Black Francis street gig halted by police

Police halted an Black Francis impromptu outdoor gig in Dublin on Saturday (February 9) after 1,000 fans turned up to watch him perform.

Francis was performing at St Stephen’s Green in the city, running through a mixture of solo material and songs by his legendary band, Pixies, when police became worried about overcrowding.

They stepped in and escorted Francis away, leading some fans to believe he had been arrested. However, police were moving him on in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Despite the performance being halted, Francis plans to play two further “pre-core” gigs – in Manchester’s Big Hand bar tomorrow evening (February 12), and close to London’s Waxy O’Connors bar on Rupert Street, W1 on Wednesday (February 13).

Both performances precede Shockwaves NME Awards Shows at nearby venues – the Manchester Academy 2 and London KOKO respectively.


To check the availability of Black Francis tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/GIGS now, or call 0871 230 1094.


The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 are coming soon – and it’s time to have your say. Vote now by heading to NME.COM/awardsvote and you could win VIP tickets to the ceremony, which takes place in London on February 28.

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