To HEADLINE BBC INTRODUCING STAGE at READING and LEEDS FESTIVALS + LIVE SET & INTERVIEW launches BEATSTREAM app ‘COLUMBIA’ the debut album SEPTEMBER 21ST (Modern Sky UK) Available now via https://c-a.lnk.to/TBC “The Blinders ply their trade with a powerful passion in a similar vein to IDLES with an Arctic Monkeys inflection” 8/10, Louder Than War
The Blinders will headline the BBC Introducing Stage at this weekend’s Reading and Leeds Festivals. The hotly tipped Manchester-based trio will play Reading Festival on Friday 24th August (stage time 7.20pm), and Leeds Festival on Saturday 25th (stage time 7.10pm). Ahead of these sets, they additionally headline the Festival Republic Stage at Leeds Festival on Thursday 23rd (stage time 10.15pm), and complete a packed weekend by supporting The Wombats at Inner City Live in Hull on Sunday 26th (Zebedees Yard, stage time 6.35pm). The Blinders will perform an exclusive live set & interview for Beatstream tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd August at 7pm. Focusing of upcoming talent and local live music, Beatstream is the only music streaming platform that streams events live as they happen, connecting music lovers with the music they love when it’s not possible to be there person. (continued/…)
The Blinders recently unveiled the video for their new single 'Brave New World', a coruscating anthem about the distorting impact of hyper-capitalism, referencing everything from Trump's presidency to Aldous Huxley. ‘Brave New World’ is taken from The Blinders’ debut album ‘Columbia’, which will be released September 21st and is available to pre-order. The album also includes the singles ‘L’Etat C’Est Moi’, which was a Huw Stephens Tune Of The Week on BBC Radio 1 and playlisted at BBC Radio 6Music, and ‘Gotta Get Through’, which spent five weeks at No.1 on Amazing Radio. Loosely based around the concept of Columbia as “an alternate world informed by reality”, on the album The Blinders display a ferocious intelligence, as informed by history, literature and art as they are by Britain’s current political and economic woes. The striking cover artwork pictures singer/guitarist Thomas Haywood in the tribal warpaint he wears for live shows, where he assumes the fearless persona of Johnny Dream. Produced by Gavin Monaghan (Editors, Goldblade), the album sees 21 year-old childhood friends Haywood (vocals, guitar), Charlie McGough (bass) and Matt Neale (drums) follow Johnny Dream on his spiritual awakening, from the coruscating swagger of the opening ‘Gotta Get Through’ to the raw, beautiful and ultimately redemptive finale ‘Orbit (Salmon Of Alaska)’. The Blinders have been picking up specialist radio support since their first DIY releases from the likes of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Daniel P Carter, Radio X’s John Kennedy, and 6Music’s Chris Hawkins and Steve Lamacq, who recently had the band on his show for a BBC Music Introducing Session. The Blinders will follow their Reading and Leeds weekend with a headline set at the Tim Peaks stage at Festival No.6 on September 9th, and will embark on a 22-date UK headline tour throughout October and November.
FESTIVALS August 23 August 24 August 25 August 26 Sept 9 Sept 29 Oct 13
Leeds Festival, Dance To The Radio/Festival Republic Stage (10.15pm, headline set) Reading Festival, BBC Introducing Stage (7.20pm, headline set) Leeds Festival, BBC Introducing Stage (7.10pm headline set) Inner City Live, Hull (Zebedee’s Yard w/The Wombats, stage time 6.35pm) Festival No.6, Portmerion Tenement Trail, Glasgow Twisterella Festival, Middlesbrough
Charlie, Thomas, Matt, July 2018 All visualisations – photography, videos, artwork – by Sam Crowston Nasty Man Creations
‘COLUMBIA’ Tour tickets; https://www.seetickets.com
OCTOBER 2018 Mon 15 Tues 16 Thurs 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Mon 22 Tues 23 Weds 24 Thurs 25 Fri 26 Sun 28 Mon 29 Tues 30
Manchester Academy 2 Newcastle The Cluny Hull The Adelphi Cardiff SWN Festival Cardiff SWN Festival Stoke-On-Trent The Sugarmill Birmingham The Castle & Falcon Nottingham Bodega Derby The Venue Sheffield Plug Leeds Brudenell Social Club Liverpool Buyers Club Aberdeen, Drummonds
NOVEMBER Thurs 1 Fri 2 Sat 3 Mon 5 Tues 6 Weds 7 Fri 9 Sat 10 Sun 11
Preston The Ferret York The Crescent Lincoln 2Q Festival Oxford The Bullingdon Cambridge The Portland Arms London The Garage Southampton Heartbreakers Brighton The Haunt Bristol Thekla National Press : Chris at Swells Publicity Regional Press : Thom at Sonic PR National Radio : Nick Alsey at Airplayer Regional Radio : Julie at Radioactive