The HMV Forum

Punk's premier cover artists, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a conglomerate of some of the most recognizable faces in new-school punk. Drawn together by a mutual love of '60s and '70s music, the Gimme Gimmes work exclusively as a cover band. Their repertoire include songs from such acts as Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and John Denver.

Singer Spike Slawson formed the Gimme Gimmes in 1996, drawing in the talents of NOFX bassist Fat Mike, Lagwagon singer/guitarist Joey Cape, No Use for a Name guitarist Chris Shiflett, and Lagwagon drummer Dave Raun. Never originally aiming to put out a record, the band made appearances on punk compilation albums through much of the year. In 1997, however, the band began releasing singles named after the singer they had covered. They produced Billy, Diamond, Paul, Denver, and Barry in this manner.

Finally, the group produced their first full-legth effort, Have a Ball, in late 1997. Two years later, Are a Drag arrived. This particular album was a hit at college radio thanks to the band's quirky renditions of popular show tunes. In 1999, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes reworked bubblegum classics from the 1960s and 1970s for Blow in the Wind. Once more, the band was a hit at college radio and pop kids started catching on to Me First and the Gimme Gimme's infectious pop sound. The R&B tailored album, Take A Break was released in July 2003, just in time for the band's fifth appearance on the annual Vans' Warped Tour.

By turns cuddly and chaotic, San Francisco's Deerhoof mixes noise, sugary melodies, and an experimental spirit into sweetly challenging and utterly distinctive music. In 2002, the group released the critically acclaimed Reveille; 2003's Apple O' followed soon after, and also featured auxiliary guitarist Chris Cohen. Their fifth album, the much more cohesive and focused Milk Man, appeared in spring 2004. 2005 was another busy year for the band: Not only did they embark on tours of the U.S., Europe and Japan, they released the Green Cosmos EP, the full-length Runners Four and a Deerhoof tribute album that was only available on the band's website. On January 23 2007, Deerhoof released Friend Opportunity on Kill Rock Stars/5RC. The album was recorded in John's bedroom with some overdubbing done at Tiny Telephone with Jay and Ian Pellicci. The band has been touring throughout fall 2006, including a stop in North Haven, Maine, where a middle school produced a ballet version of Milk Man.Deerhoof is also currently working with composer Ed Shearmer on the soundtrack to the upcoming film Dedication.

The Black Lips are what you could call true visionaries of a skeptical age. Even from their very first 7" EP, you could tell they were doing their own thing on their own terms, and of course it didn't sit well, even with the dawning of the 21st century and all it promised. Wildly cross-eyed broken stars destined to waver in their importance in the cosmos, they know no boundaries and they take no pretense. Like a volatile and teetering amalgamation of the SWELL MAPS trying to cover the SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS, it's just not right for this world. The Black Lips are a dazzling catastrophe that needs to be absorbed before it vaporizes into thin air. The fun these guys have is hard to hide either live or on record. Seriously slurred swashbucklers living out the ultimate teenage dream, yet breaking through another layer of remarkable idiocy, transcribed through hallucinations, exasperation, and perfectly casual dick fumbling.

Deerhunter began in 2001 with the ambition of fusing the lulling hypnotic states induced by ambient and minimalist music with the klang and propulsion of garage rock. The band has weathered chaotic line-up changes, the death of a member, and much discouragement. Their live performances almost always leave audiences polarized. They are a five-piece based in Atlanta.

Cullum released his first album, Jamie Cullum Trio—Heard it All Before, in 1999. A mere 500 copies were made. Original copies have sold for as much as £600 (and above) on eBay. The success of Heard It All Before resulted in Jamie being invited to appear on Geoff Gascoyne's album Songs of the Summer. Cullum - who is completely self-taught, bar a few piano lessons as a youngster - released a best-selling album, Pointless Nostalgic. Following that, in April 2003 he signed a contract with Universal, for three albums, who beat Sony in a bidding war.

Cullum then started recording his third album, Twentysomething, in May of 2003, which was released in October 2003. It went platinum and became the #1 selling studio album by a jazz artist in the United Kingdom.

Although primarily a jazz musician, Cullum performs in a wide range of styles and is generally regarded as a "crossover" artist with his musical roots firmly based in jazz. Cullum draws his inspiration from many different musicians and listens to a very eclectic mix of music from Miles Davis to Tom Waits and many more.

Cullum names his brother as his biggest musical influence and claims he would not be making music if it wasn't for Ben Cullum.

Jamie Cullum is well known, not only for his abilities on the piano, but also for his unique entertainment style and charisma. One of the many things that features in Jamie's concerts is the "stompbox", made from a small wooden block. The stompbox is used to amplify a musician's tapping foot. Jamie found this in Australia and uses it to enhance upbeat and fast-paced songs such as Seven Nation Army originally by the White Stripes and "Gold Digger", originally by Kanye West. He is also often found using a looping machine. This plays a heavy part in Cullum's versions of other artists works. Cullum is also often found beatboxing at nearly every gig.

Numerous reviews have cited Cullum's gigs as indescribable, but most agree it's an eclectic experience. Not only does Cullum play songs from his albums, but nearly every concert will see Cullum cover something out of the ordinary. As previously mentioned he has been known to cover White Stripes, Kanye West as well as the likes of Massive Attack, Pussycat Dolls, Gnarls Barkley, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Joy Division and many others. Jamie's show are a forever evolving experience. No two gigs are the same and some avid fans prove this point by going to multiple shows in the same week. Cullum rarely works to a set list and on average his gigs last two and a half hours. Instead of a setlist he plays what he feels like and the gigs are improvised, meaning the shows are rooted in jazz even if the music doesn't always sound like it.

Roni Size (born Ryan Williams), came to national prominence in 1997 as the founder and leader of Reprazent, a drum and bass collective. That year they won the Mercury Prize for their album, New Forms.

Size grew up in the Bristol suburb of St. Andrews and cites reggae as one of his early influences. Size was expelled from school at the age of 16 and started attending house parties run by Bristol mavericks the Wild Bunch (later Massive Attack). He learned the basics about music production down at his local youth club before setting up his own home studio.

Size was keen to describe the mélange of influences as intuitive: "If Krust walks into the studio and his head is nodding, that's enough. I know I've got a result there. He doesn't need to touch a button or tell us what he thinks, 'cos we already know what he's thinking."

Much of the acclaim centred around Size's melding of the new with the old - the propulsive jungle beats accompanied by live drums and double bass. The band - Size (compositions/programming), DJ Krust, Onallee (vocals), Dynamite MC and rapper Bahamadia (a former protégé of Gang Starr) - came together on Bristol's highly fertile and disparate club scene. As a result, Reprazent's sleek, highly musical take on drum 'n' bass is equally informed by hip-hop, funk, soul and house.

In consolidation of their mainstream breakthrough (the most significant for jungle (music) since Goldie's debut), Reprazent set out to become the summer sound of 1997 with a series of festival appearances (including Tribal Gathering).

Size subsequently teamed up with DJ Die and Leonie Laws in Breakbeat Era, before returning to Reprazent to record the second album, October 2000's uncompromising In The Mode, which included guest vocals from Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan.

MUGSTAR 7.45-8.15

COUNTRY TEASERS 8.30-9.00

MUDHONEY 9.30-11

 Doors 7pm the tenets 7.25 beggars 8.15 babyshambles 9.15

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR

Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project. Babyshambles draws inspiration from the punk and ska genres, and has released two albums, one EP and a number of singles. The band has received a great deal of attention from the British tabloid press as a result of interest in Doherty's personal life.

DOORS 7PM

PAUL GREEN'S SCHOOL OF ROCK 8-8.45

BUTTHOLE SURFERS 9.15-10.45

**JUST ANNOUNCED** SUPPORT ARTIST: LAURA IZIBOR

If you bought tickets for Angie Stone’s cancelled February show at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, you can get your tickets refunded from the original agent you purchased them from and rebook for this show by clicking the buy tickets button on this page.

Following the cancellation of her February gig at The Shepherds Bush Empire, neo-soul diva Angie Stone confirms her return to the UK with an exclusive performance at the newly refurbished Kentish Town Forum, a venue she has previously sold out numerous times.

DOORS 7PM

THE BLAKES 7.45-8.30

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE 9-11

DOORS 7PM

EVEREST 8-8.30

MY MORNING JACKET 9-11

"BRING IT ON" TOUR

GOMEZ WILL BE PERFORMING THE WHOLE OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM "BRING IT ON"

JUST ANNOUNCED! Support from MASTER SHORTIE and DJ sets from DJ 279 (Choice FM).

The brilliance of The Roots is not that they are "real musicians" or that they make insightful literary references in their album titles, but the shifts they constantly make, which make them analogous to time--always moving. It's the list of what the band has yet to explore that ?uestlove creates and crosses off while The Roots record an album (speed metal, electronica, drum and bass, Stones-style rock--done, done, etc.). The real secret in watching The Roots progress is in what you think they will do vs. what they do. It's the gap, the space between things that they bridge--tried/not tried, expected/unexpected--like the silence between beats which makes music.

JUST ANNOUNCED! Support from MASTER SHORTIE and DJ sets from Manny Norte (Kiss FM).

The brilliance of The Roots is not that they are "real musicians" or that they make insightful literary references in their album titles, but the shifts they constantly make, which make them analogous to time--always moving. It's the list of what the band has yet to explore that ?uestlove creates and crosses off while The Roots record an album (speed metal, electronica, drum and bass, Stones-style rock--done, done, etc.). The real secret in watching The Roots progress is in what you think they will do vs. what they do. It's the gap, the space between things that they bridge--tried/not tried, expected/unexpected--like the silence between beats which makes music.

THIS EVENT WILL RUN AS A GIG FROM 7-11 THEN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A CLUB NIGHT WITH SPECIAL GUEST DJS FEAT. ALI SHAHEED (TRIBE CALLED QUEST) AND ?LOVE (THE ROOTS). TICKETS ARE VALID FOR THE GIG AND THE CLUB EVENT FOLLOWING.

During the Club Night (from 11pm) there will be no restriction for ticket purchasers wanting to move between Downstairs and Balcony

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN OVER-18S EVENT.

When Tears for Fears sang, "Kick out the Style/Bring back the Jam," in "Sowing the Seeds of Love," one can imagine the lads in Kaiser Chiefs raising their mugs of ale in agreement. Comprised of vocalist Ricky Wilson, guitarist Andrew White, bassist Simon Rix, keyboardist Nick Baines, and drummer Nick Hodgson, Kaiser Chiefs resurrected the mod spirit of the Jam in "I Predict a Riot," supercharged class of '77 power pop that quickly electrified the British press when it was released in 2004. The song was inspired by Wilson's days as a club DJ in Leeds, England, where the group was also formed. The single and Kaiser Chiefs' pogo-inducing, boot-stomping live performances had them pegged as rising stars in the neo-new wave revolution with Franz Ferdinand, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, and the Futureheads.

Due to audience participation and the intimate nature of Chris Crudelli's live show, it has been decide to move the performance to the Pleasance, in Islington.  The Pleasance Theatre will give the audience the greatest up close and personal experience of what this amazing one-man martial art show is all about.  Chris has to be seen to be believed!

This event has sold out.

Rhythm and blues masters, Gomez, will finish a 12 date UK tour on a high note, playing as part of the Red Stripe Music Award Final at London’s HMV Forum on Tuesday 5th May.  Following the release of their new album, ‘A New Tide’ (30th March), the celebrated band will play alongside four emerging artists, yet to be picked from the shortlist.  Now in its third year, The Red Stripe Music Award has hosted over 150 bands at 27 of the UK’s best loved live music venues since January and with one more gig to go at Hootananny in Brixton on 18th April – the wait is almost over for hundreds of hopefuls.  With slots at three of the summer’s major festivals including The Great Escape guaranteed for the winner, The Red Stripe Music Award looks to offer talented musicians a platform to get themselves noticed by both the public and the industry. 

Tickets to The Red Stripe Music Award Final on Tuesday 5th May are now available on a first come first serve basis via www.redstripe.net

There will be a signing with Gomez for the first 100 through the door along with surprises from partners Fender and Merc.

Visit www.redstripe.net to see reviews and footage from the regional gigs and for regular updates about the final and check out more Gomez news on www.gomeztheband.com.

The Red Stripe Music Award is supported this year by Fender, Merc clothing, The Fly magazine and The Great Escape.

Due to illness, the lead singer of CLINIC will be unable to perform at tonights show. However, please be assured that the rest of the band will be performing a full set. We apologise for any disappointment. 

Dinosaur Jr are acknowledged as one of alternative rock’s premier bands. J. Mascis and Lou Barlow formed the group in Massachusetts in the mid-eighties though Barlow soon went on to front Sebadoh. In 1992, the Rollercoaster package tour, also featuring Blur, My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus & Mary Chain, helped establish Mascis and co in the UK. Their use of feedback and loud-quiet dynamics was acknowledged as an influence by Nirvana. Mascis, Barlow and original drummer Murph are about to release Farm, their second album since reuniting in 2005.     

EXCLUSIVE LA ROUX GIG AT LONDON’S HMV FORUM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY 1st JULY) – FREE TICKETS UP FOR GRABS!

If you weren't lucky enough to get a ticket for this event when you ordered the La Roux album exclusively through

HMV.com then there's still a chance to win!

All you need to do is go to http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F0042DAACAC360F and apply for a pair of Admission tickets (not competition winner tickets). Then print out your free tickets - entry will be on a first come, first served basis until the venue is full…

HMV forum: 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY
Wednesday 1 July 2009 - doors 7.00pm

The Kerrang! Awards 2009 - Week of Rock at the HMV Forum featuring:

YOU ME AT SIX
+ Attack Attack + Out of Sight
Tuesday July 28

DRAGONFORCE
+ Stone Gods + Glamour of the Kill
Wednesday July 29

BUCKCHERRY
+ 69 Eyes + Dear Superstar
Thursday July 30

LACUNA COIL
+ Dirty Little Rabbits + Dead by April
Friday July 31

LIMP BIZKIT
Saturday August 1

Special Summer event - Saturday 25th August
School Disco presents – The Holloways exclusive DJ Set

School Disco gives The Holloways a record player and a generator to generate the music that makes you feel better......... see you on the dancefloor.

The Holloways will be spinning all types of tunes past and present, it promises to be a great night!!

The Holloways are tipped to be one of the biggest bands around and School Disco are pleased to be bringing them to the biggest stage in their native North London at The Forum, Kentish Town.

Since launching in 1999, School Disco has attracted an international cult following and enjoyed six successful top-selling albums. In fact, it is one of the UK’s longest running club nights!  2007 will see SchoolDisco continue to host weekly parties which spin the best of Glam rock, Ska, Punk, Reggae, Pop Classics, R’n’B, and Hip Hop and indie tunes.  

From Planet Rock and Renegades of Funk by Afrika Bambaataa, Police Officer by Smiley Culture and Funky President by James Brown to the very best of Blondie, The Jacksons, Keiser Chiefs, Blur and Queen.

Dress Code: Glam School Uniform, No jeans allowed

Breaking musical boundaries and changing perceptions of what hip-hop or indie or rock can be, with Gym Class Heroes, what you see isn’t always what you get. Though the overall feel of their album ‘As Cruel As School Children’ is bright and breezy, McCoy’s personal, playful lyrics can often be peeled back to reveal hidden layers of emotion and introspection, notably on songs such as the first single, The Queen and I.

“It’s a personal song,” Travis says, “about girls who fancy alcoholic beverages, girls who like to have too much of a good time. I have weird underlying issues with females and alcohol. This song is kind of like closure, though you’d never get that vibe listening to the song. It’s fun to do things like that, make music that’s fun with a really poppy vibe, but when you listen to the lyrics, it’s like, ‘Holy shit, that dude just said…’ If you’re not paying attention, you think it’s just another radio ditty that sticks in your head, but then when you really listen you see it’s a whole lot more.”

Peter Morén from Dalarna in the North of Sweden and Björn Yttling from Västerbotten - even further to the North - had been playing music together for 8 years when they in 1999 met John - from Norrbotten - which would you believe it is yet even further to the North!

The following year they started a band and simply called it Peter, Bjorn and John - not due to lack of better names - but because it felt right. Band names are often ridiculous - so why not just go for your own name? First they thought that they would recruit a bass player but after the well known saying "3 is a crowd" thus more than enough - the keyboard player Björn began playing bass.

Initially all the press they got had to do with Björn's production CV and the members different guest appearances on other more well known bands and artists records.
In 2002 the home recorded self titled debut album was released and received comments from the press regarding "superior sound beds" and "upcoming classics" while songs like "Matchmaker" and "People They Know" became favourites with the indie pop crowd.

2004 saw the follow up with the more complete, mature and darker "Falling Out". "It beats me everytime" became a Swedish radio hit and the album was released Stateside the following year to press acclaim. Allmusic.com gave the album 4,5 stars.

Now in 2006 PBJ embark on the second phase of their careers. The new album "Writer's Block" (recorded in Björn's studio in Hornstull,Stockholm) is the first to showcase all three members as songwriters and taking on lead vocalist duties and sees the band take on a new musical direction.

‘Silence Is Talking’ is the brand new single taken from Reverend and the Makers second album ‘A French Kiss In The Chaos’. Released on 13th July 2009 on 7”/CD and digital download through Wall of Sound, ‘Silence Is Talking’ rides on a blissed out euphoric groove and looks set to become a huge summer anthem, dominating the airways and dance floors from Sheffield to Ibiza, festivals and clubs, rockers and ravers.  

‘A French Kiss In The Chaos’ is released on the 27th July and is the follow up to 2007’s Top 5 album ‘The State of Things’ (which spawned several hit singles including ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ and ‘He Said He Loved Me’).  Produced by Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream/Kasabian) and mixed by Dave Sardy (The Ting Tings/Oasis/LCD Soundsystem) the album features 10 tracks covering topics such as global warming, Prozac and consumerism – but with an abiding and persistent sense of optimism and positivity.    Musically the new album embraces 60’s psychedelia alongside a thoroughly modern and vibrant sound.  ‘Professor Pickles’ weaves a hypnotic carousel of sound with pure pop, ‘No Wood Just Trees’ features soaring brass around an infectious hook.   ‘No Soap (In a Dirty War)’ is a colossal tune which explodes into a life affirming sing-along chorus whereas the album finale ‘Hard Time for Dreamers’ is a delicate, brooding number shot through with vulnerability.   ‘A French Kiss In The Chaos’ takes Reverend and the Makers musically leaps and bounds from their debut.

Jon McClure (The Reverend) and the band will head out on tour throughout the summer, playing headline shows, festivals and are special guests to Oasis on several shows.   They will play 5 nights in a row in London (8th – 13th July) at three different venues which will see them appear in front of over an incredible 275,000 people.  The band have also just confirmed a UK headlining tour for October/November.

THIS EVENT HAS MOVED FROM THE ASTORIA. NEW TICKETS TO BE ISSUED.

Staind burst out on the music scene in 1999 with the platinum selling album Dysfunction; however it was their follow-up, Break the Cycle that catapulted the band into the mainstream with smash hits like It's Been Awhile, Fade and For You.

The bands latest album Chapter V is Staind at their best, with songs ranging from forceful to quiet, from industrial-tinged to melodious, often within one song and with singer Aaron Lewis' instantly recognizable voice heartfelt and fervent.

DOORS 7PM

ROYWORLD 8.15PM

GUILLEMOTS 9.15-11PM

PLUS SUPPORT: THE BAD ROBOTS

BAD ROBOTS 8.30-9.15

HOODOO GURUS 9.30-11PM

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR

Vampire Weekend play their biggest shows in a nine date UK headline tour which comes on the back of an amazing year for the band. The New York quartet have racked up over half a million worldwide sales of their critically-acclaimed, eponymous debut album.
Vampire Weekend are: Ezra Koenig (singer, guitar), Rostam Batmanglij (keyboards), Chris Baio (bass) and Christopher Tomson (drums).

Doors 7:00

Ipso Facto 8:00

Magazine 9:15

Curfew 11:00

Magazine, one of Britain’s most influential bands, are to reform for two concerts in February 2009.

Original members Howard Devoto, Dave Formula, Barry Adamson and John Doyle are to be joined by an as yet unnamed guest guitarist, to walk in the not inconsiderable footsteps of the departed, and sadly missed, John McGeoch.

It is the first time Magazine have played live together since 1980.

Enduringly credible, Magazine have always been the connoisseur’s choice and have been frequently name checked by some of the most gifted musicians of recent years including Radiohead, Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker, U2 & Maximo Park. This year, NME.com included Magazine in a poll as one of the most influential bands of all time.

Magazine’s front man, Howard Devoto co-formed Buzzcocks with Pete Shelley after the pair had seen The Sex Pistols in early 1976 and promoted the now legendary Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall gigs. Devoto left in 1977, after the seminal "Spiral Scratch" EP had been released, and created Magazine. Their first record was the post-Punk anthem "Shot By Both Sides".

Four ground breaking albums later and the band had parted company, leaving behind an influential body of work which was re-released by Virgin EMI last year to critical acclaim.

The concerts are being staged in association with The Gig Cartel and wire-sound and will be recorded for possible release later in 2009. 

Doors 7pm

Grails 7.50pm

Harvey Milk 8.40pm

Jesus Lizard 9.30pm

Chicago rock band The Jesus Lizard missed out on mainstream success back in the nineties, however they've been called “a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground … (who) turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial noise, all of which received positive reviews in underground music publications and heavy college-radio play."  Despite the lack of recognition they counted grunge giants Nirvana as fans.  Now back together and on the road they will storm the stage with their scathing mix of stinging guitar, machine-like drums and psychotic vocals. 

 A FEW PRODUCTION RETURNS ARE AVAILABLE. BUY THROUGH THIS WEB SITE OR GIGSANDTOURS.COM.

PETE AND THE PIRATES 7.30

BLOOD RED SHOES 8.15

MYSTERY JETS 9.10

MAXIMO PARK 10PM

Maximo Park are pleased to announce a special one off concert at the Forum in Kentish Town, London on 28th May 2008!
Support comes from Blood Red Shoes and Pete and the Pirates plus very special guests tba. The show is in aid of two cancer charities including The Royal Marsden. It will be one of the bands few live appearances this year and looks like being a very special evening. All proceeds from the night will go to the two charities. Thank you all for your support!

THE VORTEX REUNION.

Since their inception in 1977, The Fall have been a constant thorn in the side of the music industry. Led by the fiercely uncompromising Mark E. Smith, the sole constant in an ever-changing line-up, they were the favourite group of broadcaster John Peel and are often referenced by Sonic Youth, Pavement and Franz Ferdinand. They have released over 30 albums.  

Buzzcocks pioneered the DIY approach with the Spiral Scratch EP in January 1977 and went on to release a series of perfect punk-pop singles, including the much-covered Ever Fallen In love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve). Since reforming the group in the late eighties, Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle have toured with Nirvana and Pearl Jam, two of the many groups they have influenced.

John Cooper Clarke put the poetry into punk in the late seventies with the Gimmix! multi-format single and the Snap Crackle and Bop album, produced by the late, great Martin Hannett. The bard of Salford endeared himself to the eighties generation with his appearance in a Sugar Puffs ad while his characteristic delivery has also graced the soundtracks to Control and The Sopranos.

PYTHIA 7.30pm

MINISTRY 8.30pm

The following year's full-length Psalm 69 reached the Top 30 and went platinum, producing two further MTV hits with "N.W.O." and "Just One Fix," and Ministry consolidated its following with a spot on the inaugural Lollapalooza tour that summer (joined by new guitarist Louis Svitek). However, drug and legal problems sidelined the band in the wake of its newfound popularity, resulting in the clouded Filth Pig being released in 1995, too late to capitalize on their prior success. More problems with drugs and arrests followed, and Jourgensen returned to some of his side projects, recording a new album with Lard, among others. In 1999, the new single "Bad Blood" was featured prominently in the sci-fi special-effects blockbuster film The Matrix, setting the stage for the release of Dark Side of the Spoon (the title a reference to the band's heroin problems) later that summer.

Ministry was nominated for a Grammy in 2000 for "Bad Blood," but they lost to Black Sabbath. They were also added to the Ozzfest tour, but they were kicked off before it even began because of a management change. In 2001, Ministry filmed a scene for Steven Spielberg's A.I. and released their contribution to the film on a greatest-hits album, appropriately titled Greatest Fits. The song received a decent amount of promotion, but the single went nowhere and the band signed to Sanctuary Records later in the year. While recording new material, they released the Sphinctour album and DVD in the spring of 2002 to satisfy rabid fans who were disappointed by the Ipecac situation. The next spring Animositisomina was released, advertised as a return to the Psalm 69 style of songwriting and featuring a cover of Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me." Houses of the Molé followed in June 2004.

In September 2005 Ministry celebrated their 25th anniversary with Rantology. Jourgensen remixed such past hits as "Jesus Built My Hotrod" and "N.W.O. for the set; it also included live material, rarities, and the new track "Great Satan." An extensive tour with Revolting Cocks in tow followed. The band then released Rio Grande Blood in May 2006, the second installment in what Jourgensen promised to be a George W. Bush-hating trilogy (which began with Houses of the Molé); the album earned Ministry another Grammy nomination (Best Metal Performance) for "Lies, Lies, Lies." In 2007 the band announced they would be releasing their "final" album, The Last Sucker, by the end of the year.

SHOW STILL ON!! ALTHOUGH REGIONAL SHOWS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED, THIS SHOW WILL STILL GO AHEAD AS PLANNED. 

Bossa covers of eighties classics; lounge-tastic takes punk staples; smooth, breathy, jazz covers of cult rock and pop anthems, Nouvelle Vague may not write the material but they make it entirely their own.  Part homage, part re-imagining, they bring a fresh and often unexpected perspective to an era of often dour and coldly affected music, giving a warm glow to everything they touch.

‘From Blondie to the Buzzcocks, Blancmange to the Bunnymen; Joy Division, The Clash, the Cramps, the Cure and more, Nouvelle has given them all a warm glowing sense of fun and ‘lashings of nowish cool.’ The Guardian

Ticket Line: 0844 847 2405

St Albans trio Friendly Fires will unleash the dancefloor-fillers from their stunning self-titled debut album on the DIY disco-punk loving crowd.  With electro-punk tracks like ‘Photobooth’, ‘Lovesick’, ‘White Diamonds’ and ‘On Board’, prepare for a sweaty mass of glow sticks and flailing limbs.

On Sale: Monday 1 September @ 9am

Q AWARDS: THE GIGS

Keane will be launching the Q Awards: The Gigs on 29th September. Seeing the band return with a combination of their anthem filled tour-de-force hits and tracks from the forthcoming album due for release October 13th

www.qthemusic.com

DOORS 7PM

OLLY BROWN 8-8.30

BLUE OYSTER CULT 9-11 APPROX

DOORS 7PM

RIDERS ON THE STORM 8.30-10.30

Doors founding members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger have chosen
ex-Fuel lead singer Brett Scallions to front their project Riders On The
Storm, filling the void created when The Cult's Ian Astbury departed the
group last month. "Brett is on board and we are glad to have him, he has
a great voice and a lot of charisma," states keyboardist Manzarek.

"Jim Morrison can never be replaced, but this project has never been
about that," expressed guitarist Krieger; "It's about giving a voice to
the body of work we created with Jim in a live setting."

Brett Scallions departed Fuel in early 2006 after fronting the
multi-platinum act for over a decade. The rock band best known for the
hit songs Hemmorage, Bittersweet and Shimmer, tried in vain to recruit
American Idol's Chris Daugherty as a replacement. Scallions has moved on
from the band, and looks forward to working with Manzarek and Krieger.
"Having an opportunity to share the stage with these great musicians is
more exciting than anything I've ever done. I'm so proud to be a part of
this," declared the vocalist.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Doors. The Venice Beach,
California, based band released their first record in 1967. In February
of 2007 the band was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a
star of The Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

On Sale: Monday 1 September@ 9am

Bloc Party will take the stage on Tuesday, 30th September on the back of their eagerly awaited third studio, Intimacy, which was released digitally through BlocParty.com on August 21 (the physical album will follow in October). The acclaimed indie rockers have enjoyed great critical and commercial success with their previous albums, Silent Alarm, which was certified platinum in the UK, and the follow up, 2007’s A Weekend In The City, which reached Number 2 in the UK charts and 12 on the Billboard 200 in the US.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS AN ALL SEATED SHOW.

ASIA’S ORIGINAL SUPERGROUP LINE-UP ON TOUR AS BAND’S FIRST NEW

ALBUM IN 25 YEARS, ‘PHOENIX,’ ARRIVES IN STORES & ONLINE

The acclaimed British progressive rock group ASIA is gearing up for a new album release and are setting off on a world tour. Phoenix, ASIA’s first studio album since

1983 with all four original members, will be released on April 15.

Formed at the dawn of the MTV era, ASIA was the first ‘supergroup’ of the 1980s,

featuring members from Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson and The Buggles.

Videos made for the band’s first two albums, ASIA and Alpha, were staples of the

historic music channel’s initial programming.

ASIA’s four original members reunited in 2006, 23 years after all four had last played

together. The much publicized reunion resulted in two highly successful world tours in

2006 and 2007; an acclaimed double live LP and DVD (Fantasia: Live In Tokyo); and an

overwhelming response from fans and the media, which continues today. ASIA has sold

more than 15 million albums around the world, and this will be the third world tour for the four accomplished musicians, whose debut album, ASIA, was released 26 years ago in 1982 and remains one of only four albums in history to hold the #1 Billboard album chart position for a staggering nine weeks.

On Sale: Monday 1 September @ 9am

Q AWARDS: THE GIGS

Sugababes are the BRIT Award-winning English pop group who have been named the most successful all-female act of the 21st century in the UK selling more than 5 million albums to date. October 1st sees the Sugababes take over the Forum with their brilliant show before they head back into the studio to start work on their 6th studio album.

www.qthemusic.com

On Sale: Monday 1 September @ 9am

Q AWARDS: THE GIGS

Razorlight first created waves when their debut album "Up All Night" which reached the number 1 spot in the UK charts. Their second album titled "Razorlight" also reached the number 1 spot and the single "The In Morning" peaked at number 2 with the follow up single "America" proving to be the monster hit, holding the number 1 spot in the UK airplay chart and topping the singles charts. The band are currently in the studio working on their eagerly anticipated third album

www.qthemusic.com

Gang of Four are one of the most radical- and radically important – rock groups of the last 30 years. When they first burst forth onto the 70’s music scene, with Andy Gill slashing away on guitar as Jon King declaimed love as disease or the torture of prisoners in Northern Ireland like a deranged demagogue, they were hailed as a potent new force; uncompromising musical revolutionaries who didn’t so much rip up the rulebooks as set them fiercely alight. And this year, a whole new generation of fans can witness them in action when they play a special series of live shows to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut “entertainment!”.

More than anything, Gang of Four are about visceral, high energy, maximum impact rock n’ roll. They make you dance, and they make you sweat, just as they make you think. That exclamation mark at the end of the title of their 1979 debut album “entertainment!” was no accident or sleight of design – it was specifically engineered by the band themselves. These live dates will include all of the songs from the album, borne out of very specific circumstances and a social, economic and political environment which bears uncanny resonance to our situation today, thereby rendering the album as true and relevant today as the day it was released.

Over the last few years, Gang of Four have played some exhilarating live shows around the world which have shown them to be as visionary, significant and exciting as ever, as befitting a band that has influenced some of the best and most thrilling new bands of the day. This show at the HMV Forum includes all of “entertainment!” as well as material spanning their remarkable career (not to mention the promise of brand new material).

Norway`s finest, DIMMU BORGIR, strike back with their eighth opus “In Sorte Diaboli”, and it is their most elaborate and thrilling effort so far! Again produced by Swedish mastermind Fredrik Nordström, the nine new DIMMU BORGIR tracks are a true lesson in fierce yet melodic Northern blackness...

In 1994, the band recorded their now-classic debut full-length, “For All Tid”, followed two years later by one of the most important albums in Black Metal history, “Stormblåst”. Album number two instantly turned DIMMU BORGIR into the hottest Black Metal Underground act with its mature songwriting, tempo variances, strong classical influences and overall unique sound.

With a new-formed line-up, consisting of Shagrath (vocals), Silenoz (guitar), Vortex (bass & vocals), Galder (guitar), Mustis (keyboard) and Nick Barker (drums), Dimmu Borgir entered Sweden’s Fredman Studio in Fall 2000 to record their highly anticipated album “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia”. Once again the band created a masterpiece in aggressive music with outstanding atmosphere and audibly evil songs. 2003`s “Death Cult Armageddon” even outdid that high level. This opus set a new standard for Black Metal with its complexity, brutality and catchy feel. The majestic orchestral parts on the record remain unchallenged in Black Metal history to this very day.

In 2005, the band decided to fully re-record the classic “Stormblåst”, since this fan favourite lacked appropriate sound and arrangements in the eyes of the DIMMU BORGIR guys. Living legend Hellhammer (MAYHEM) joined them on drums for this occasion – and he is also part of “In Sorte Diaboli”.

The Dark Ages are back!

THE SHOW HAS NOW MOVED TO NEIGHBOURHOOD IN WEST LONDON ON JUNE 14. ORIGINAL TICKETS REMAIN VALID.

LINE UP FINALISED FOR RELEASE THE BATS 2008!!!!

Here are those names you have been waiting for.....

We are VERY excited to announce that Lightning Bolt and Les Savy Fav are the two acts that finalise the line up of this years Release The Bats.

The astounding Lightning Bolt will be first on the bill � this is their first show back in the UK after a long hiatus. Doors are 6.30pm � 2am

The complete (incredible) line up is now as follows:

Lightning Bolt
Pissed Jeans
Wooden Shjips
OM
Les Savy Fav
Shellac
Andy Wetherall DJ

OYSTERBAND 30th ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Three decades after they started out as a loose collection of musicians meeting at the now legendary Dukes Folk Club in Whitstable in the late 1970s, Oysterband continues to grow, innovate and surprise. In the past decade alone, the group has made one of its best albums ever (Meet You There, Westpark Music), garnered two BBC Folk Awards (including one for Best Group), curated an (initially) on-the-road package event called The Big Session (which became so successful after three tours that it graduated into a full-blown festival, now in its fourth year); and now they’re about to come home to party. Still on a roll from the enthusiastic reception right across Europe and North America for Meet You There, they'll be mixing up old and new material, Oysterband classics and radical rearrangements for this celebratory UK tour.

Over three decades they have produced many albums, but it’s safe to say each decade has been marked by a standout title, a pivotal work that has helped define the changing times. In the 1980s, it was Freedom And Rain (Cooking Vinyl), a collaboration with June Tabor that Rolling Stone magazine called ”a marriage made in heaven”. For the ’90s, it was Holy Bandits (Cooking Vinyl), a highly influential album that is regularly cited as one of the great folk/roots-rock albums of all time.  

Today, they remain committed both to a deep folk heritage and to evolving and redefining the nature of tradition. To quote Ian Anderson (editor, fRoots): “If only most groups half their age could sustain Oysterband's effortless vitality and distinctive creativity…” Helping the band celebrate this creative longevity are a host of special guests at different venues, including a re-formed (rather than reformed!) Edward II, Chris Wood (who played with Oysterband in the 1980s), Spiers & Boden, Rosie Doonan, Dan Donnelly and 3 Daft Monkeys. Drummer Lee Partis, currently on sabbatical working as a counsellor in a prison in NW England (a long-held interest and ambition), returns to join the shows at Birmingham, Leeds, Salisbury and London for a 2-drummer assault.

The band’s pre-Christmas, Forum gigs are legendary. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

LINE UP FINALISED FOR RELEASE THE BATS 2008!!!!

Here are those names you have been waiting for.....

We are VERY excited to announce that Lightning Bolt and Les Savy Fav are the two acts that finalise the line up of this years Release The Bats.

The astounding Lightning Bolt will be first on the bill � this is their first show back in the UK after a long hiatus. Doors are 6.30pm � 2am

The complete (incredible) line up is now as follows:

Lightning Bolt
Pissed Jeans
Wooden Shjips
OM
Les Savy Fav
Shellac
Andy Wetherall DJ

If you think you don't know the music of Stephen Marley, you do-you just don't realize it. A member of the celebrated Marley sibling group The Melody Makers since the age of seven, the Grammy winning producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has also been the driving creative force behind the music of his brothers. Stephen's production, performance and writing credits recently earned him two Grammys-giving him a total of five: more than any other Marley family member or reggae artist in history.
Born in 1972, the second son of Bob Marley, Stephen was dancing and singing onstage during his father and The Wailers' live shows (alongside older siblings Ziggy and Cedella) by the time he was old enough to walk. As a young boy, he stayed at home-as Ziggy and Cedella entered school-where he would shadow his father, mimic his speech and quickly fall in love with such future reggae anthems as "Lively Up Yourself." At seven, he began learning guitar on a nylon-stringed acoustic.

Stephen has built and laid the foundations for a full-blown Marley family renaissance and with Mind Control, Stephen has achieved that: It's an album full of confidence and diversity in styles and emotion. "I don't want to be just another artist. I want to make a statement, and to continue this legacy, this musical legacy, with my family. Just like my brothers... I aspire to be a reckoning force, when you hear my name, you know quality comes with that: good music, good message, good vibe."

NICK CAVE: vocals, electric guitar, organ, piano
WARREN ELLIS: electric bouzouki, Fendocaster, violin, viola, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
MARTYN CASEY: bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
JIM SCLAVUNOS: drums, percussion, backing vocals

In February 2006, the four musicians that are Grinderman booked themselves into London’s Metropolis Studios for a five-day marathon of non-stop demo sessions, resulting in several hours of raw material. In April 2006, Grinderman entered RAK studios, London, for a week with producer Nick Launay. They re-worked the raw material into thirteen songs, returning to Metropolis in October to mix them.

Forget what you think you know. Marillion are one of the UK music scene’s best kept secrets; purveyors of soulful, powerful, and often deeply-moving music, who’s blistering live shows leave their audiences breathless. When Fish, Marillion’s original lead singer, left the band in 1988 after four albums he was replaced by the charismatic Steve Hogarth. A former member of The Europeans and some-time collaborator with The The and Julian Cope, Hogarth brought a new heart and energy to the band.

Predictions of doom were swiftly dispelled, as across a further NINE albums, Hogarth – along with existing members Steve Rothery (guitar), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass), and Ian Mosley (drums) – reinvigorated and constantly redefined Marillion’s sound. They forged into new musical territories with a succession of inventive, emotional albums, displaying little regard to the vagaries of The Musical Fashion Police, or the bandwagoneering of radio playlists.

After the release of 1999’s ‘marillion.com’ the band banished the spectre of record company pressure once and for all by launching their own record label (the aptly-named Intact imprint) and freeing themselves up to produce some of the finest music of their career.

Thanks to their pioneering embrace of the Internet, Marillion have developed a unique and intimate relationship with their fans. From sponsoring entire tours of the USA to funding the recording of recent albums, Marillion’s global fan-base is unique in its affection and dedication. As a result, such passionate, wholesale support has allowed Marillion to step outside of the music industry and find their own path.

In 2001 ‘Anoraknophobia’ saw Marillion take the groundbreaking step of asking fans to pre-order an album 12 months before release. An amazing 12,000 people signed up, helping to finance the recording. The band once again took pre-orders for the 2004 masterpiece ‘Marbles,’ but this time the money was channelled into a campaign fund to promote its launch. When singles ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’ and ‘You’re Gone‘ breached the UK top 20 – the latter making it all the way to number 7 – jaws were dropped right across the music world.

Not bad going for a band without major label backing. But it was merely the latest twist in a 23-year-long history of a group who have held on to the conviction that what they’re doing MEANS something real.

In the face of ignorance and apathy, Marillion continue to defy preconceptions and labelling. The band has evolved into a vibrant, musical force, sharing more in common with the likes of experimentalists Radiohead and Muse, and the timeless majesty of The Blue Nile and Talk Talk.

To those who already love Marillion, they’re something special. To everyone else they’re a love affair waiting to happen.

The new album Somewhere Else could well be the one that brings the band the widespread global recognition it has long deserved. Those who've heard it think it’s the best Marillion album yet AND it’s their 14th - that’s three more albums than U2, two more than The Beatles, and the same number as The Ramones, a feat rare in the annals of rock. Rarer still that a band should still be bettering itself after nearly a quarter of a century.

Bruce and Rick's timely reunion coincides with the band's 30th anniversary and release of their debut album In The City (originally released by Polydor Records on 29th April 1977).  From their original signing to Polydor Records on March 19, 1977 to their sudden split during December 1982, The Jam sold over 14 million albums worldwide and chalked up 4 No.1 hit singles in the UK singles chart. 

The interest, cultural and musical impact and reverberations of this highly influential and legendary British band are still felt and cited by current bands today.  The Jam were the first rock band to re-define a new generation of mod culture in the late seventies, not seen since the arrival of the The Who, The Kinks and The Small Faces.

"The traditional thing in the music business is to record your album and then tour it, but for this tour we've decided to perform The Jam's greatest hits - Going Underground, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles, Strange Town, Town Called Malice plus some of my own songs," says original Jam bass guitarist, vocalist and writer Bruce Foxton.

The band was started by old friends Knights and Paridjanian. The two met at a young age and spent much of their childhood together, eventually learning to sing at the age of 10 in a local cathedral choir. Although they split after Knights went to film school and Paridjian attempted to form a band in Toronto, Canada, they soon reunited and collaborated on what would later become their first EP, The Door, which was eventually released through Anvil Records in 1999 as a limited vinyl release. This lead to the band attracting the attention of larger record labels. Source Records would eventually release two more EPs, The State of Things EP and Fight or Flight, prompting NME to proclaim "Turin Brakes inhabit a space which is entirely their own, fully-formed and brutally emotive... give them the devotion they deserve."

Source reissued the song "The Door" before releasing their first album, The Optimist LP, in 2001. The album, which was released in the United States by Astralwerks, was greeted with critical praise, spawned the hit singles "Underdog (Save Me)" and "Emergency 72," and received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. A planned tour of the United States following this success, opening for the Stereophonics and Matthew Jay, was eventually scuttled by the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Their second album, Ether Song, was a departure from the acoustic sound that had brought them success with their first album. Recorded in Los Angeles, California, it was popular enough to reach number 4 in the United Kingdom album charts upon its release in 2003. The album produced several hit singles, including "Long Distance" and "Pain Killer." The album also created some tension between the band and their label, as the album was re-released four times during its lifespan, and received various bonus discs between regions and versions. The band was on record as being unhappy with the way the record company was treating them and the fans regarding the release.

Following the success and stress of Ether Song, the band took a short break, but not before releasing the non-album single "5 Mile (These Are the Days)" (which resulted in another re-release of "Ether Song") and releasing a DJ mix album for Azuli Records' Late Night Tales series. The mix album (2004) was a collection of some of their favorite songs, and also contained the Rolling Stones song "Moonlight Mile" as a cover. The band have done some DJ sets in the London area over the years.

Their third album, Jackinabox, was released to critical acclaim much like their prior efforts when it was released in early June 2005. Preceded by the single "Fishing For A Dream," which didn't do as well as the band hoped (charting at 35), the album was supported by the band's first full band tour of the United States, as well as the single "Over and Over," which was marketed to United States radio. Despite the lack of airplay or a hit single JackInABox still sold quite well, entering the top 10 album charts in its first week.

Following the success of Jackinabox and its subsequent tour, a download-only album, Live at the Palladium, recorded in London was released in November of 2005. Released one day after the concert took place in London, it was available on the band's website. Later it also got a release on iTunes and did well in the download charts. In the October / November 2005 tour, the band also sold the Red Moon EP. This acoustic EP featured a new (acoustic) version of "Red Moon", two new songs and the Red Hot Chili Peppers-cover "Breaking The Girl" (recorded at KCRW).

The band spent the first half of 2006 writing new songs, occasionally performing both new and old work at small gigs across the UK. The band did an intimate tour in November 2006 to try out new material. In January 2007 the band entered a small studio in London to record their 4th album with producer Ethan Johns. After three weeks the band took a break (on January 29th Gale's wife gave birth to a daughter), but the sessions were resumed several weeks later in a bigger studio (also in London). On the last day of March 2007 the band announced that they had finished the recording sessions, and recorded 17 songs.

The new album, called Dark on Fire is scheduled for release in mid September 2007, preceded by a single called Stalker.

“We’ve always wanted to be as big as The Beatles,” boasts Oli Main, The Pigeon Detectives’ lead guitarist and songwriter-in-chief. “I’m sure it’d do our heads in, yeah, but I’d rather be that big than be no one. We want to get as big as we possibly can.”

The Pigeon Detectives are, of course, joking… at least about that last bit. After all, you can’t fake the sort of rabid energy that fuels their million-miles-an-hour live shows, and you certainly don’t write as many songs that so perfectly encapsulate what it feels like to be an 18-year-old whose world revolves almost solely around attractive members of the opposite sex and getting drunk as they have without living exactly that sort of life 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Songs like ridiculously infectious first proper single ‘I Found Out’. Or the first-of-what-will-surely-be-many Top 20 hits ‘Romantic Type’. Or, in fact, any of the 12 wall-to-wall bellow-along classics that make up their debut album ‘Wait For Me’. ‘Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye’ is about getting upset after parting ways with that girl you met five minutes ago; ‘I’m Not Sorry’ features a screamed refrain of, “I’ll never take you back! I’ll never take you back!”; ‘Take Her Back’ is… well, you get the picture.

“We’ve always wanted to be as big as The Beatles,” boasts Oli Main, The Pigeon Detectives’ lead guitarist and songwriter-in-chief. “I’m sure it’d do our heads in, yeah, but I’d rather be that big than be no one. We want to get as big as we possibly can.”

The Pigeon Detectives are, of course, joking… at least about that last bit. After all, you can’t fake the sort of rabid energy that fuels their million-miles-an-hour live shows, and you certainly don’t write as many songs that so perfectly encapsulate what it feels like to be an 18-year-old whose world revolves almost solely around attractive members of the opposite sex and getting drunk as they have without living exactly that sort of life 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Songs like ridiculously infectious first proper single ‘I Found Out’. Or the first-of-what-will-surely-be-many Top 20 hits ‘Romantic Type’. Or, in fact, any of the 12 wall-to-wall bellow-along classics that make up their debut album ‘Wait For Me’. ‘Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye’ is about getting upset after parting ways with that girl you met five minutes ago; ‘I’m Not Sorry’ features a screamed refrain of, “I’ll never take you back! I’ll never take you back!”; ‘Take Her Back’ is… well, you get the picture.

Madina Lake formed in 2005, and is comprised of twin brothers, vocalist Nathan Leone and bassist Matthew Leone, guitarist Mateo Camargo and drummer Dan Torelli.

The Leone brothers got the money to make their demo from winning Fear Factor twins. The $50,000 was the start up money for Madina Lake.

The band itself sets its music in a town created in the mind of the bass player, Matthew Leone. It is set high in the American mountains, and, isolated from human contact, has remained in a 1950s themed era. The music provides an outlet for the band's views on politics, culture, and the media's obsession with celebrity status. The theme behind the band's music is in relation to the mystery of Adalia. The album artwork shows images of her and the mysteries behind her and the town of Madina Lake.

The band signed with Roadrunner Records in August of 2005. They independently released an EP titled The Disappearance of Adalia on August 22, 2006, after their album, which was initially set for an August 2006 release, was delayed.

The band's debut album From Them, Through Us, To You was released on March 27, 2007. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Mark Trombino. The album debuted at #154 on the Billboard 200 album charts, and at #60 on the UK album charts. The release of this album was followed up by a headlining tour with Fightstar, Firescape, and Emanull. They have also (at different times) toured along with such bands as Gym Class Heroes, Paramore and Greeley Estates.

Madina Lake currently has its music video for "One Last Kiss" playlisted on the UK Rock Channels Scuzz and Kerrang TV and the music video for "House of Cards" playlisted on UK Rock Channels Scuzz and Kerrang! TV as well as US network MTV. Their new single 'Here I Stand' is also currently on numerous UK Music Channels. The music video for their second (and first mainstream) single 'Here I Stand' debuted on July 9th, 2007 on MTV2 in the United States.

They are scheduled to play on the second stage of this year's Projekt Revolution tour, which will also features bands such as Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, and Mindless Self Indulgence, plus many others.

Maxine Brown

International vocal sensation Maxine Brown has woven a musical tapestry that is so elegant that it lavishly drapes our entertainment landscape. Her touching mega-hits speak volumes to the power of her recordings and the poignancy of her prolific songwriting. “Oh No Not My Baby,” the breathtaking ballad that reaches deep into the inner-soul, has had an impact that still reverberates today and has taken on increased momentum among the new devotees of the emotive songstress. “All In My Mind” is the evocative platinum recording that underscores a damsel’s longing for honest commitment in a relationship. These compositions, along with “Funny,” “Hold On I’m Coming,” and a plethora of timeless singles and albums characterize Maxine’s illustrious career and has set the stage for her 2005 US release titled, From The Heart.

The Flirtations

The Flirtations are an all-female musical group who recorded from the early 1960s through the late 1980s.In 1962, in New York, four women from South Carolina formed The Gypsies. They were Lestine Johnson and sisters Ernestine, Shirley and Betty Pearce.In 1964 they signed to Old Town Records, where they released their debut single "Hey There, Hey There." The song only achieved local airplay, but their next single was more successful. "Jerk It" was a major hit for the quartet in 1965, after the song charted at #111 (Pop Chart) and #33 (R&B). Despite the small success Lestine Johnson left, being replaced by Viola Bullips. Only two more singles were released on Old Town Records through 1966, giving them a grand total of four.

Tommy Hunt

After several performances in the Theater Clubs throughout the UK, Tommy sang for the 2nd Anniversary of the Wigan Casino and there followed the ladder of his success on the Northern Soul Scene. Tommy was approached by Russ Winstanly and Mike Walker of Wigan Casino fame and released several hits on Spark, firstly a cover version of a song formerly sung by his idol and biggest influence Roy Hamilton. The song was entitled ‘Crackin’ Up’. Followed by his chart success in 1976 ‘Loving On The Losing Side’. 1982/83 saw him win the Male Vocalist of the Year, presented by the Club Mirror Award.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW IS NOW BEING HELD AT SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE, ALL DETAILS REMAIN THE SAME AND TICKETS FOR THE FORUM REMAIN VALID.

Show Times

Doors: 7.00PM

Otto von Schirach 19.45-20.10

White 20.20-20.45

Einsturzende Neubauten 21.00-23.15

In their 27th year, Einstürzende Neubauten again prove the potency of their philo-acoustic long-term therapy. After their successful 2007 tour of the U.K. the mature avant-garde All-Stars present their new album Alles wieder offen, showing their intimacy and fragility in a completely new light. Blixa Bargeld, Alexander Hacke, N.U. Unruh, Rudolf Moser and Jochen Arbeit have triumphed over the old Berliner Mauerkrankheit, the fever has sunk to a normal temperature and the apocalyptic visions and the yearning for death of the early days are now part of the past. Alles Wieder Offen is released Nov. 6th on their own Potomak label, distributed by Ryko in the United States.
Today, Einstürzende Neubauten is the first and only band which successfully uses the Internet productively to gather and concentrate activities of their fans from around the world. Einstürzende Neubauten launched their official website www.neubauten.org in 2002, and made it the center of their musical activities. Entire albums are financed by registered Supporters via subscription. The principle is simple: their Supporters buy the next Einstürzende Neubauten album before it's recorded. With this funding in hand the band has time to work in peace rather than wasting time and energy in endless discussions with record companies about marketing and "brand identity" - irksome intrusions into the artistic process! In return Supporters world-wide have exclusive access to Einstürzende Neubauten's internal working processes.
Supporters were able to watch the recording sessions via web-cam for the first two "Supporter Albums" (2002/2005) and were also called upon by the band members in direct chat discussions to comment on the working process and influence it. In the same way, the "Musterhaus" series (a collection of experimental albums) is being marketed solely on the website.
The untiring exploring spirit is still driven by a hot burning desire. Einstürzende Neubauten are still on the unending quest for the undiscovered Sound and have once again perceptibly redefined their parameters.
For every generation its own sickness, and for every generation its own cure. Sometimes the proven household remedies are the most effective. Or so they say.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

Apocalyptica was formed in 1993 when four cellists, Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, Max Lilja, and Antero Manninen gathered to play Metallica covers at the Teatro Heavy Metal Club. Among the audience was Kari Hynninen, who worked for the independent label Zen Garden Records. After listening to Apocalyptica's set, Kari Hynninen signed them on the spot to Zen Garden Records.

In 1996, Apocalyptica released their debut studio album, Plays Metallica by Four Cellos, which consisted solely of Metallica covers played on cellos. In 1998, Apocalyptica released their second studio album, Inquisition Symphony, which was produced by Hiili Hiilesma. Inquisition Symphony once again contained covers of Metallica, but also contained covers of Faith No More, Sepultura, and Pantera. For this album the band also decided to include three original songs written by Eicca Toppinen.

Perttu Kivilaakso live 2005In 1999, Antero Manninen left the group, and was replaced by Perttu Kivilaakso. In 2000, Apocalyptica released their third studio album, Cult, which now featured 10 original songs, and only 3 covers. In 2002, Max Lilja left the group and joined Hevein, leaving Apocalyptica with only three members.

In 2003, Apocalyptica released their fourth studio album, Reflections, which consisted for the first time of all original songs. Reflections featured a more experimental sound, instead of the previous acoustic style arrangements found on Inquisition Symphony and Cult. Dave Lombardo from Slayer played drums on five songs from Reflections.

In 2005, Apocalyptica released their fifth studio album, Apocalyptica, which featured Mikko Sirén on drums, who would be, as of December that year, introduced as an official bandmember. This album featured a number of guest musicians including Ville Valo of HIM, Lauri Ylönen, and once again Dave Lombardo. They also recorded the Intro for Bullet For My Valentines album The Poison

Apocalyptica released their sixth studio album, Worlds Collide, on September 17, 2007. Till Lindemann of Rammstein is among the guest singers. He will be taking on David Bowie's song "Heroes", which was also released in German as "Helden". Till will be singing the German version, making his song the only German-language song on Worlds Collide and the second in the band's history.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

The Cult is a hard rock band formed in 1981. The band was previously known as Death Cult and Southern Death Cult before settling on the Cult to play down their goth rock roots. By the band's third album, they had almost all but shed their goth rock sound for a more straight forward hard rock one. The band has released seven studio albums, two EPs, two live albums, and various greatest hits compilations.
Due to the rise of grunge in the early 90's, the Cult's self titled sixth studio album (The Cult [album artist=The Cult][/album]) received poor sales and the band went on hiatus. It wasn't until 1999, when Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy reunited with former drummer Matt Sorum, that the band recorded new material. With Martyn Lenoble of Porno for Pyros on bass, the band recorded Beyond Good and Evil, which for a time had the mock title of Bring me the Head of Dave Grohl, in reference to his hand in Nirvana and the grunge boom.
The band took another hiatus in 2002, with Ian Astbury working with members of The Doors and Matt Sorum joining a few of his former Guns N' Roses band mates to form Velvet Revolver. In 2006, Astbury reunited the band for a string of shows as well as an appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. A massive tour followed throughout the year and 2007 will see the release of some new material, as well as a European summer tour.
On the 1st of october 2007 the new album 'Born Into This' saw the light.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

The Cult is a hard rock band formed in 1981. The band was previously known as Death Cult and Southern Death Cult before settling on the Cult to play down their goth rock roots. By the band's third album, they had almost all but shed their goth rock sound for a more straight forward hard rock one. The band has released seven studio albums, two EPs, two live albums, and various greatest hits compilations.
Due to the rise of grunge in the early 90's, the Cult's self titled sixth studio album "The Cult" received poor sales and the band went on hiatus. It wasn't until 1999, when Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy reunited with former drummer Matt Sorum, that the band recorded new material. With Martyn Lenoble of Porno for Pyros on bass, the band recorded Beyond Good and Evil, which for a time had the mock title of Bring me the Head of Dave Grohl, in reference to his hand in Nirvana and the grunge boom.
The band took another hiatus in 2002, with Ian Astbury working with members of The Doors and Matt Sorum joining a few of his former Guns N' Roses band mates to form Velvet Revolver. In 2006, Astbury reunited the band for a string of shows as well as an appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. A massive tour followed throughout the year and 2007 will see the release of some new material, as well as a European summer tour.
On the 1st of october 2007 the new album 'Born Into This' saw the light. The Cult is expected to return to mainland Europe in the first half of 2008. 

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

We are proud to announce the return to The Kentish Town Forum of one of Britain's greatest ever rock and roll bands: The Godfathers. The original line-up of Peter and Chris Coyne reunited with Mike Gibson, Kris Dollimore and George Mazur will play the 1st UK concert in 19 years for their Saint Valentine's Day Massacre reunion concert on February 14th 2008 at The Forum.  Formed in 1985, The Godfathers earned a reputation for their no-holds barred live shows and electrifying brand of primal rock 'n' roll while touring extensively the UK, Europe and the USA. After acclaimed independent single releases produced by Vic Maile and collected on debut album Hit By Hit they signed to Epic Records in 1987, releasing a string of great singles from their acclaimed international best selling albums, Birth, School, Work, Death and More Songs About Love and Hate. Pioneering their own brand of guitar-driven alternative rock sound, they laid the foundations for the Brit Pop rock resurgence of the nineties. Rumours of a return to the stage for their traditional Saint Valentine's Day Massacre concert in London have kept their faithful followers waiting for decades.
Now back, to promote the expanded reissue of Hit By Hit (+ Extras), we give you...The Return of the Godfathers.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

Trentemøller and his live partner DJ. “Tom” Bertelsen have played more than 100 shows over the last 1 and a half years around the world with their raving and energetic live sets mainly based on Trentemøller‘s dance floor singles. Trentemoller has now taken his performance to the next level putting together a live band featuring Henrik Vibskov on drums, Mikael Simpson (guitar/bass) and of course Trentemoller. Apart from being exceptionally gifted musicians, Vibskov and Simpson are already very well known artists in their own rights. Vibskov is a famous fashion designer with exhibitions in Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and more, while Simpson is one of the most popular  Danish singer/songwriters. Elaborate visuals have been done for the entire show by video director Karim Ghahwagi and you can expect a highly entertaining and capturing multi-sensual live performance of an outstanding album artist! The band have played more than 15 festivals across Europe this summer including headlining the West Dance Tent at Glastonbury Festival and headlining the Main Stage at The Glade Festival.Trentemøller and the band will perform tracks from his artist album “The Last Resort” live on stage as well as a selection of remixes and other work as featured on the The Trentemøller Chronicles“.This new double album is not a new studio album, but - as the title indicates - an overview of Trentemøller‘s impressive body of work. The Trentemøller Chronicles include Anders personal selection of his best songs and remixes, which have only been available on vinyl or on compilations, as well as some new and exclusive songs.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

DOORS 7PM

ED ROME 7.30

JANET KAY 8PM

TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS 9.30PM

SHOW TIMES

IPSO FACTO 8-8.30

CHARLATANS 9-11

Finally, after numerous line-up changes through the years, all original Killing Joke members reunite for new album and world tour.
 
Drummer, Paul Ferguson, rejoins the line up for the first time since 1987 enabling a whole new generation of fans to see Killing Joke’s legendary original formation. Diehard fans have been waiting for this moment for two decades!

Bassist, Martin ‘Youth’ Glover also steps back into the live arena after a near 15 hiatus, having not played live with Killing Joke since 1994’s Pandemonium tour.
 
The tour will see Killing Joke take up a two night residency in most venues offering a different set on each evening. On the first night, they will play their first two albums in their entirety, 1980’s self-titled album followed by the album ‘What’s This…For!’. Their second performance in each city will treat fans to 1994’s Pandemonium and the Island Records singles of ’79 to ’80.
 
Once described by Ferguson as ‘the sound of the earth vomiting’, Killing Joke is anthemic and grandiose in it’s evocation of nightmare visions. Taking a sarcastic jab at authority and perceived reality to a sonically charged mixture of post punk and metal, Killing Joke’s heavy guitars and pounding tribal drums conjure a primitive atmosphere of doom, gloom and resistance.
Notorious for their use of inflammatory imagery, a backlash against a world they perceived as ever more materialistic, unjust and conservative, Killing Joke, railed against the establishment and created a unique sound from their very conception.
 
Ironically, in the current musical climate with it’s obsession with rehashing eighties sounds, the 80’s saw Killing Joke really pushing music forward, incorporating danceable elements with aggressive, grinding guitars and thumping drums. With elements of proto-techno rock, their post apocalyptic vision has inspired bands as diverse and influential as Nirvana, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and Godflesh. Covered by Metallica, the Foo’s and more, Killing Joke’s place in rock history was further cemented in 2005 when they won Kerrang magazine’s prestigious lifetime achievement award. Killing Joke have always been and continue to be more than just a band.

Finally, after numerous line-up changes through the years, all original Killing Joke members reunite for new album and world tour.
 
Drummer, Paul Ferguson, rejoins the line up for the first time since 1987 enabling a whole new generation of fans to see Killing Joke’s legendary original formation. Diehard fans have been waiting for this moment for two decades!

Bassist, Martin ‘Youth’ Glover also steps back into the live arena after a near 15 hiatus, having not played live with Killing Joke since 1994’s Pandemonium tour.
 
The tour will see Killing Joke take up a two night residency in most venues offering a different set on each evening. On the first night, they will play their first two albums in their entirety, 1980’s self-titled album followed by the album ‘What’s This…For!’. Their second performance in each city will treat fans to 1994’s Pandemonium and the Island Records singles of ’79 to ’80.
 
Once described by Ferguson as ‘the sound of the earth vomiting’, Killing Joke is anthemic and grandiose in it’s evocation of nightmare visions. Taking a sarcastic jab at authority and perceived reality to a sonically charged mixture of post punk and metal, Killing Joke’s heavy guitars and pounding tribal drums conjure a primitive atmosphere of doom, gloom and resistance.
Notorious for their use of inflammatory imagery, a backlash against a world they perceived as ever more materialistic, unjust and conservative, Killing Joke, railed against the establishment and created a unique sound from their very conception.
 
Ironically, in the current musical climate with it’s obsession with rehashing eighties sounds, the 80’s saw Killing Joke really pushing music forward, incorporating danceable elements with aggressive, grinding guitars and thumping drums. With elements of proto-techno rock, their post apocalyptic vision has inspired bands as diverse and influential as Nirvana, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and Godflesh. Covered by Metallica, the Foo’s and more, Killing Joke’s place in rock history was further cemented in 2005 when they won Kerrang magazine’s prestigious lifetime achievement award. Killing Joke have always been and continue to be more than just a band.

“We’ve always wanted to be as big as The Beatles,” boasts Oli Main, The Pigeon Detectives’ lead guitarist and songwriter-in-chief. “I’m sure it’d do our heads in, yeah, but I’d rather be that big than be no one. We want to get as big as we possibly can.”

The Pigeon Detectives are, of course, joking… at least about that last bit. After all, you can’t fake the sort of rabid energy that fuels their million-miles-an-hour live shows, and you certainly don’t write as many songs that so perfectly encapsulate what it feels like to be an 18-year-old whose world revolves almost solely around attractive members of the opposite sex and getting drunk as they have without living exactly that sort of life 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Songs like ridiculously infectious first proper single ‘I Found Out’. Or the first-of-what-will-surely-be-many Top 20 hits ‘Romantic Type’. Or, in fact, any of the 12 wall-to-wall bellow-along classics that make up their debut album ‘Wait For Me’. ‘Don’t Know How To Say Goodbye’ is about getting upset after parting ways with that girl you met five minutes ago; ‘I’m Not Sorry’ features a screamed refrain of, “I’ll never take you back! I’ll never take you back!”; ‘Take Her Back’ is… well, you get the picture.

Bruce and Rick's timely reunion coincides with the band's 30th anniversary and release of their debut album In The City (originally released by Polydor Records on 29th April 1977).  From their original signing to Polydor Records on March 19, 1977 to their sudden split during December 1982, The Jam sold over 14 million albums worldwide and chalked up 4 No.1 hit singles in the UK singles chart. 

The interest, cultural and musical impact and reverberations of this highly influential and legendary British band are still felt and cited by current bands today.  The Jam were the first rock band to re-define a new generation of mod culture in the late seventies, not seen since the arrival of the The Who, The Kinks and The Small Faces.

"The traditional thing in the music business is to record your album and then tour it, but for this tour we've decided to perform The Jam's greatest hits - Going Underground, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, The Eton Rifles, Strange Town, Town Called Malice plus some of my own songs," says original Jam bass guitarist, vocalist and writer Bruce Foxton.

JUST ANNOUNCED AS SPECIAL GUESTS AT TEXAS CHAINSAW!!! 

***QUEENADREENA'S FIRST LONDON APPEARANCE IN OVER 2 YEARS*** 

LONDON'S PREMIERE MULTIMEDIA HORROR SHOW

A LIVE HORROR MOVIE EXPERIENCE COMBINING THEATRE, FILM,DANCE, PERFORMANCE ART, BANDS AND A VERY SICK SENSE ON HUMOUR.

WELCOME TO THE BIZARRE WORLD OF DR MARCUSI AND HIS TRAVELLING COLLECTION OF GROTESQUE CREATURES AND FREAKISH PERFORMERS!

WITH FULL SETS BY:

THE DAMNED

THE URBAN VOODOO MACHINE

AND A SECRET GUEST BAND TBA

SEE THE DAMNED IN THEIR FIRST EVER THEATRICAL APPEARANCE!

ROXY VELVET AND HER HOSPITAL OF HORRORS!

WITH DAVE VANIAN AS THE GREATER EVIL!

THE BEAUTIFUL BUT DEADLY QUETZALCOUATL!

THE SINISTER TWEEDLEDED AND TWEEDLEDOM!

LIVE CHAINSAW JUGGLING BY NATHAN ZORCHAK!

GUEST STARRING VIVID ANGEL AS THE DOCTORS UNWILLING ASSISTANT!

AND A VERY DISTURBING APPEARANCE BY MATT "SEALBOY" FRASER!

Porcupine Tree is unquestionably one of the most difficult-to-categorize and innovative bands working today. The music is breathtaking, ranging from psychedelic trip-hop to progressive metal, and a compendium of other sounds and genres in between.

The band is fronted by Steven Wilson, who is well-known for his work producing other artists, from Swedish progressive death metal group Opeth, to Norwegian chanteuse Anja Garbarek. He also has several other projects, including No-Man, Bass Communion, and the highly acclaimed collaboration with Israeli musician Aviv Geffen, Blackfield.

Porcupine Tree was founded as a self-indulgent creative outlet for Wilson, and the first major release was ‘On the Sunday of Life...’ in 1992, an album of psychedelia and studio experiments which bears little relation to the band's current sound. From here, Wilson expanded the sound, creating the progressive rock/ambient trance fusion on the 30-minute long single “Voyage 34.” One of the only constants in Porcupine Tree’s music is how it continues to evolve and confront the expectations of the band's fans from album to album.

In late 1993, the solo project became a band, as Colin Edwin (bass), Chris Maitland (drums), and Richard Barbieri (keyboards) were recruited to enable Porcupine Tree to perform live. Richard had previously been a member of one of the most experimental 80's bands, Japan. The first real band album recorded was ‘Signify’ in 1996, which was followed by ‘Stupid Dream’ (1999), a breakthrough album which saw the band move into a more song-orientated direction. ‘Lightbulb Sun’ continued along that song-oriented tack, but, never content to rest on their laurels, Porcupine Tree changed course again for their next release, shuffling their lineup for the first (and to date, only) time. Chris Maitland departed and was replaced by Gavin Harrison in 2002, as the band signed a new international recording deal with Lava/Atlantic Records.

Since then, two major label album releases, ‘In Absentia’ and ‘Deadwing,’ have augmented the band's renown. Heavier than previous releases, the albums have found favor with older fans (except in Italy) and introduced Porcupine Tree to a whole new audience. The band also firmly established itself as being on the cutting edge in the audiophile/surround world: in 2004 and 2005, In Absentia and Deadwing were respectively released as 5.1 DVD-Audio editions by DTS Entertainment, and each won the Surround Music Award for Best Surround Mix in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

In late 2005, Porcupine Tree re-signed to Atlantic Records for the US, but moved to the highly successful independent rock label Roadrunner for Europe.

In September, 2006, Porcupine Tree released its first DVD, the live “Arriving Somewhere...,” filmed in Chicago during the Deadwing world tour. The DVD was critically acclaimed for both its visual quality, as well as the 5.1 mix: reviewing the DVD, Sound and Vision magazine concluded, “When it comes to surround sound, Porcupine Tree is in a league by itself.”

In December 2006, recording commenced on the band’s ninth studio album. The album, Fear of a Blank Planet, is the band’s most ambitious and cohesive work to date. Much of it was debuted last November to enthusiastic fan response on Porcupine Tree’s sold-out U.S. and European tours in support of the release of “Arriving Somewhere….” The album title is a reference to the lyrical content of the song-cycle on the album: a 21st century cocktail of MTV, sex, prescription drugs, video games, the internet, terminal boredom, and subsequent escape.

In April, 2007, the band will embark on a six-month world tour in support of “Fear of a Blank Planet,” one that will include Europe, the US, Japan, and Australia. The new album will be featured, and the show will feature the films and projections by the band’s long-time visualist Lasse Hoile.

Fear of a Blank Planet is released in Europe and the rest of the world on Roadrunner Records on 18th April, and on 24th April in the US on Atlantic Records.

***Please note that tickets for the thursday 21st Feb show are now valid for this event*** 

The Cult is a hard rock band formed in 1981. The band was previously known as Death Cult and Southern Death Cult before settling on the Cult to play down their goth rock roots. By the band's third album, they had almost all but shed their goth rock sound for a more straight forward hard rock one. The band has released seven studio albums, two EPs, two live albums, and various greatest hits compilations.
Due to the rise of grunge in the early 90's, the Cult's self titled sixth studio album (The Cult [album artist=The Cult][/album]) received poor sales and the band went on hiatus. It wasn't until 1999, when Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy reunited with former drummer Matt Sorum, that the band recorded new material. With Martyn Lenoble of Porno for Pyros on bass, the band recorded Beyond Good and Evil, which for a time had the mock title of Bring me the Head of Dave Grohl, in reference to his hand in Nirvana and the grunge boom.
The band took another hiatus in 2002, with Ian Astbury working with members of The Doors and Matt Sorum joining a few of his former Guns N' Roses band mates to form Velvet Revolver. In 2006, Astbury reunited the band for a string of shows as well as an appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. A massive tour followed throughout the year and 2007 will see the release of some new material, as well as a European summer tour.
On the 1st of october 2007 the new album 'Born Into This' saw the light.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

ON SALE 9TH MAY 9AM

THE UNHOLY TRINITY TOUR

  Formed in 1973 and surviving numerous changes in their line-up, Scottish Celtic rock band, Runrig, has come a long way.

 Considering the success of their 13^th studio album ‘Everything You See’, released in the spring of 2007, the band has announced the Road Trip Autumn Tour 2008 dates. This will be the second leg of a tour promoting the album. 

‘Everything You See’ has achieved major success in Europe, gaining Platinum status in Denmark where it remained at No. 1 in the National Charts for 5 weeks. What’s more, towards the end of 2007, the band was sitting at No. 9 in the UK Top 10 with a new recording of their classic version of the traditional song, ‘Loch Lomond’. This was performed along with the Tartan Army for BBC ‘Children In Need’. 

Runrig will be play the Kentish Town Forum in London on November 28^th. The 30^th being Saint Andrew’s Day, be prepared for a very Scottish weekend! 

FEATURING:

PARKWAY DRIVE AND UNEARTH

PLUS: DESPISED ICON, ARCHITECTS, PROTEST THE HERO, WHITECHAPEL, AND CARNIFEX.

TIDAL CONCERTS AND ALTAMONT PRESENTATION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH AVOCADO BOOKING.

The lineup will include PARKWAY DRIVE (Burning Heart Records) who have proven their headline status for this tour with their titanic barrage of riffs, breakdowns and high energy performances - as best evident on their many European tours (the last of which had the majority of their shows sold-out). Also no strangers to touring Europe, UNEARTH will join the tour as co-headliners in the UK and direct support in mainland Europe, and just in time as their brand new album on Metal Blade Records will be hitting the streets. DESPISED ICON have exploded onto the scene with loads of touring and have helped define deathcore destruction with a highly acclaimed new record on Century Media Records. The UK is represented on this tour by ARCHITECTS, recently signed to Century Media, who bring the chaos factor to the bill with their vicious metalcore assault. Bringing a flair for the technical and progressive end of the spectrum, PROTEST THE HERO have been lavished with rave reviews from the press for their new album and tireless touring. Rounding out the package are two up-n-coming brutal acts from the U.S. that are rapidly gaining steam and buzzing in the underground, WHITECHAPEL (Metal Blade Records) and CARNIFEX (Victory Records) who will both have new records in time for this tour.


“We’ve worked very hard to raise the bar for this tour,” says Ivonne Davies-Kreye, Avocado Booking. “It is easily the best line-up and will prove to be the best concert going experience of 2008.”

THE THIRST

BRIXTON HILLBILLIES

BUGZ IN THE ATTIC (DJ SET)

PENNY BLACK REMEDY

PLUS GUESTS

LETTERS OF AUTHORISATION (Box Office Collections by non card holders)

The letter must be signed by the card holder, stating last 4 digits of the card paid with, the booking reference number and the name of the person that is now collecting the tickets.  The ticket collector must present ID to match the letter.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL 14-16 YEAR OLDS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

TICKETS ON SALE ON MONDAY 16 JUNE 2008

Following the release of new album Nobody Left to Crown on 29 July Acoustic soul giant brings his inspirtational music to the new all seated Forum auditorium for what will be a special evening of rich melodies and artistic integrity!

THIS IS A FULLY SEATED SHOW WITH RESERVED SEATS IN THE STALLS AND UNRESERVED SEATING IN THE CIRCLE.

Makers of the ‘hit’ HAVE LOVE WILL TRAVEL (featured on landrover car advert recently) and constructors of the legendary BOOM! album will be in London Easter weekend spreading joyous mayhem! THE ORIGINAL PUNK ROCK BAND. Back in the mid-1960s, the legendary Sonics took rock'n'roll by the scruff of the neck and thrashed it to within an inch of its sorry life, leaving a legacy of some of the most savage, visceral recordings ever made. There was none dirtier or majestic than The Sonics. This band had it all, fuzzed up guitars, great riffs, screaming vocals akin to Little Richard. This band rocked from 1964-67 giving us classics such as The Witch, Strychnine (later covered by The Cramps), Boss Hog, Psycho and Louie Louie. These guys together are credited with starting up the Seattle music scene that has had more successes since - the grunge scene in the 1980s and 1990s including Nirvana, Mudhoney and Alice In Chains for example.

Book your tickets early folks to avoid a heavy heart! Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

Final Fantasy
Besides being singer/songwriter of the band Final Fantasy, Owen Pallett is string composer of the widely-known band Arcade Fire. Owen used to play in Hidden Cameras, and he is also a guest musician in great demand. Recent invitations include the ones from Beirut and Holy Fuck. With Final Fantasy, which is essientially a one-man-solo project with guest musicians he creates gems of baroque pop music. He employs a measured croon caught somewhere between Scott Walker and Louis Philippe with a soft Donovan-esque vibrato. Alternately dissonant and willfully melodic, his songs evoke either the emotional notion of crushing sigh of defeat  or violent outbursts of passion. By the detailed musical instrumentation (using piano, strings, cembalo and percussions) he creates an epic of highly artistical degree. At the moment he is working with Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner on another solo project.  

Dirty Projectors
The Dirty Projectors are the project of Dave Longstreth, a former Yale student who left college to become one of the most prolific and unique indie singer/songwriters of the early 2000s. Longstreth's distinctive, crooning voice and equally unique approach to arrangements and both lo-fi and hi-fi production characterize the Dirty Projectors’ sound. David Longstreth has created in Dirty Projectors a body of music of original and variegated beauty. The breadth of his talents as a songwriter, arranger, bandleader and singer call to mind Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Bjork. His constantly evolving sound -- both live and on record -- the sheer intensity of the music, and the originality of his voice set him apart. Among modern music makers, he is a maverick: a loner and a rebel.
The music is many things at once: sophisticated and heartfelt, tender and aggressive, pleasing and miserly in its refusal to please, a mixture between soul, punk, pop, noise and complex rock.  Dirty Projectors' new offering, Rise Above, is a reimagining of Black's Flag seminal 1981 record Damaged. It is not a covers record. Longstreth attempted to rewrite his favorite adolescent album word for word, from memory. A concept so lofty might just be hot wind if Rise Above weren't such a hell of a record on its own terms. It resounds with a kind of elegant simplicity: beautiful interlocking guitar parts, gorgeous three-part vocal harmonies, and some great songwriting. 

Six Organs of Admittance
Six Organs of Admittance is basically just one man - Ben Chasny, along with whomever he ropes in for recording or for shows. Since 1997, Six Organs of Admittance has had many releases on a variety of labels, most notably Holy Mountain. In 2005, Ben found a home at Drag City and released the landmark album, School of the Flower. Free jazz ninja drum master Chris Corsano joined Ben and the results were a perfect blend of melody, out-folk, minimalism and noise, getting much critical applause and ending up on year-end best-of-the-year lists by magazines such
as Mojo, Wire, and Magnet.
2006 sees the release of The Sun Awakens which features some of the most feedback-drenched, dark, cult-chanting, completely beautiful music ever released by the band. Chasny has also played in the touring band of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and plays guitar in the bands Current 93, Badgerlore, and Comets on Fire. 

Frog Eyes
With Frog Eyes you have the unusual combination of a lyricist / front man whose influences are as much early Russian and Irish literature as, you know, "Cinnamon Girl", "Virginia Plain" or Thurston's screech, all laced over this incredibly intuitive and connected music. This is wholly due to the band Mercer has assembled around him - his wife Melanie Campbell has developed a drumming style that supplants or at least challenges that voice as the primary mover and shaker. Michael Rak's bass playing is steady and precise and it's certain he's studied the great Peter Hook. Spencer Krug's keyboards are an unholy marvel, at once the flock of baroque birds chirping, and at other points the boom and groan of piano earthquake. Mccloud Zicmuse compliments Mercer's guitar, looping melodic blips and squiggles over the cyclone thrash. Of course, there's the voice, Mercer's voice, almost channeled, frightening and maybe a little frightened, defiantly soulful and impossibly bleak, a hundred thousand years old, a hundred thousand hailstorms, a hundred thousand old photographs, a hundred thousandth of a second from epiphany. 
 

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

We are proud to announce the return to The Kentish Town Forum of one of Britain's greatest ever rock and roll bands: The Godfathers. The original line-up of Peter and Chris Coyne reunited with Mike Gibson, Kris Dollimore and George Mazur will play the 1st UK concert in 19 years for their Saint Valentine's Day Massacre reunion concert on February 14th 2008 at The Forum.  Formed in 1985, The Godfathers earned a reputation for their no-holds barred live shows and electrifying brand of primal rock 'n' roll while touring extensively the UK, Europe and the USA. After acclaimed independent single releases produced by Vic Maile and collected on debut album Hit By Hit they signed to Epic Records in 1987, releasing a string of great singles from their acclaimed international best selling albums, Birth, School, Work, Death and More Songs About Love and Hate. Pioneering their own brand of guitar-driven alternative rock sound, they laid the foundations for the Brit Pop rock resurgence of the nineties. Rumours of a return to the stage for their traditional Saint Valentine's Day Massacre concert in London have kept their faithful followers waiting for decades.
Now back, to promote the expanded reissue of Hit By Hit (+ Extras), we give you...The Return of the Godfathers.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

DOORS 7PM

BILLY RAY 7.45PM

ME ONE 8.05PM

DE LA SOUL 9PM

TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR £25

Witty yet disturbing narratives, barely contained guitar lines and drum crashes, like the Slits playing Roxy Music or Donna Summer reciting the collected works of Harold Pinter, the Long Blondes are truly becoming auteurs of the perfect left-field pop song. The aim was to form a fantasy pop group, and with the help of uber-producer Paul Epworth (Futureheads, Bloc Party) The Long Blondes have already proved themselves to be Sexy and literate, flippant and heartbreaking all at once. 2006 recipients of the NME Philip Hall Radar Award (previously won by Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs), and favourites of every pundit from the Guardian to Vogue. Signed to the legendary Rough Trade records, the label that brought the world the Smiths, the Strokes and the Libertines. Long Blondes already have a top 30 hit under their belts! This is suburban disco fantasies of the Human League, the opulent ridiculousness of ABC, the seedy glamour of Pulp, truly a Carry On cast’s worth of characters all with loves, hates and passions just like yours. It’s a Blonde, Blonde, Blonde, Blonde world. Now just lie back and enjoy it.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

Taking place at the Venue on December 11, Get In The Ring - sponsored by the awesome video game, Kwari - is back for another four round rock and metal championship. 4 Bands in a boxing ring. One Winner. The live battle will feature Caveman death metallers Goat The Head, Huddersfield thrashers Evile, Swedish metallers Engel and British hardnuts Viking Skull.

Trentemøller and his live partner DJ. “Tom” Bertelsen have played more than 100 shows over the last 1 and a half years around the world with their raving and energetic live sets mainly based on Trentemøller‘s dance floor singles. Trentemoller has now taken his performance to the next level putting together a live band featuring Henrik Vibskov on drums, Mikael Simpson (guitar/bass) and of course Trentemoller. Apart from being exceptionally gifted musicians, Vibskov and Simpson are already very well known artists in their own rights. Vibskov is a famous fashion designer with exhibitions in Paris, London, New York, Tokyo and more, while Simpson is one of the most popular  Danish singer/songwriters. Elaborate visuals have been done for the entire show by video director Karim Ghahwagi and you can expect a highly entertaining and capturing multi-sensual live performance of an outstanding album artist! The band have played more than 15 festivals across Europe this summer including headlining the West Dance Tent at Glastonbury Festival and headlining the Main Stage at The Glade Festival.Trentemøller and the band will perform tracks from his artist album “The Last Resort” live on stage as well as a selection of remixes and other work as featured on the The Trentemøller Chronicles“.This new double album is not a new studio album, but - as the title indicates - an overview of Trentemøller‘s impressive body of work. The Trentemøller Chronicles include Anders personal selection of his best songs and remixes, which have only been available on vinyl or on compilations, as well as some new and exclusive songs.

Ticket Line: 0871 230 1093

Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, and Los Angeles, Devendra Banhart was always playing music and drawing. But it wasn't until his brief stay at the San Francisco Art Institute that the disciplines became his constant companions. With the encouragement of poet and SFAI professor Bill Berskon, Banhart began experimenting with all kinds of art. He also began recording songs around that same time, usually on shoddy, hand-me-down four-track machines. Brief, half-finished, or written in stream-of-consciousness form, the recordings weren't initially intended for release. But friends encouraged Banhart, and he sent out a few tentative demos. He also left SFAI in favor of busking and wandering, and his travels led him from the Bay Area to Paris and eventually back to L.A.

By now he was performing regularly, but he hadn't recorded or released anything officially. That changed when Michael Gira (Swans) issued the first Banhart material on his Young God imprint in October 2002. Oh Me Oh My... was an immediate critical hit, and comparisons to legends of songwriting, eclecticism, and tragedy were frequent (Tim Buckley, Syd Barrett, Marc Bolan, et al.). The Black Babies EP arrived in 2003, followed by Banhart's first full-length, Rejoicing in the Hands, in April 2004. Young God released its companion, Niño Rojo, in September. Acclaim for both was nearly unanimous, and Banhart's audience continued to expand. He jumped to XL for September 2005's Cripple Crow, an ambitious set and his most sonically expansive album up to that point.

DOORS 7PM.

BON IVER 7.45-8.30

IRON AND WINE 9-11

Doors 7pm

DJ 7pm = 8.20pm

Jonjo Feather 8.20pm - 9.00pm

PUSA 9.30pm - 11pm

This event has sold out!

Doors 7pm

Dent May 7.45

Animal Collective 9.00

Pantha Du Prince to play DJ sets from doors and in between bands.

Doors: 7.00pm

Bridget Storm: 8.00 - 8.30pm

The Vaselines: 9.00pm

Curfew: 11.00pm

This event has sold out!

BEIRUT is the work of the 20 year old Zach Condon. His music is inspired by a love of European folk music, as filtered by a fertile imagination raised in New Mexico and currently resident in Brooklyn.

Bringing an arsenal of accordions, mandolins, euphoniums, and glockenspiels. Wunderkind Zach Condon fronts the ragtag ensemble, performing ukulele-tinged brass band laments wrought from global experience and youthful optimism.

Following 'Gulag Orkestar' with it's Eastern European instrumentation and the 'Flying Club Cup', with each song evoking a different French city, Condon is experimenting with a new sound, to be aired on ‘March of the Zapotec’, to be released in February 2009, recorded in Mexico with the help of Oaxacan march masters The Jimenez Band.

A second release, ‘Holland,’ showcases Zach's latest bedroom-style recordings under his former moniker Realpeople, Taken together, the two EPs proudly display the scope of Beirut's work over the last year.

Austin's SHEARWATER plumb new depths of atmosphere while finding the most haunting and memorable melodies of their career with new album Rook. Jonathan Meiburg's bold, soaring voice, occasionally falsetto, still anchors the songs, which broaden the pastoral prog-folk chaotic celestial mindfuckery into new realms. Beyond the continuing touchstones of late Talk Talk, Nico and John Cale, there are now allusions to Van Morrison, hints of Joni Mitchell. All this is set in a newly lush sonic gorgeousness of harp, strings and woodwinds atop the magnificent rhythm section of Thor Harris and Kim Burke

On sale: Friday 16 January @ 9am

Gallows want to kiss your face. With screwdrivers. Fact. Rising from the ashes of Winter in June 2004, under the hood of Gallows' impacting hardcore beats a dark, venomous heart through which pumps the sound and the fury of Scandi hardcore, the halcyon days of math rock and pure rock'n'roll bite, wrapped up in a layer of blacker than black power rhythms.

Screamingly frantic vocals and urgent rushes and bites that taste of the Panixphere side of cardiac arresting life, the kind of thrailling thrashing hardcore punkoid tantrum metal that requires a little more colour and imagination: we like this lots. Totally unhinged and bending around it’s own violent corners, singer man sounds like he’s about to lose everything.

It may be raw and blisteringly homemade, but hey, you have no clue how much you need this fine and tasty violent noise until you hear it.

This event has sold out.

The Invisible 8.00 – 8.45

ATP Concerts & Don't Look Back presentation by arrangement with Agency Group: 

All Tomorrow’s Parties and The HMV Forum are pleased to announce that DEVO have confirmed they will perform the world premiere live performance of their legendary 1977 Brian Eno produced album “Q. ARE WE NOT MEN, ARE WE DEVO?” at the HMV Forum on Wednesday May 6th 2009.

This will be a one-off performance of the album, exclusive to the London Kentish Town Forum, and the very first time the band will perform the album in its entirety. This rare concert will be part of the DON’T LOOK BACK album series

During their ten year career, Carter USM - as they became known - played nearly 800 live gigs all over the world. In October and November 2007 they got back together for two gigs at the Brixton Academy and Glasgow Barrowlands. Following massive demand to do it again they've organised two more gigs for November of 2008 and now, they will perform their first four albums in full at the Kentish Town Forum on November 13th (Post Historic Monsters & 1992 The Love Album) and the Brixton Academy on November 14th (101 Damantions & 30 Something).

Late Of The Pier was created somewhere in the mists of 2003, born from the warped minds of Sam Eastgate and Ross Dawson somewhere in the mists of G.C.S.E's. No-one can remember exactly how it happened but lets just presume it went something like… 'Lets start a band' 'OK' …ignoring the fact that neither Ross or future guitarist Faley had only ever touched their instruments once at this point. (Ross had a knock-about on Sam's drums one evening, Faley skipped school to get stoned in Sam's attic and make a song 'Wasted Intellectuals'... probably LOTP's first song).

LOTP found a home in Way Out West and it's all-ages gigs, their feelings reciprocated by the new generation. Stuck mid-way between an older generation of somewhat static crowds and a younger generation of hyper-active kids, LOTP gained a dedicated following in the younger generations through myspace.com and for the energy of their live shows and in the older generations for the music itself. The Klaxons/NME had just coined the phrase 'Nu-Rave' and Late Of The Pier's ideas of live music began to become popular with the mainstream. With this came more interest from the music industry… NME and Radio1 quickly picked up on the band, noting them as one of the bands to watch out for in 2007 and music industry king-pins and affiliates soon became regular attendees to London gigs, often for pleasure instead of business.

UK EXCLUSIVE SHOW!!

SUPPORT: ROBIN AULD AND JAMES STEWART

SHOWTIME: 8PM

THE DAMNED  10.45 – 12.00 MIDNIGHT

JOHNNY MOPED 9.35 – 10.25

PENETRATION  8.30 – 9.20

UK SUBS  7.25 – 8.15

999            6.25 – 7.10

THE YOBS  5.25 – 6.10

RADIO STARS  4.30 – 5.10

TV SMITH  3.40 – 4.15

THE SHAPES  2.55 – 3.30

GOLDBLADE  2.05 – 2.40

THE RABBLE  1.15 – 1.50

PICTURE FRAME SEDUCTION  12.30 – 1.00

Doors: 12pm

TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 30 2008

THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED. REFUNDS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM POINT OF PURCHASE.

Smarter Music presents:

LONDON ROCK 'n' ROLL FESTIVAL 2008

JERRY LEE LEWIS
& THE MEMPHIS BEATS
+ LINDA GAIL LEWIS
with Darrel Higham and the Enforcers
+ very special guest (flying in from the US for this one show)
WANDA JACKSON
with Wes McGhee & The London Party-Timers

Tickets: £49 Dancing (stalls); £69 unreserved seating (balcony)

 DOORS 7.30

SLACKBABA 7.30

GONG 8.30-10.30

For the latest transmissions from the luminous green planet - Gong dada 'hymn-self', daevid allen, is joined by co-founder Gilli Smyth, the motherbeat bass of Mike Howlett, master drummer Chris Taylor, incomparable jazz saxophonist Theo Travis - and for the first time in the UK since 1975 - Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy!

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2008