Lily Allen is off on tour early next year. She’s just announced a string of UK tour dates for March next year in support of her new album.

Tickets go on sale at 9am tomorrow (2nd December 2008), Ticket prices are £19.50 for all dates except £21.50 in London €24.00 for Dublin.

(Pictures and general prettiness will resume later)

Saturday 14th March - Glasgow Academy
Sunday 15th March - Manchester Academy
Monday 16th March - Dublin Academy
Wednesday 18th March - Bristol Academy
Thursday 19th March - Southampton Guildhall
Friday 20th March - Brighton Dome
Sunday 22th March - Norwich UEA
Monday 23th March - Birmingham Academy
Tuesday 24th March - Leeds Academy
Thursday 26th March - London Shepherd’s Bush Empire

When I saw The Gaslight Anthem were playing Shepherds Bush Empire for the NME Shockwaves tour next year, I was a bit puzzled. How could a band come under the radar and play a venue that big and expect to sell it out?

I’ve since done a bit of research and it seems that my musical radar seems to have plain and simply missed them out, which is a hell of a shame - they’re pretty darned amazing and full of energy it seems - its pop punk, but for adults. Mature, loud, and good. Just how music should be.

Their new single, “Old White Lincoln” is after the dates, and is sounding amazing - it’s out on Monday and available to preorder from Recordstore. If you like that, you might also want to get hold of a copy of their sophomore album, “The ‘59 Sound” available now.

Support on all dates comes from Frank Turner (who I have it on good authority from Winston that he is amazing) and The Polar Bear Club.

Tickets are on sale now for all shows, priced around the £10 to £14 mark each. Catch The Gaslight Anthem and friends at the below shows:

Monday 2nd February 2009 - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (Tickets)
Tuesday 3rd February 2009 - Birmingham Academy (Tickets)
Wednesday 4th February 2009 - Manchester Academy 2 (Tickets)
Thursday 5th February 2009 - Bristol Academy 2 (Tickets)
Friday 6th February 2009 - Brighton Concorde (Tickets)
Sunday 8th February 2009 - London Shepherds Bush Empire (NME Awards Show) (Tickets)
Monday 2nd March 2009 - Norwich @ Waterfront (Tickets)
Tuesday 3rd March 2009 - Nottingham @ Rock City (Tickets)
Wednesday 4th March 2009 - Dublin @ The Academy (Tickets)

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

The Rumble Strips have announced a string of dates around the UK next March in support of their new album, which is produced by Mark Ronson.

Tickets are on sale now, priced between £7.00 and £9.50 each.

Wednesday 4th March 2009 - Bristol Thekla (Tickets)
Thursday 5th March 2009 - Exeter Cavern (Tickets)
Tuesday 10th March 2009 - Manchester Roadhouse (Tickets)
Wednesday 11th March 2009 - Leeds Cockpit (Tickets)
Friday 13th March 2009 - York Fibbers (Tickets)
Saturday 14th March 2009 - Glasgow King Tuts (Tickets)
Sunday 15th March 2009 - Dundee Doghouse (Tickets)
Monday 16th March 2009 - Newcastle Cluny (Tickets)
Thursday 19th March 2009 - Leicester Charlotte (Tickets)
Friday 20th March 2009 - Cambridge Soul Tree (Tickets or Tickets)
Sunday 22nd March 2009 - Norwich Arts Centre (Tickets)
Monday 23rd March 2009 - Southampton Joiners (Tickets)
Tuesday 24th March 2009 - Brighton Komedia (Tickets)
Wednesday 25th March 2009 - London Dingwalls (Tickets or Tickets)
Friday 27th March 2009 - Derby Rockhouse (Tickets)

John Legend has announced a string of four UK shows next March. The US crooner, who personally I ain’t a huge fan of, is playing four shows up and down the UK over a week next year.

Tickets for the below dates go on sale at 9am on Friday (7th November).

Catch him at:

Monday 9th March 2009 - London Brixton Academy
Thursday 12th March 2009 - Glasgow Academy
Friday 13th March 2009 - Manchester Apollo
Saturday 14th March 2009 - Birmingham Academy

(top photo comes from absolut xman’s flick stream under the creative commons license)

Former Fame Academy winner Lemar has announced a huge UK tour for next spring around the UK, stopping just about everywhere.

Tickets go on sale for all dates this Friday, 7th November at 9am.

Monday 16th March 2009 - Carlisle Sands Centre
Tuesday 17th March 2009 - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Thursday 19th March 2009 - Reading Hexagon
Saturday 21st March 2009 - Bournemouth International Centre
Monday 23rd March 2009 - Brentwood Centre
Tuesday 24th March 2009 - Ipswich Regent Theatre
Wednesday 25th March 2009 - Preston Guildhall
Saturday 28th March 2009 - Brighton Centre
Sunday 29th March 2009 - Oxford New Theatre
Tuesday 31st March 2009 - Plymouth Pavilions
Wednesday 1st April 2009 - Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre
Saturday 4th April 2009 - Cardiff International Arena
Sunday 5th April 2009 - Portsmouth Guildhall
Monday 6th April 2009 - Cambridge Corn Exchange
Wednesday 8th April 2009 - Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Thursday 9th April 2009 - London Royal Albert Hall
Friday 10th April 2009 - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
Sunday 12th April 2009 - Newcastle City Hall
Monday 13th April 2009 - Sheffield City Hall
Tuesday 14th April 2009 - Harrogate Centre
Thursday 16th April 2009 - Glasgow - Clyde Auditorium @ SECC
Friday 17th April 2009 - Manchester Apollo

Elbow have announced a full tour for next year as they ride the wave of their Mercury Prize win in September.

Tickets for the below dates go on sale tomorrow, 4th November at 9am, with the exception of Wembley which is already on sale.

Catch the Manchester lads at:

Thursday 26th February 2009 - Brighton Dome
Sunday 1st March 2009 - Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Monday 2nd March 2009 - Bournemouth Solent Hall
Tuesday 3rd March 2009 - Sheffield Academy
Thursday 5th March 2009 - Newcastle Academy
Friday 6th March 2009 - Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Saturday 7th March 2009 - Blackpool Empress Ballroom
Monday 9th March 2009 - Llandudno Arena
Tuesday 10th March 2009 - Bristol Colston Hall
Wednesday 11th March 2009 - Plymouth Pavilions
Thursday 12th March 2009 - Newport Centre
Saturday 14th March 2009 - London Wembley Arena

With it looking pretty certain that their album will be number one this week, Snow Patrol have announced a sizeable UK and Ireland arena tour which kicks off next February.

Tickets go on presale tomorrow (Friday 31st October) at 9am from here, and then on general sale.

Sunday 22nd February 2009 - Bournemouth BIC
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Glasgow SECC
Thursday 26th February 2009 - Aberdeen AECC
Saturday 28th February 2009 - Dublin Point Depot
Wednesday 4th March 2009 - Sheffield Hallam Arena
Friday 6th March 2009 - Liverpool Arena
Saturday 7th March 2009 - Manchester MEN
Sunday 8th March 2009 - Cardiff Arena
Tuesday 10th March 2009 - Newcastle Arena
Wednesday 11th March 2009 - Birmingham NEC
Thursday 12th March 2009 - Nottingham Arena
Saturday 14th March 2009 - London O2
Thursday 19th March 2009 - Belfast Odyssey

Metallica have announced a string of UK tour dates for early next year, the first in almost 12 years.

Support at all shows is from Machine Head and The Sword, and all shows will be “in the round” (i.e. with the stage in the middle, and the audience all around the stage.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, 24th October at 9am, priced at £45 in London and £40 in all other areas. Doors are 6 pm except for Glasgow which is is 6:30 pm.

Catch the rockers at:

Wednesday 25th February 2009 - Nottingham Trent FM Arena
Thursday 26th February 2009 - Manchester Evening News Arena
Saturday 28th February 2009 - Sheffield Arena
Monday 2nd March 2009 - London The O2 Arena
Tuesday 3rd March 2009 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Wednesday 25th March 2009 - Birmingham LG Arena
Thursday 26th March 2009 - Glasgow SECC
Saturday 28th March 2009 - London The O2 Arena

The Killers have gone and announced a sizeable UK Tour for next spring around the UK and Ireland.

Tickets for the below dates go on sale on Friday (10th October) at 9am, so get them whilst they’re hot!

Friday 20th February 2009 - Dublin O2
Saturday 21st February 2009 - Belfast Odyssey Arena
Monday 23rd February 2009 - London O2 Arena
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - London O2 Arena
Thursday 26th February 2009 - Birmingham LG Arena
Saturday 28th February 2009 - Cardiff Arena
Monday 2nd March 2009 - Sheffield Arena
Tuesday 3rd March 2009 - Nottingham Arena
Thursday 5th March 2009 - Aberdeen AECC Arena
Friday 6th March 2009 - Glasgow SECC
Saturday 7th March 2009 - Newcastle Arena
Monday 9th March 2009 - Manchester MEN Arena