Jack Daniel’s will be making music history from May as The Smiths’ former drummer Mike Joyce, Infadels, The Pipettes, Tim Burgess, Casiokids and I Am Kloot, to name but a few, come together to reinterpret a series of seminal albums, culminating with gigs in London, Manchester and Glasgow. And you can be a part of the action!
These JD Set gigs continue to build on the rock and roll heritage that has always flowed through JD and is continued through to today – take a look at www.thejdset.co.uk and see for yourself.
The first of this year’s JD Sets will see Infadels, The Pipettes, Kids On Bridges, The Shortwave Set and Shy Child reinterpret The Human League’s decade defining album ‘Dare’. This classic 80’s album has been recently rediscovered as it lay down a synth-pop blueprint that went on to influence the likes of Little Boots and La Roux. The artists will head into the studio for a week to perfect their covers & collaborations in preparation for them premiering, live in London on May 5.
Following the London show, up in Manchester, Manc legends I Am Kloot, The Answering Machine, former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess, The Whip, John Cooper Clarke and The Dutch Uncles will get to grips with Buzzcocks’ classic 1977 EP Spiral Scratch plus other songs by the scuzz-punk legends for their live reinterpretation on May 27. "They’re the reason I picked up drum sticks in the first place," Joyce said about Buzzcocks. "Coupling the energy of punk rock with a pop sensibility, Buzzcocks are an explosive, sparkling gem of a band."
The third and final JD Set of the series will see Malcolm Middleton, Silver Columns, James Yuill, Casiokids and The Cocknbullkid cover songs from Madonna’s career, playing live at the ABC2 venue – bringing the queen of pop’s music to an amazingly intimate venue. According to Malcolm it’ll be "A bunch of kids worshipping at the temple of a modern day idol. But me personally, I won’t be going further than 1986."
To be a part of this historic musical occasion email a question to us that you’d like to ask the bands – it could be serious, silly or probing, or just something that will get the bands talking. Then The JD Set and NME will pick the five best questions to be asked at the rehearsal session. There’ll also be a local winner who will get to go along with a friend to the rehearsal session. Not only will these winners get to watch the band rehearse, they’ll also get to ask their own and the other five winning questions. All the entrants who’s questions are asked during the Q&A will get to attend the live gig at the end of the month. JD will even cover travel and accommodation for national winners!
Email your questions to jdset@nme.com.
If you want to enter to be NME’s JD Set Gig Reporter, all you need to do is file a review of a gig you’ve been to recently in 150 words or less to jdset@nme.com. We’ll choose the best and one lucky winner will become NME’s JD Set Gig Reporter, where you and a friend get tickets to the Manchester gig, and the opportunity to write and talk about the gig on NME Radio, NME.COM and in the magazine. Manchester, Band On The Wall, Thursday 27th May
Over 18s only.
Know when to unplug. Please drink Jack Daniel’s responsibly.
