This July, The Wedding Present’s second album “Tommy” is 30 years old (feeling old yet?)
Whilst working on Bizzaro, they released “Tommy” to gather up their early singles, b-sides and radio sessions to keep the momentum going after the success of their debut album “George Best”. It contains one of my favourite Wedding Present tracks “You Should Always Keep In Touch With Your Friends”, which is the song that got me into them in the first place.
It wasn’t easy being a Wedding Present fan in pre-trainspotting 80s Edinburgh, walking along Princes street with the t-shirt I’d get comments like “If that’s the present, I’m glad I’m not getting married” damned cheek!
I remember going into a not-so-cool record shop (who therefore often had decent stuff in their bargain bins) and the owner reading the new releases “The Wedding Present by George Best? He can’t sing!”.
Anyway, the band are playing the album “Tommy” live in addition to other material from their back catalogue in many cities around the UK between now and December, with special guests to be confirmed.
Arts Club in Liverpool have postponed the 26th May gig as I am at Bearded Theory that weekend (very accommodating, though alternatively it could be because Liverpool are in the UEFA Champions League Final) and is now scheduled for Saturday 15th December.
However, a date that caught my eye is the Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-On-Trent, on Saturday 8th December 2018.
It’s an impressive, imposing building, and I’ve heard great things about gigs and beer festivals held there, so can’t wait to check it out.
More information about the museum can be found here and get your tickets for Gladstone here or Liverpool Arts Club here
Incidentally, the Gladstone event is being held outside – so bring your warm coat, or better still just dance all night!
Here are the current tour dates:
24/05 : Milton Keynes, UK – Crawford Arms
25/05 : Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy
27/05 : Edinburgh, UK – Liquid Room
07/06 : Oxford, UK – O2 Academy
08/06 : Newcastle upon Tyne, UK – O2 Academy
09/06 : Leeds, UK – Church [Benefit concert for The National Autistic Society] SOLD OUT
19/07 : Bedford, UK – Esquires
20/07 : Lebberston, UK – Yorkshire Coast Music Festival
21/07 : Norwich, UK – Arts Centre
Ireland & Northern Ireland : Dates to be confirmed
03/10 : Cambridge, UK – Storey’s Field Centre
04/10 : London, UK – 100 Club with Salad SOLD OUT
05/10 : Manchester, UK – Academy
06/10 : Glasgow, UK – Saint Luke’s
07/10 : Hebden Bridge, UK – Trades Club SOLD OUT
05/12 : Portsmouth, UK – Wedgewood Rooms
06/12 : Exeter, UK – Cavern
07/12 : Bristol, UK – Thekla
08/12 : Stoke, UK – Gladstone Pottery Museum
09/12 : Bradford, UK – Underground
11/12 : Galashiels, UK – Mac Arts
12/12 : Carlisle, UK – Old Fire Station
13/12 : Leicester, UK – Dryden Street Social
14/12 : London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
15/12 : Liverpool, UK – Arts Club [Please note that, due to the presence of Liverpool F.C. in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, this concert has been moved here from 26/05]
AT THE EDGE OF THE SEA
10/08 : Brighton, UK – Concorde 2 ~ The Wedding Present and At The Edge Of The Sea proudly present a special ’30th Anniversary’ performance of Tommy. With Desperate Journalist. Doors 7PM-10PM.
11/08 : Brighton, UK – Concorde 2 ~ At The Edge Of The Sea 2018 featuring The Wedding Present, Cinerama, Young Romance, Terry de Castro, Helen And The Horns, Salad, The Catenary Wires, Amelia Coburn, Jetstream Pony, Vinny Peculiar, Oliver Elf Army and All Flags Are Grey! Doors 3PM-10PM.