Stereoboard’s Top 10 Live Events in November (Feature)
Monday, 31 October 2011
Written by Rob Sleigh
As we turn the clocks back and those cold winter nights start drawing in, you may have noticed that Fireworks Night isn’t the only thing that will be going off with a bang this November. That’s right, the autumn touring season is packed with enough post-Halloween treats to scare off any winter blues until it’s time to start your Christmas shopping. So without further ado, here’s this month’s top tips from Stereoboard to help you choose which of November’s many tours and gigs you’ll be adding to your calendar. Enjoy…
BEADY EYE
As Noel Gallgher’s forthcoming UK tour sells out and his debut solo album is blowing away the competition in the albums chart, let’s not forget that his little brother is still doing the rounds with his own effort Beady Eye. Liam and co will be taking their debut album ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’ around the country this month with dates at Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom and London’s O2 Academy Brixton among the shows. OK, so maybe the album didn’t do quite as well as Noel’s seems to be doing, but this is probably the closest we’re going to get to seeing Oasis again, so why not?
BILLY BRAGG: LEFT FIELD IN MOTION
This month, the original folk troubadour Billy Bragg will be taking his Left Field event out on the road after two successful years at Glastonbury. After more than 30 years in the business, Billy’s one-man live show is still going strong and his November tour dates will be no exception. Joining him for the jaunt are London’s The King Blues (15th – 21st), who are also doing their own headlining tour this month, UK rapper Akala (22nd – 28th) and hip-hop trio Sound of Rum (all dates). What more could you ask for?
EASTPAK ANTIDOTE TOUR
After last year’s hugely-successful Eastpak Antidote Tour, which saw headliners Sum 41 hitting the road with The Black Pacific, Riverboat Gamblers and Veara, fans will be pleased to learn that it’s back again for another run, boasting a new and exciting line-up. Topping the bill this time around are Floridian rockers A Day To Remember, who will be performing songs from their 2010 album ‘What Separates Me From You’ among others. Joining them for the dates are metallers August Burns Red, Californian hardcore band The Ghost Inside and Canadian pop punkers Living With Lions. A guaranteed great night out to say the least.
FRANK TURNER
It’s been quite a year for Winchester’s Frank Turner and this is due in no small part to his reputation as a live performer. His non-stop touring and numerous festival appearances have been relentless in recent years and the shows themselves are a sight to behold. His fourth solo album ‘England Keep My Bones’, which was released in June, reached Number 12 in the UK Albums Chart, making it his most successful album to date. This month’s tour will see Frank playing some of his biggest headlining gigs to date and then, next April, he will return to take over Wembley Arena.
FRIENDLY FIRES
Another act preparing for their biggest string of dates are Hertfordshire-based trio Friendly Fires, who will also be hitting the road this month with another tour. Not satisfied with reaching the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart with their second release ‘Pala’ earlier this year, the band went on to sell-out both of their previously-announced dates at the O2 Academy Brixton. If that wasn’t enough, they then went ahead and announced yet another date at the huge London venue. You have to admit that three dates at Brixton Academy is a pretty impressive way to end any tour. Especially for a band that have only been around for the best part of five years.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN
Damon Albarn may have just announced yet another band to add to his CV – the curiously-named Rocketjuice and the Moon featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea – but this month sees the revival of one of his earlier projects, The Good The Bad and The Queen. The nameless supergroup, which also boasts The Clash’s Paul Simonon and The Verve’s Simon Tong among its line-up, released their debut album in 2007 before performing a handful of live dates and then disappearing altogether. This month marks the return of the band, who will be back to play a one-off date at London’s Coronet. Their future after that remains unclear, but on the assumption that this may be the last chance we get to see them live, catch them while you can.
INCUBUS
After a five-year break from recording, Californian rockers Incubus made their big return earlier this year with the release of their seventh album ‘If Not Now, When?’ This month, the quintet will be back in the UK for a proper tour following a date in London earlier in the year. Celebrating 20 years as a band, Incubus will surely be looking to bring a career-spanning setlist along with them on their latest visit as a big thank-you to their UK fans. But you’ll have to get down to one of the shows to find out which of their many favourites will make the cut.
THE KING BLUES
London-based folk-ska punkers The King Blues have managed to make our Top 10 list twice this month – not only as part of Billy Bragg’s Left Field in Motion tour, but also on their own headlining dates, with which they’ll be kicking off the month. Joining them on the tour will be Brooklyn hardcore quintet Cerebral Ballzy, who have been making quite an impression on the punk scene recently with their eponymous debut album, and Cornwall-based folk punkers Crowns.
RISE AGAINST
After making their debut on the Main Stage at this year’s Reading and Leeds festivals with some impressive live performances, US hardcore rockers Rise Against will be returning to our shores this month and bringing their recently-released sixth album ‘Endgame’ along with them. If that wasn’t enough, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello – aka The Nightwatchman – will be joining them as support, following the release of his own album ‘World Wide Rebel Songs’. Rise against the machine!
THE SMASHING PUMPKINS
Last but by no means least, Billy Corgan’s The Smashing Pumpkins are heading back to the UK this month ahead of the release of their ninth album ‘Oceania’. On the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album ‘Gish’, we should probably hope for a mixture of old and new as the Pumpkins return for another string of dates.
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