Thursday 28 February 2013

Dave Sharp Dates

Some more dates from Dave...the TBC Newcastle dates aren't happening but there is a Macclesfield date added as well as dates in May and June...


MARCH
1st The Oakwood GLOSSOP
8th The Snowgoose MACCLESFIELD
14th TBC LEEDS
17th The Windy Ha SALTCOATS
22nd The New Market Bar THURSO
23rd The Grove Lounge THURSO
29th The Market Bar INVERNESS
30th The Old Ship Inn PERTH

APRIL
5th TBC KILMARNOCK
6th The Dog House BALLOCH
13th The Miners Arms WHITECROFT
19th The Blackwood Miners Institute BLACKWOOD
26th Mink Tattoo Coffee Bar MIDDLESBOROUGH

MAY
17th The Chill Bar ILFRACOMBE
18th The King's Arms HOLSWORTHY
19th Maes Manor Country Hotel BLACKWOOD

JUNE
15th The Rose & Crown CHARLBURY

JULY
19th ALOHA from New Brighton - The Floral Pavillion Theatre NEW BRIGHTON

SEPTEMBER
18th Blues In The City CHELMSFORD

To keep up to date remember to check http://www.davesharp.org/tourinfo.asp

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Vinyl Soundtrack pre-order announced.

The limited edition collectors digipak of the "Vinyl" soundtrack is now available to order via The Alarm online store http://thealarm.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-alarm-vinyl-soundtrack-collectors-digpak

The CD features 22 tracks and also a bonus DVD of a documentary hosted by Mike Peters about the recording of the soundtrack alongside 11 stand-alone videos including the recently revealed "Free Rock And Roll" that was recorded at the Gathering at the end of last month.

The 24 page CD booklet features press cuttings from the original Poppyfields release of "45 RPM" as well as images from "Vinyl" itself.

The album features new music as well as new recordings of songs dating back to The Toilets era. The full track list is :

A Breed Apart / Free Rock And Roll / Rip It Up / La La La London / Tomorrow Calling / Cowpat Town / You're Only Young (And Innocent) Once / Kill To Get What You Want (Die For What You Believe In) / Three Sevens Clash / Where Have All The Good Times Gone? / Standing On The Corner / Asbo / Nothing To Do / Social Security / Hear Me Out / Alarm Alarm / Zeros And Ones / Immediate Girl / Nuclear / 45 R.P.M. / Free Rock And Roll (Reprise)

The album is priced at £24.99 and postage will be free if ordered before Sunday 17th March.

Monday 25 February 2013

The International Swingers "Gun Control" video

The International Swingers have released a video to their new track "Gun Control" as a preview of their upcoming album which was worked on while the band were in America this month.

We will bring you more information on the album as we get it!

"Vinyl" Leicester Square Premiere tickets!

I did say I was going to try and get some info on whether there would be any tickets for the "Vinyl" Premiere at the Empire Leicester Square in London made available for the general public and I have an answer at last! There are going to be approximately 100 tickets made available either this Wednesday or Thursday (27th / 28th February) priced at £15 each.

http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/index.php?tbx_site_id=5

I'm hoping to pick up two tickets myself and if I do I will bring you some photos from the Premiere ... so fingers crossed and good luck to all in the same boat of trying to get in to see this once in a lifetime premiere!

Love Hope Strength - Katrina Interview

Many of you in The Alarm family will be familiar with Katrina who is a constant presence promoting the work of Love Hope Strength Foundation at gigs and events as well as being always happy to chat! With the long campaigned for swab test finally approved for the UK we catch up with Katrina on the eve of the start of the "Vinyl" tour to find out all about it and what we can all do to help LHS.


How did you become involved in LHS?

I was working in the fundraising industry and Mike came up with the idea that he wanted to set up a cancer charity and I offered to help due to my knowledge and here we are nearly six years later...

What attracted you to LHS over other charities?

I have helped a large number of charities through my fundraising experience. Love Hope Strength Foundation seemed to be a natural charity to be attracted to, everyone knows someone who has sadly suffered with cancer. I also liked the fact it connected with the music industry to spread the word as I am a huge fan of going to gigs and indie/rock music.

What advice can you give those wishing to fund raise for LHS?

Love Hope Strength Foundation relies on good will, fundraising and our fantastic supporters without who we simply couldn't achieve what we want to do. I am so proud of everyone who has supported LHS and we really appreciate your support. If you want to come along to one of our "Rocks" events please do, it's a lovely friendly fun day.

Snowdon Rocks, our first ever event, is now in its seventh year and it is one of my favourite days of the year. We climb Snowdon every year, have a few songs with our musicians along the way and raise money for cancer projects. Last year, after many requests, we climbed the highest mountain in the UK Ben Nevis and raised over £20,000+. It was a fantastic weekend which included a performance by what I would call a Celtic Supergroup featuring members of The Alarm, Big Country and Simple Minds - what a night! We will also be doing Ben Nevis again this year and who knows what surprises we have in store for that weekend.

If anyone is unable to attend one of our official events and would like to fund raise for LHS you can do your own sponsor event, run a marathon, do a walk or cycle or run a fund raising evening/gig. The list is endless and the most important thing is to have fun. Anything is possible and we appreciate everyone's fund raising efforts.

Now the LHS Store is up and running what other lines can we expect to see?

The LHS Website Store has just started so we will be adding more items to the collection. Keep checking what we have there as new stock is added. If anyone has any ideas of what cool items we could sell in the LHS store please get in touch and email me at Katrina@lovehopestrengthfoundation.co.uk

Tell us about the swab test, why is this such a big step for LHS?

We're really excited in the UK about this new initiative, we've been campaigning long and hard to get this into the UK. We are working within an exciting partnership with Delete Blood Cancer UK which will enable people between the ages of 17 and 55 to sign up to the stem cell donor register by filling in a form and using swabs to give some cheek cell samples for tissue analysis. A simple sign up at a gig or festival could save a life...

It's a big step as unfortunately someone is diagnosed with blood cancer every 18 minutes and every 10 minutes blood cancer takes a life somewhere in the world. In the UK we have a 50% chance of patients never finding the the life saving match they need whereas in Germany there is a 4 out of 5 chance of finding a match. We need to alter the UK statistics.

Since 2008 Love Hope Strength USA has been working in partnership with Delete Blood Cancer US and have been undertaking donor recruitment drives at a range of cultural events through a campaign called "GET ON THE LIST". So far they have recruited 30,000 potential donors to the USA register. There have been nearly 500 potentially life saving matches between donors and patients in need so far in those 5 years. We are now in a position to replicate this exciting "GET ON THE LIST" campaign in the UK and I cannot wait! We will do our first donor drive at The Alarm show in Bournemouth.

How can people get on the list?

If you want to GET ON THE LIST for the bone marrow donation it is a very simple process, check that you fit the health criteria, collect some cheek samples using the swabs and fill in the form, less than 5 minutes and you can potentially save a life...

We have also been working with NHS Blood and Transplant to encourage people to GET ON THE LIST for the organ donor register as there are currently 10,000 people in the UK who need a transplant with 3 people a day dying while waiting. Unfortunately there are not enough organs available and one donor can save the life of several people, restore the sight or increase the quality of life for many more.

If you would like to join the Organ Donor Register please sign up at www.organdonation.nhs.uk/lhsf and GET ON THE LIST and save a life.

We will be running bone marrow donor drives on the current Alarm and Big Country tours, please come and visit the stall or contact me for further information.

What about those not in a position medically to help, what can they do?

LHS is always looking for volunteers to help with or run donor drives. Whether at gigs or in your own work place, at your own fund raising event or just finding an opportunity for us to do a donor drive. Simply spreading the word above Love Hope Strength Foundation.

We would also be delighted to have you join us on one of our "Rocks" events this year, Ben Nevis Rocks will be Saturday 7th September and Snowdon Rocks is Saturday 14th September. Come and join Mike Peters and the LHS team for a great day out!

How can people register for volunteer training and what will they be doing?

If you are going to an Alarm or Big Country show please come and visit the stall and find out all about the volunteer opportunities. If you cannot make the shows then please drop me a line at Katrina@lovehopestrengthfoundation.co.uk as I would be delighted to hear from you. We need volunteers in every part of the UK to assist with this fantastic and exciting life changing project.

Will we see LHS at any other gigs or festivals this year other than The Alarm and Big Country tours?

Love Hope Strength Foundation will be going to the Acoustic Festival of Great Britain in May and we are hoping to go to other festivals and tours this year. We are currently concentrating on The Alarm and Big Country shows but we will be delighted to go into any festival, band tour or sporting event etc where we can do our donor drives.

What does 2013 hold in store for LHS?

it's going to be an exciting year with the launch of the donor drives, going on tour with The Alarm and Big Country and everything else that happens along the way. We have campaigned for the swab donor drives for many years and it is an incredibly special year. I am looking forward to Snowdon Rocks this year and meeting each and every one of you.

Thank you for your support to Love Hope Strength Foundation - we really do appreciate it.

Visit the website www.lovehopestrength.co.uk to keep up to date with news, join our Facebook page www.facebook.co.uk/lhsuk and follow us on Twitter @LHSUK






Saturday 23 February 2013

Mike Peters - radio phone in.

Bournemouth's Hope FM will be hosting a live phone in with Mike this coming Wednesday (27th Feb). Mike will be interviewed by hosts Tim Heywood and Chinners as well as taking calls and email questions between 7pm and 9pm.

You can contact the show by calling 01202 77321 or by emailing studio@hopefm.com

If you are in the Dorset area you can tune in on 90.1 FM or you can listen online via www.hopefm.com

Friday 22 February 2013

RT-Zed site launches.

The new web site for Steve Grantleys RT-Zed has launched with a preview of the new album "Zed Hed" as well as photos, videos and a band bio.

http://www.rtzed.co.uk/#

In other RT-Zed news the "Zed Hed" album is now dated for release on the 1st May and the band has also confirmed they will be appearing at the upcoming Spear Of Destiny "Westworld Weekend" with tickets available from the Kirk Brandon website http://kirkbrandondotcom.bigcartel.com/product/new-westworld-11-event-weekend-ticket

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Live Archive online Q&A

There is a LIVE Archive Q&A session set for Monday 25th February from 7pm & 8pm GMT hosted on the bands tumblr site.

http://archiveofficial.tumblr.com/

Remember to keep the questions short and clean!


Tuesday 19 February 2013

Glasgow Film Festival

Mike will be doing a short acoustic set and be on hand with Sara Sugarman for a Q & A session following a screening of "Vinyl" at the Glasgow Film Festival this Thursday (21st February).

Tickets are available from https://tickets.glasgowfilmtickets.org.uk/public/auto_choose_ga.asp?area=63


Monday 18 February 2013

Archive announce European Festival dates

Some more European festival dates have been announced by Archive today. They are...



21st JUNE Southside Festival
23rd JUNE Hurricane Festival
29th JUNE Le Rock Dans Tous Ses Etats
16th JULY Francofolies de La Rochelle



Sunday 17 February 2013

Full Willie Nile tour dates...and album news.

There are a few alterations to the Willie Nile dates that we previously posted (which of course will feature James Stevenson on guitar) with the full dates being :

UPDATE : Unfortunately these dates clash with James' Alarm commitments so James will NOT be on these dates.

APRIL

19th - The St. Bonaventures Social Club BRISTOL
20th - National Record Store Day (Venue TBC) CHELTENHAM
22nd - The Jericho Tavern OXFORD
25th - The New Roscoe LEEDS
27th - The Cluny NEWCASTLE
28th - The Brickyard CARLISLE
30th - The Musician LEICESTER

MAY

2nd - The 100 Club LONDON
3rd - Tingewick Village Hall Nr, NORTHAMPTON
4th - Blue Funk Club MANCHESTER
5th - The Tropicana Club RUISLIP

Willie's new album "American Ride" will also be released on April 30th and features a songwriting collaboration with Mike Peters on the title track. Willie financed the album direct from his fan base via Pledge Music from where you can order your copy of the album from $10 for the download, $20 for the physical disc and then upwards ranging from a signed album to an Exec Producer credit and a concert in your own home!

You can order yours from http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/american-ride

Saturday 16 February 2013

Final cut of "Free Rock & Roll" completed!

As promised the final cut of the video of the upcoming "Free Rock & Roll" has been completed and is now available for your viewing pleasure!

Check it out now on the official Alarm site! http://www.thealarm.com/archives/19520

Friday 15 February 2013

"Vinyl" unveiled at the Ffresh Festival & Mike acoustic performance

"Vinyl" will be shown on the opening day of the Ffresh Festival which takes place in the Catrin Finch Centre in Wrexham starting on Wednesday 20th February.

"Vinyl" will be preceded by an acoustic set by Mike which starts at 5pm and director Sarah Sugarman will be on hand for a Q&A session after the film.

Tickets are priced at a fantastic £10 for a day pass that includes all "Vinyl" related activity and are available here http://ffresh.com/en/programme/tickets/

Thursday 14 February 2013

Afterglow ready new EP

Afterglow, the band that features Will Peters, are readying their second EP which will be released via Lost Pop Records. Will features in the upcoming "Vinyl" film and also appeared at The Gathering 20 with The Absolute Worst.

The bands debut EP is also currently available as a free download from the Lost Pop website  ( http://www.lostpoprecords.com/store )


"The Journey" release date revealed

The release date for the new Big Country album "The Journey" looks likely to be April 15th, at least it is according to an announcement on the Cherry Red web site. The piece also gives further info on the recording of the album and can be found in full here :

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopnews.asp?newsid=381


Tuesday 12 February 2013

Big Country European dates

Big Country have announced the European leg of "The Journey" tour. The dates so far (with some venues still to be confirmed) are....


MAY
14th TBC FRANCE
15th The Garage Saarbruken GERMANY
16th Zeche Bochum GERMANY
18th Alte Seilerei Mannheim GERMANY
19th Rosenhaf Osnabruck GERMANY
21st Colossaal Aschaffenburg GERMANY
22nd Markthalle Hamburg GERMANY
23rd Tante Ju Dresden GERMANY
24th Substage Karlsruhe GERMANY
25th Szene Wein Vienna AUSTRIA
27th Sommercasino May Basel SWITZERLAND
28th Tunnel Club Milan ITALY
29th Kaminwerk Memmingen GERMANY
30th Modernes Bremen GERMANY
31st TBC NETHERLANDS

Sunday 10 February 2013

Free Rock And Roll Rough Cut

The rough cut of the video for "Free Rock And Roll" has been posted on the official Alarm site....it features scenes filmed at this years Gathering as well as footage of Phil Daniels. The actual finished cut is expected by Friday.

Find it here : http://www.thealarm.com/archives/19497


Thursday 7 February 2013

Snowdon Rocks 7 date announced

LHS have announced that this years Snowdon Rocks will take place on Saturday 14th September and will once again take the Llanberis / railway path. Registration is available via the LHS site by clicking the forthcoming events tab. http://www.lovehopestrength.co.uk/



Once again trekkers are asked to wear an item of green to show their support for LHS and Mike will provide musical moments along the way.

Here's hoping for better weather than last year!

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Free Rock And Roll on Reverbnation

"Free Rock And Roll" has been posted on Reverbnation alongside a video of Mike offering support slots on the upcoming "Vinyl" tour to winning bands that are registered on the site.

To hear "Free Rock And Roll" click here http://www.reverbnation.com/thealarm

To learn to play the song and become part of the whole experience then over to Mike himself....


Monday 4 February 2013

Archive stream concert.

Want to see Archive live to see what you have been missing or just fancy watching a fantastic gig? Well now you can! The bands appearance from last years Westend Festival in Dortmund is now available to stream from  http://www.wdr.de/tv/rockpalast/extra/videos/2012/1101/archive.jsp


Wiped out - You Make Me Feel - Sane - Interlace - Stick Me In My Heart - Conflict - Violently - Fuck U - Pills - Hatchet - Danger Visit - Damage - Kings Of Speed.....and if you want more there is even an interview too!

Sunday 3 February 2013

New Archive date.

Archive have confirmed that they will be appearing at the Festival de Carcassonne on the 31st July along with BB Brunes.


For those in France or those planning on taking in some great music while on holiday you can find the details here http://www.festivaldecarcassonne.fr/festival.nsf/vuetitre/docOnglet5

SoD hit Europe!

Some European dates from the ever busy Spear Of Destiny!

FEBRUARY
7th ARNHEM Netherlands
8th DENTERGEM Belgium
9th FRANKFURT Germany
10th BERLIN Germany
12th WARSAW Poland
14th MILAN Italy
15th ROME Italy
16th MODENA Italy

Saturday 2 February 2013

The Mission add German dates.

The Mission have added 4 pre-Xmas German dates for December following on from their UK dates with the Fields Of The Nephilim. The new dates are...

DECEMBER
20th Batschkapp FRANKFURT
21st Postbahnhof BERLIN
22nd Markthalle HAMBURG
23rd Live Music Hall KOLN

Tickets for these and the UK dates can by found here http://www.artistticket.com/link/?e=The+Mission




Friday 1 February 2013

Archive add Turkish dates

Archive today announced 2 new dates both in Turkey which will now form the first dates on the upcoming European tour. The tour will now start on the 29th March at the Jolly Joker in ANKARA then on the 30th the band plays at Kucukciftlik Park in ISTANBUL.