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.