Scottish songsmiths The Xcerts have arrived with an impressive and eagerly awaited debut album, ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’.

The band, made up of trio Murray Macleod, Jordan Smith and Tom Heron, hail from opposite ends of the U.K., Aberdeen and Exeter.

Meeting at the age of 13 at school in their hometown of Aberdeen, singer Murray and bassist Jordan formed The Xcerts. Things started to take shape when they moved to Brighton in 2006 and met drummer, Tom. Since then the band have played relentlessly throughout the U.K. and gathered a loyal following which has helped them this far.

While recording the album in North Wales produced by Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild, Ocean Colour Scene) the trio suffered both family and personal heartache. This is reflected in content of the album, which contains some of the most up-front and passionate lyrics I have heard in a debut album. It also effected the band’s point of view; in their own words: “It’s about finding a place where everything will be ok”.

Songs full of hope and looking to the future are uplifting and heartfelt to all. Lead single ‘Crisis in the slow lane’ re-emphasises this with a chorus that epitomises the album.

The Xcerts have written an album that is full of anthemic and unstoppable songs. Songs that make you look to the future, think about the past and songs that you can just connect with.

Whether it is my love of Scottish bands or a personal connection to the lyrics, The Xcerts possess something truly great about them and look set to cement them selves within our music collection after such a shinning debut.

‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out 30th March through Xtra Mile and King Tuts Recordings. In support of the release the band will be playing a series of free and cheap shows. If you think on record they are amazing live you will be blown away. You can catch them at the below free (or very cheap) shows, including a rather fun looking show on Sunday on Loch Ness.

Sunday 29th March 2009 7.00pm – A Boat, Loch Ness – (Order tickets here or here.
Monday 30th March 4.00pm – 1up, Aberdeen
Tuesday 31st March 5.00pm – Fopp, union street, Glasgow
Wednesday 1st April 5.00pm – Rise, Cheltenham
Thursday 2nd April 6.30pm – Pure Groove, London
Friday 3rd April 6.00pm – Banquet, Kingston

The Xcerts have announced a string of tour dates for a full Uk tour starting in just over a week’s time.

The Brighton-via-Scotland-and-Exeter trio embark on a tour of some of the dingiest venues, all in the name of some good music. They’ve become used to playing bigger venues over the past year when they’ve supported the likes of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Twin Atlantic, Feeder and Fight Like Apes. Now, their first headline tour co-incides with the release of their debut album, “In The Cold Wind We Smile”, which is out on the 23rd March.

So go catch them at the below dates if you can!

Monday 2nd February 2009 – Sneaky Pete’s Edinburgh
Tuesday 3rd February 2009 – Café Drummonds Aberdeen
Wednesday 4th February 2009 – Mad Hatters Inverness
Thursday 5th February 2009 – Dog House Dunde
Friday 6th February 2009 – White Room Sunderland
Sunday 8th February 2009 – Club 85 Hitchin
Monday 9th February 2009 – Boiler Room Guildford
Tuesday 10th February 2009 – Hamptons Southampton
Wednesday 11th February 2009 – Old Blue Last London
Friday 13th February 2009 – Tap ‘n’ Tin Chatham
Saturday 14th February 2009 – Marquee Hertford
Sunday 15th February 2009 – Barfly Cardiff
Friday 27th February 2009 – Frebutt Brighton

To find tickets, we suggest you try using Needtickets. Needtickets.com offers you the most comprehensive ticket service in the UK. With one click you can search every nationwide online ticket agent and as a result you can find tickets for any live music event that can be booked online. Every ticket is 100% guaranteed as Needtickets.com only offers links to official agents.

I don’t know much about them, but The Xcerts have announced a full Sprng UK tour through the end of this month to the middle of April. They’ll be bringing their Idlewild-tinged tunes to 15 cities around the UK, so be sure to catch them before they go super-sonic.

Tickets are on sale now, priced around the £5 / £6 region.

Wednesday 26th March – Glasgow, Barfly
Thursday 27th March – Edinburgh, GRV
Friday 28th March – Aberdeen, Tunnels
Sunday 30th March – Dundee, Dexter’s
Thursday 3rd April – Sheffield, Boardwalk
Friday 4th April – Blackburn, North Bar
Saturday 5th April – London, Borderline
Sunday 6th April – Cambridge, Barfly
Wednesday 9th April – Leicester, Shed
Friday 11th April – Portsmouth, Rifle Club
Saturday 12th April – Southampton, Unit 22
Sunday 13th April – Mansfield, Town Mill
Tuesday 15th April – Cardiff, Barfly
Wednesday 16th April – Torquay, The Rock
Sunday 20th April – Exeter, Hub
Monday 21st April – Brighton, Freebutt