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Neil has released a statement concerning the news, “To receive this doctorate is an honour I could never have expected. To receive it in Glasgow, a city that has featured so long and so supportively in the band’s story, is the stuff of dreams. I am also proud to be connected to such a forward-thinking institution as Caledonian University, and accept this honour gratefully.”

Also set to receive an honorary degree from Glasgow Caledonian University are eight more noted figures. Joining Neil at the ceremony next week is Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia will be awarded a Doctor of Laws in recognition of her work in gender equality. Similar to Neil’s degree, Ricky Ross will also be given a Doctor of Letters for his contribution to Scottish music and culture. The third Doctor of Letters degree is to be given to Johnny Benjamin MBE for his commitment to suicide prevention. The fourth and final Doctor of Letters degree will be bestowed to Bernadine Evaristo OBE for her work within literature and human rights.

Also receiving honorary degrees are Vicky Wright MBE, Ian Urquhart CBE, Daniel Schwartz and Major Patrick Burgess MBE. During the upcoming ceremony, those in attendance will be treated to inspirational and moving speeches from each honouree, the ceremony will also include a selection of messages from the University’s leadership team. The schedule will include speeches from Vice Chancellor and Principal Professor Pamela Gillies CBE and Chancellor Dr Annie Lennox CBE.

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Professor Pamela Gillies CBE FRSE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor has also commented on the upcoming ceremony, “Graduations also afford us the opportunity to welcome distinguished individuals into our GCU family as honorary graduates. This year we are privileged indeed to honour many worthy recipients. They all share a deeply held core set of values that align with our own. They authentically live these values and are an inspiration to us all.”

Earlier this month, Biffy Clyro announced the details for their upcoming UK and Ireland tour, the arena tour will commence this year with a set in Leeds on 5th November 2022. The group will be joined by Brighton rockers Architects, the metalcore band formed by twins Ben and James Johnston will support Biffy Clyro throughout the tour. The “Mountains” hitmaker’s tour is scheduled to include a hometown show, the band will perform at Glasgow’s Ovo Hydro on 6th November 2022. After five more sets, Biffy Clyro and Architects will conclude the tour with a set at Bournemouth’s BIC on 15th November 2022.

Biffy Clyro UK/Ireland tour dates

05/11/2022 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
06/11 – Ovo Hydro – Glasgow
08/11 – 3Arena – Dublin
09/11 – SSE Arena – Belfast
11/11 – Resorts World Arena – Birmingham
12/11 – The O2 – London
14/11 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff
15/11 – BIC – Bournemouth

Click here to purchase tickets.

“Having been forced into rescheduling our arena tour we wanted to take this opportunity to play some more intimate shows this autumn in places that we haven’t visited in many years,” Architects had to say regarding the news of upcoming October shows that have just been announced. They will be performing across the UK in some of Britain’s lesser toured towns and cities; including their hometown of Brighton. The shows will start off in Coventry and make their way through Oxford, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Brighton. Where the band will play smaller shows than their 2019 arena tour for Holy Hell’s album release, which saw them headline Wembley. This will be a popular tour on the wait till their tour next year, which will see them play London’s famous Alexandra Palace.

Having been forced into rescheduling our arena tour we wanted to take this opportunity to play some more intimate shows this autumn in places that we haven’t visited in many years. We will see you all very soon!⁣
⁣
Tickets available Saturday at 10AM UK⁣https://t.co/NFBwX8LQxlpic.twitter.com/MeMHJh5Olj

— Architects (@Architectsuk) September 23, 2021

Architects tour dates for October:

07/10/21- Empire- Coventry
08/10- O2 Academy- Oxford
22/10- UEA- Norwich
23/10- KK’s Steel Mill- Wolverhampton
24/10- Boilershop- Newcastle
26/10- Dome- Brighton

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, the 25th of September, you can get your tickets here.

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The tour will be in support of their most recent album, ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’, which was released 26^th February 2021 to rave reviews. The album marked the bands ninth studio album and gave the group their first number one. The group beat out indie darlings Maximo Park for the spot and took to their Instagram page to show their thanks.

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The band formed in 2004 in Brighton, originally called ‘Counting the Days’, found initial success within the metal community with debut ‘Nightmares’ released 15^th May 2006. The band’s next studio album, ‘Ruin’, released 25^th October 2007 was the band’s first album with current vocalist Sam Carter, who famously stopped a gig in 2017 to call out sexual harassment he saw in the crowd, and bassist Alex Dean. Third studio album, ‘Hollow Crown’, saw the band’s presence grow with fantastic reviews from reputable music institutions such as Kerrang. The album featured a music documentary which gave the viewer an insight into the band’s 18-month long process of touring and making the album itself. The band quickly became favourites within the metal and rock scene, with offers to play Download, unfortunately due to a family emergency had to drop out in 2016.

Fans remember guitarist Tom Searle who tragically lost his life after a three-year battle with cancer in August 2016. Searle died shortly after the release of the band’s seventh album ‘All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us’, released 27^th May 2016. Searle was a talented musician who formed the band in 2004 with his twin brother and is greatly missed by fans and the music community.

Dan Searle, drummer and Tom’s twin brother took to social media as quoted in The Guardian, in August 2016 to break the tragic news to their fans stating “It is with unbelievable pain and sadness that I have to announce that at around twelve minutes past midnight on 20 August my amazing brother, Tom, passed away after living with cancer for more than three years. He was an incredible songwriter and guitarist. He was my closest and oldest friend. He was a funny, intelligent and sweet man and he leaves an enormous void in all of our lives.”

Amid the celebration of their recent success of their number one album the band have not forgotten their friend and bandmate, singer Sam Carter had this sweet statement to say reflecting on their success whilst missing their friend, “I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to us. Thank you to every single person who bought this record. We love you so much and we could not have done this without you. To have an album that connects this much, with what we’re talking about – trying and pushing for a better world – it’s unbelievable. As ever, everything we do is for Tom Searle, our brother.”

UK Tour Dates

22/02/2021 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
23/02 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
25/02 – Motorpoint Arena – Nottingham
26/02 – Alexandra Palace – London
01/03 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff