Stiff Little Fingers Announce March 2013 UK Tour & Unveil Details Of New Studio Album
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
Stiff Little Fingers are to take things ‘up a gear’ with a new UK tour scheduled for March next year. In addition, the band are currently recording their as-yet-untitled 10th studio album set for release in 2013.
Stiff Little Fingers were formed in 1977 in Belfast, Ireland. Along with the likes of the Clash, Sex Pistols, The Jam, Buzzcocks, Undertones, Sham 69, Stranglers, et al – Stiff Little Fingers were at the forefront of the punk movement. They wrote initially about their own lives, growing up at the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, in songs like 'Suspect Device' and 'Wasted Life'. In November of '77, they released those two songs on their own Rigid Digits label, and sent a copy to BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, who started playing it every night.
These were the first of what became SLF's signature style: lyrics that meld the personal and political, music that combines the energy of punk with infectious hooks, and delivery that rings of honesty and commitment.
After many studio albums and countless tours, Stiff Little Fingers find themselves more in demand than ever. They are currently working on a new album, and many of the new songs have been debuted at live gigs, with tremendous response from fans. With song titles like 'Trail of Tears', 'My Dark Places' and 'Liar's Club' covering topics such as the recent economic collapse, Jake's personal struggle with depression, and continuing racism in the west. Jake has said: “You’ve probably worked out by now, I don’t do “comedy” songs !!” But the songs continue to inspire fans old and new. Countless people have already contacted Jake to say that 'My Dark Places' gave them the strength to tell others about their own bouts with depression.
Though focused on their new material, they always play the old favourites at gigs. Jake said: "You have to strike a balance. The difficulty with a band like ourselves is to try not make it sound like a cabaret band. Obviously, it'd be very easy to go, 'Hey, here's another old one you may remember.' A lot of the old songs the audience greet like old friends. I suppose it's the same as any band that's been around for any length of time. And yes, there are nights that we don't particularly want to play 'Alternative Ulster' or 'Suspect Device' because we've heard them 'til they're coming out our ears. But there's always the possibility that somebody out there has never seen the band before, never heard them."
But using the band’s rich musical foundation as a building block, the time has come to bring the newest chapter of the band’s music to the world. The new songs, penned over the last decade, show a definite musical growth in the band. Look out for a release in early 2013.
Mar 7th - Southampton The Brook
Mar 8th - Brighton Concorde
Mar 9th - Nuneaton Queens Hall
Mar 10th - Preston 53 Degrees
Mar 12th - Sheffield Plug
Mar 14th - Manchester HMV Ritz
Mar 15th - Newcastle O2 Academy
Mar 16th - Aberdeen The Lemon Tree
Mar 17th - Glasgow Barrowland
Mar 19th - Cambridge Junction
Mar 20th - Norwich Waterfront
Mar 21st - Leeds O2 Academy
Mar 22nd - London Forum
Mar 23rd - Nottingham Rock City
Mar 25th - Plymouth C103
Mar 26th - Exeter Phoenix
Mar 27th - Gloucester Guildhall
Mar 28th - Bristol O2 Academy
Mar 29th - Wolverhampton The Robin
Mar 30th - Cardiff Solus
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