HALLELUJAH! RYDER RETURNS

He tells NME.COM about his festival shows and a possible headline tour...

SHAUN RYDER has spoken exclusively to NME.COM about his high profile return to the UK music scene with dates at T IN THE PARK and a hometown performance at MANCHESTER’s ‘MOVE’ festival.

Ryder has finally decided to go solo, and will play the shows at the Manchester Old Trafford Cricket Ground (July 13) and T In The Park (14) under the name SWR – short for Shaun William Ryder.

Ryder decamped to Australia for the recording of his solo material after the Happy Mondays‘ appearances at the Big Day Out festival in Australia in 2000. Nine songs are now complete, which he somewhat bizarrely describes as “breatbeat beatnik ” and “cool, no shoes”.

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At the dates his new songs will be spliced with classic Ryder tunes from the Black Grape and Happy Mondays catalogue.

He said: “The plan is we’re doing these gigs, T In The Park and one with Doves[/a] stuff, and some of the new stuff.”

Promoters are in the process of booking a number of smaller club shows which SWR will headline in the week leading up to the appearances. The gigs will be solo affairs without Bez or the famous Mondays/Black Grape associates, and only a minimal backing band. Most of Ryder’s new material has been produced on computers.

At the ‘Move’ Manchester date, which is sponsored by NME and Uncut magazine, SWR will be joined by Alfie, Elbow, [a][/a] and [url=]New Order.

It is hoped that SWR will release a new single in the autumn, although a title and release date are currently unconfirmed. Ryderalso hopes to return to the “good vibe” of Australia to complete the album.

For tickets, contact the NME Ticketline on 0870 1 663 663, or click here for ‘Move’ or [url=]here for T In The Park.

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