying this way of working, not over-thinking things, just make a decision and get on with it! It’s quite liberating in a way, I’m sure it’s going to be the way things happen more and more in the future”

Could this mean that they announce whole tours this way? I’d kinda like it if they just announced “oh, we’re playing London’s Astoria next Wednesday… and then Bristol’s Academy… and maybe some more venues too, we haven’t really decided yet!”. However I doubt they’d do that, for the logistical problems. But it’d be cool.

In my inbox this morning I found a link to a company that film live concerts in Europe, Fabchannel. I haven’t come across them before, but WOW. They have a great range of full gigs filmed on the continent, in amazing quality. I sound like I’ve been paid to gush this much, but I think it’ll be providing me with several evenings of entertainment. They sent me a link to Jack McManus who I haven’t come across before, and sounds pretty good at first listen, but I also came across full sets from Bloc Party, Delays, Los Campesinos (including the “most polite stage invasion ever”), The Courteeners, Pipettes… well, I could go on and on. You get the picture!

Finally, I found in my inbox an MP3 that I’d forgotten about. Sent to me about 4 weeks ago, Melbourne based Ancient Free Gardeners have a great sound – dreamy, a bit Shins-esque, with hints of The National and Radiohead shining through. Download the free MP3, and stop by their myspace to show some love – I’m sure they’d appreciate it.

MP3: Ancient Free Gardeners – Innards Out

Manchester’s The Courteeners have announced another string of shows for October.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, 18th April, at 9am.

Friday 3rd October – Newcastle Academy
Saturday 4th October – Sheffield Academy
Monday 6th October – Dundee Fat Sams
Tuesday 7th October – Glasgow Barrowlands
Thursday 9th October – Manchester Apollo
Saturday 11th October – Liverpool University
Monday 13th October – Hull University
Tuesday 14th October – Nottingham Rock City
Friday 17th October – Leeds Academy
Saturday 18th October – Birmingham Academy
Sunday 19th October – Portsmouth Pyramid
Monday 20th October – Bristol Academy
Wednesday 22nd October – Oxford Academy
Thursday 23rd October – London Shepherds Bush Empire

Manchester’s The Courteeners have announced a string of 12 dates throughout May in support of their debut album, ‘St Jude’ on April 7.

Tickets for all the shows go on sale at 9am on Friday (February 15).

Wednesday 9th April – Nottingham Trent University
Thursday 10th April – Liverpool, Carling Academy
Friday 11th April – Sheffield, The Leadmill
Monday 14th April – Leeds, Metropolitan University
Tuesday 15th April – Newcastle University
Saturday 19th April – Manchester University
Sunday 20th April – Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
Monday 21st April – Norwich, Waterfront
Tuesday 22nd April – Cambridge, The Junction
Thursday 24th April – Bristol, Bierkeller
Friday 25th April – Southampton University
Saturday 26th April – London, Astoria

Manchester’s The Courteeners have announced details for a full UK tour early next year, playing 20 dates around the UK over a month.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, 22nd November, at 9am from the usual sources.

Wednesday 16th January – Preston 53 Degrees
Thursday 17th January – Hull Welly Club
Friday 18th January – Warrington Parr Hall
Monday 21st January – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Tuesday 22nd January – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Saturday 26th January – Tunbridge Wells Forum
Sunday 27th January – Reading Fez Club
Monday 28th January – Leicester Charlotte
Tuesday 29th January – Cambridge Barfly
Thursday 31st January – Peterborough Met Lounge
Friday 1st February – Oxford Academy
Saturday 2nd February – Swansea Sin City
Monday 4th February – Bristol Thekla
Tuesday 5th February – Turo L2 Nightclub
Wednesday 6th February – Plymouth University
Thursday 7th February – Stoke Sugarmill
Saturday 9th February – Middlesbrough Arena
Thursday 14th February – Inverness Raigmore
Friday 15th February – Aberdeen Kef
Saturday 16th February – Dundee Fat Sams

XFM have announced details of a string of Winter Wonderland UK Tour dates, with all sorts of megastars lined up to play some sensational gigs.

As with previous years, all dates are in aid of Shelter, the homeless charity.

Tickets go on sale next Friday (9th November) at 9am, but many of the headlining bands and XFM members can get them as soon as next Wednesday or Thursday by pre-registering or such like.

Sunday 9th December – London Brixton Academy -
Bloc Party, Supergrass, Kate Nash, One Night Only, School of Rock Winner
Monday 10th December – Glasgow Academy -
Stereophonics, The Twang, Special Guests, Figure 5, School of Rock Winner
Tuesday 11th December – Manchester Apollo -
The Charlatans, Special Guests, The Courteeners, The Ting Tings, School of Rock Winner
Wednesday 12th December – Cardiff University -
Super Furry Animals, The Enemy, Kids In Glass Houses, Special guests, Duffy (accoustic set)

Photo is taken from Shane Bee’s flickr stream under the creative commons license

Following their announcement last week of a hometown Christmas show, Manchester’s The Courteeners have announced details for a full UK tour.

Tickets for the below dates are on sale now priced between £7 and £11. They’ll play:

Monday December 3rd – Sheffield, Leadmill
Tuesday 4th December – Norwich, Arts Centre
Wednesday 5th December – London, KCLSU
Thursday 6th December – Brighton, Engine Rooms
Friday 7th December – Cardiff, Barfly
Sunday 9th December – Birmingham, Academy 3
Monday 10th December – Newcastle, Academy 2
Wednesday 12th December – Leeds, Cockpit
Thursday 13th December – Manchester, Ritz
Saturday 15th December – Glasgow, ABC

One of Manchester’s finest rising stars, The Courteeners have announced details of a special one off hometown show for Christmas.

They’ll play the Manchester Ritz on Thursday 13th December.

Tickets go on sale on Friday (12th October) at 9am.

The band are also set to release their new single ‘Acrylic’ on October 22.