Barely a week has passed since the sensational finale of the NME AWARDS TOUR, and we’ve already lined up the sequel.
In honour of the resurgence in young British talent, we’ve lined up the pick of the bunch on a rotating bill that’s on its way to a town near you.
The 22-20s headline on all dates, bolstered by a rotating support line-up featuring The Ordinary Boys, The Zutons, Thirteen Senses, The Cribs and The Delays.
Talking exclusively to NME.COM, 22-20s singer Martin Trimble was enthusiastic about the prospect. He said: “I think the American bands came over and kicked everyone’s arse, The Strokes and [a][/a] raised the bar. This might be (Britain fighting back), but we’re not waving the flag for anyone.”
To Ordinary Boys lynchpin Preston, the rise of British bands has political roots. “I haven’t really heard a lot of the other bands,” he told NME.COM, “but when there was all that Reagan Youth in the ‘80s, and all these excellent hardcore bands came out at the time like Black Flag, who were rallying against the government. And obviously the governmment’s in a pretty shocking state at the moment, so maybe they’re trying to have their say. I think social climate helps people feel the need to break away and form a band.”
So with everything to play for from putting the UK rock back on the map to bringing down the government, the NME Brit Pack Tour looks to be one of NME’s most thrilling yet.
The tour calls at:
Brighton Concorde (March 17) 22-20s / Zutons/ Ordinary Boys
Leicester Charlotte (18) 22-20s / Zutons / Ordinary Boys
Cardiff Engine Rooms (19) 22-20s / Zutons / Ordinary Boys
Newcastle Northumbria University (21) 22-20s / Zutons / Ordinary Boys
Manchester Academy 3 (22) 22-20s / Delays / Ordinary Boys
Liverpool Carling Academy 2 (23) 22-20s / Cribs / Ordinary Boys
Glasgow King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut (24) 22-20s / Cribs / Ordinary Boys
Birmingham Academy 2 (26) 22-20s / Delays / Ordinary Boys
Exeter Cavern (27) 22-20s / Cribs / Ordinary Boys
Bristol Fleece (28) 22-20s / Delays / Ordinary Boys
Oxford Zodiac (30) 22-20s / Thirteen Senses / Ordinary Boys
Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (31) 22-20s / Thirteen Senses / Ordinary Boys
London Islington Academy (April 1) 22-20s / Thirteen Senses / Ordinary Boys
Tickets are on sale exclusively now via the NME.COM Ticketshop and the NME Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663. For availability, [url=]click here.