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The sensational Shockwaves NME Awards shows have been announced for next January and February to start off a 2009 in great style. The likes of Franz Ferdinand, The Wombats and Simian Mobile Disco are among this year’s great gigs, with more to be announced shortly.
Franz Ferdinand’s frontman Alex Kapranos said of their opening night honour: “We’re going to play the gig to celebrate ‘Ulysess’ coming out and Heaven is the best place to go and celebrate. The new songs are the type that should be heard in clubs so we liked the idea of playing a show in one. We want people close to us who are dancing and sweating, that’s the vibe that we want. We definitely don’t want polite theatre shows for this record- we want some excitement!”
Tickets are available exclusively at NME from 9am on Wednesday, 26th November and then go on general sale on Monday 1st December.
UPDATE: More gigs added today (2nd December 2008) - full details below.
Catch the full details of the gigs below:
Tuesday 20th January 2009 - Franz Ferdinand @ London Heaven
Sunday 8th February 2009 - The Gaslight Anthems, Frank Turner and The Polar Bear Club @ London Shepherds Bush Empire
Monday 9th February 2009 - Howling Bells @ London Islington Academy
Tuesday 10th February 2009 - The View @ London Koko
Wednesday 11th February 2009 - Ida Maria @ London Koko
Thursday 12th February 2009 - Ida Maria @ Manchester Club Academy
Thursday 12th February 2009 - Simian Mobile Disco and Chrome Hoof @ London Koko
Friday 13th February 2009 - Ida Maria @ Glasgow Garage
Friday 13th February 2009 - Mystery Jets and Little Boots @ London Shepherds Bush Empire
Sunday 15th February 2009 - Black Lips and Vivian Girls @ London Islington Academy
Monday 16th February 2009 - Secret Machines @ London Islington Academy
Tuesday 17th February 2009 - Iglu and Hartley @ London Islington Academy
Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Black Kids, Boy Crisis, Passion Pit @ London Koko
Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Tricky @ Manchester Club Academy
Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Iglu and Hartley @ Manchester Academy 3
Thursday 19th February 2009 - Tricky @ Glasgow Arches
Thursday 19th February 2009 - Iglu and Hartley @ Glasgow QMU
Thursday 19th February 2009 - Roots Manuva @ London Koko
Friday 20th February 2009 - Tricky @ London Shepherds Bush Empire
Monday 23rd February 2009 - Wombats @ London Shepherds Bush Empire
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Metronomy @ London Koko
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Wombats @ Manchester Academy
Thursday 26th February 2009 - Wombats @ Glasgow Barrowlands
Now, you may not have heard of Bridgette Amofah before. I’ll even hold up my hands and admit that I hadn’t heard of her before I got the email introducing us.
However since then I haven’t looked back. She’s got an amazing voice, and could well be one of the shining talents of 2009 - the songs are quintessentially English but inspired by her musical heroes - from classic French artists such as Serge Gainsbourg and Edith Piaf, to Burt Bacharach and Minnie Ripperton with a nod to contemporary artists like Feist.
She’s not just a one talent flash-in the pan - Amofah’s life story could have resulted with her heading down one of many different routes. She toyed with becoming an author – the first poems she ever wrote as a child were published – and she still writes stories today. Then she did stint as a charity worker raising money for worthy causes before becoming a catwalk model - she was flown first class around Europe but was ultimately turned off by the industry and it’s ways.
Her debut single, ‘What It Takes/Not Your Style’ is released in two weeks time on 8th December, so be sure to at least have a listen on the myspace, and if you like it go and buy it.
She’s off on tour throughout December and early next year, playing the below dates, including a stint supporting Candi Staton - surely a match made in heaven.
Wednesday 3rd December - London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
Saturday 6th December - Reading, Oakford Social Club
Thursday 11th December - London YoYo @ Notting Hill Arts Club
Friday 19th December - London Portobello WInterfest
Wednesday 21st January 2009 - London Monto Water Rats
Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Bristol Academy (supporting Candu Staton)
Friday 20th February 2009 - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (supporting Candi Staton)
Saturday 21st February 2009 - Birmingham Town Hall (Supporting Candi Staton)
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - London Shepherds Bush Empire (supporting Candi Staton)
Wednesday 25th February 2009 - Hove The Old Market (Supporting Candi Staton)
Thursday 26th February 2009 - London Book Slam @ Neighbourhood
Wednesday 4th March 2009 - Exeter Vibraphonic Festival
Like Shiny Toy Guns, Ladytron, and shouty frat rock? Then maybe check out innerpartysystem when they tour the UK next month.
Unsure if you’ll like them live? They’ve just released a track of themselves doing a stripped back version of single “Don’t Stop” using iPhones and instruments… ingenious we think. Catch the video after the dates below.
Tickets are on sale now, priced between £8 and £9 each. Catch them at:
Monday 26th January 2009 - Cambridge Soul Tree
Tuesday 27th January 2009 - Brighton Audio
Wednesday 28th January 2009 - Cardiff Barfly
Friday 30th January 2009 - Exeter Cavern
Saturday 31st January 2009 - Birmingham Academy 2
Sunday 1st February 2009 - Glasgow King Tuts
Monday 2nd February 2009 - Leeds Cockpit
Tuesday 3rd February 2009 - Newcastle Academy 2
Wednesday 4th February 2009 - Manchester Academy 3
Thursday 5th February 2009 - London Underworld
The tour culminates in the NME Awards show at Brixton Academy on Wednesday 25th February.
Tickets go on sale from 9am tomorrow, Wednesday 12th November.
Catch the tour at:
Thursday 29th January - Liverpool University
Friday 30th January - Glasgow Academy
Sunday 1st February - Newcastle Academy
Tuesday 3rd February - Sheffield Academy
Wednesday 4th February - Birmingham Academy
Friday 6th February - Manchester Academy
Sunday 8th February - Leeds Academy
Tuesday 10th February - Lincolnshire Engine Shed
Wednesday 11th February - Nottingham Rock City
Thursday 12th February - Norwich UEA
Saturday 14th February - Cardiff University
Sunday 15th February - Bristol Academy
Monday 16th February - Brighton Dome
Tuesday 17th February - Oxford Academy
Thursday 19th February - Portsmouth Pyramid
Friday 20th February - Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 21st February - Brixton Academy
Like your pop perfect and a tiny bit plastic? Well rejoice, as Pussycat Dolls have announced a UK arena jaunt for January next year.
Tickets for the below dates go on sale on Friday (10th October) morning at 9am.
Sunday 18th January 2009 - Aberdeen AECC
Monday 19th January 2009 - Glasgow SECC (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Wednesday 21st January 2009 - Newcastle Arena (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Thursday 22nd January 2009 - Birmingham NIA (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Saturday 24th January 2009 - Nottingham Arena (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Sunday 25th January 2009 - Bournemouth BIC
Tuesday 27th January 2009 - London O2 Arena (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Thursday 29th January 2009 - Manchester MEN Arena (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Friday 30th January 2009 - Cardiff Arena (with special guest Ne-Yo)
Thursday 5th February 2009 - Sheffield Arena
Friday 6th February 2009 - Liverpool Arena
Sharleen Spiteri hasannounced a sizeable UK tour for early next year, which will see her stop off just about everywhere around the UK.
The former Texas frontwoman is trying to make it on her own, with her debut solo release “Melody” released in July this year.
Tickets are on sale now, priced at £27.50 each apart from London which is £30 a ticket.
Saturday 24th January 2009 - AberdeenMusic Hall
Sunday 25th January 2009 - EdinburghPlayhouse
Tuesday 27th January 2009 - GlasgowAcademy
Thursday 29th January 2009 - NewcastleCity Hall
Friday 30th January 2009 - SheffieldCity Hall
Sunday 1st February 2009 - ManchesterApollo
Monday 2nd February 2009 - HarrogateInternational Centre
Tuesday 3rd February 2009 - IpswichRegent
Thursday 5th February 2009 - BrightonDome
Friday 6th February 2009 - BournemoutInternational Centre
Sunday 8th February 2009 - BirminghamSymphony Hall
Monday 9th February 2009 - NottinghamRoyal Centre
Tuesday 10th February 2009 - LlandudnoVenue Cymru Theatre
Thursday 12th February 2009 - PlymouthPavillions
Friday 13th February 2009 - BristolColston Hall
Sunday 15th February 2009 - LondonHammersmith Apollo
My current favourite band, Bloc Party, have announced a string of dates for January and April around the UK.
Clearly not deciding to take up my suggestion of an on-the-fly tour, they’ve opted for a (rather boring) routine of just four different venues, for two nights each.
Tickets go on sale on Friday, 26th September at 9am, or from 9am tomorrow (24th September) for those of you who are members of their fan club, Pioneers.
Sunday 25th January - Glasgow Academy
Monday 26th January - Glasgow Academy
Wednesday 28th January - Manchester Apollo
Thursday 29th January - Manchester Apollo
Saturday 31st January - Wolverhampton Civic
Sunday 1st February - Wolverhampton Civic
Saturday 11th April - London Olympia
Fresh from supporting Nickelback on their current UK tour, Staind have announced a string of dates for January next year.
The Springfield, Massachusetts four piece will be playing just five dates, which are some of their biggest headlining shows.
They’re pretty darned big over the pond, yet over here in the UK they just haven’t got to the same arena filling, stadium yearning that they have achieved elsewhere.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning (Friday 19th September) at 9am. Tickets are £18.50 for each date except London, which is, as ever, more expensive at £23.50.
Catch them at:
Wednesday 21st January 2009 - GlasgowGarage
Thursday 22nd January 2009 - ManchesterAcademy
Friday 23rd January 2009 - SheffieldAcademy
Sunday 25th January 2009 - BirminghamAcademy
Monday 26th January 2009 - LondonAstoria
Like your 90s music cheesy and boy-band like? Well, get ready to jump around your living room screaming, as New Kids on the Block have announced a UK arena tour for early 2009.
Tickets don’t go on sale until next Friday, 19th September at 9am, but they’ll be playing:
Friday 16th January 2009 - Manchester MEN Arena
Saturday 17th January 2009 - Birmingham NIA
Sunday 18th January 2009 - Glasgow SECC
Friday 23rd January 2009 - Nottingham Trent FM Arena
Saturday 24th January 2009 - London O2 Arena
Tuesday 27th January 2009 - Sheffield Arena
Wednesday 28th January 2009 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Thursday 29th January 2009 - Cardiff International Arena
The sensational Shockwaves NME Awards shows have been announced for next January and February to start off a 2009 in great style. The likes of Franz Ferdinand, The Wombats and Simian Mobile Disco are among this year’s great gigs, with more to be announced shortly.
Tags: 
Now, you may not have heard of 
Like Shiny Toy Guns, Ladytron, and shouty frat rock? Then maybe check out 
NME have announced their annual NME awards tour next January and February.
Like your pop perfect and a tiny bit plastic? Well rejoice, as 
My current favourite band, 
Those indie bedwetters, 
Fresh from supporting Nickelback on their current UK tour, 
Like your 90s music cheesy and boy-band like? Well, get ready to jump around your living room screaming, as 
Tuesday, 2nd December 2008 at 4:20 pm
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