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Friendly Fires Announce UK Tour Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Debut LP

Molly Sutherland — Thu, 25 May 2023 14:35:02 +0000

Hertfordshire indietronica band Friendly Fires have announced a string of UK dates in celebration of 15 years of their self-titled debut album.

After their homecoming gig at The Alban Arena in August, the trio will be touring across the UK in late November/ early December performing in Nottingham, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, London, and Brighton. Friendly Fires will also be appearing at Connect Festival in Edinburgh and Victorious Festival in Portsmouth in August.

Tickets go on sale Friday 26^th May at 10 am BST. For tickets and more information see here.

Friendly Fires previously played their debut record in its entirety during a two-day residency at HERE at Outernet in London. Last week the party-loving band continued the celebrations and played two more gigs in Norwich and Hull.

The band took to social media on the 22^nd May to announce that they would be extending their tour further writing, “We‘ve had such a ridiculously fun time playing these first album shows that we‘re going to spread the love to some more corners of the UK.” They continued, “Join us to raise a glass, and have a dance- it’s gonna be special.”

A special 15th-anniversary re-issue of the vinyl edition of Friendly Fires and the “Paris” 12 inch including the Aeroplane remix in silver and gold respectively has also been made available to pre-order. For more information see here.

Ed Macfarlane, Jack Savidge, and Edd Gibson met at St Albans School aged 13 and formed the post-hard-core band First Day Back covering Green Day tracks and the like until they left for university. Post-uni the lads regrouped and took a new musical direction taking inspiration from the German techno label Kompakt, Carl Craig, and Prince to form the dance band Friendly Fires.

Their sophomore single “Paris” gathered attention from critics receiving single of the week in The Guardian, NME magazine, and on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show. With their infectious sunshine and upbeat energy, it’s no surprise the singles from Friendly Fires became favourites for soundtracking TV commercials and television series – “On Board” featured in Nintendo’s Wii Fit commercial, and “White Diamond” can be heard in the second season of Gossip Girl.

Watch the video for “Paris” below:

In 2008, the album was released becoming a favourite for former indie sleaze party kids. Friendly Fires was certified double gold, nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and led to the band being nominated for Best British Group and British Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards in 2010.

For Friendly Fires’ UK tour dates see below:

24/08/23 – Arena – St Albans
25/08 – Victorious Festival – Portsmouth
26/08 – Connect Festival – Edinburgh
23/11 – Rock City – Nottingham
24/11 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester
25/11 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
28/11 – Beckett Students Union – Leeds
30/11 – Troxy – London
1/12 – Dome – Brighton

Liverpool Sound City 2020 to Have Friendly Fires and Pale Waves as Headliners, Announces Complete Line-Up

Jay Arpiwach — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:55:01 +0000

Liverpool’s leading music festival Sound City has finally announced its complete line-up for this upcoming festival in May. Friendly Fires is revealed as the headliner of the festival, along with Pale Waves as the co-headliner and numerous exciting and talented musicians to appear. This year, it will take place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd of May across music venues in Baltic Triangle. Tickets are available for purchase now here.

ดูโพสต์นี้บน Instagram

@FriendlyFires will set Sound City 2020 alight! Their first Liverpool show in over a decade, dance to their riotous party next May

โพสต์ที่แชร์โดย Sound City (@liverpoolsoundcity) เมื่อ ม.ค. 27, 2020 เวลา 10:00am PST

What makes this year’s Sound City very special is the appearance of the Hertfordshire indie band Friendly Fires. Their headlining show will be the first gig of the band in 2020, as well as their sole show in the north west and very first show in the city for over ten years. Friendly Fires’ fans can surely expect their “shape-throwing technicolour to this riotous street party of a festival”, according to the press release.

Joining the stage will be the new emo phenomenon Pale Waves. This indie pop band from Manchester broke out into the music scene with their impressive debut record My Mind Makes Noises, which was released back in September 2018. Also, the band recently won the Q Best Breakthrough Act at the Q Awards 2019.

ดูโพสต์นี้บน Instagram

Introducing the second Sound City 2020 headliners @FriendlyFires! We can’t wait for them to being the dance-infused indie party down to the Baltic Triangle Alternative songstress @MarikaHackman and one of Scotland’s best new bands @TheSnuts also stop by, with @LouisBerry, @RealBadSounds, @Spector and @Marsicans all appearing across the weekend. The introspective songwriting craft of @BcCamplight will be on full show, whilst jangle-pop purveyors @Spinn_band will bring the sonic sunshine down on Liverpool. All this plus 100s more at Sound City 2020 Day splits/tickets coming Friday – last remaining Early Birds available from the bio #LetsStartAFuckingRiot

โพสต์ที่แชร์โดย Sound City (@liverpoolsoundcity) เมื่อ ม.ค. 27, 2020 เวลา 2:00am PST

Apart from the two huge headlining acts, Sound City also unveiled its full line-up in which musicians from various genres will take turn to play a show. Recently added to the bill are the critically-acclaimed indie rock artist Marika Hackman, West Lothian rock revivalists The Snuts and Liverpool’s lone-ranger of rockabilly pop Louis Berry.

The electronic duo Monarchy and the art rock band S.P.Q.R. are also booked for show slots at the festival. Meanwhile, the newcomers like Marsicans, SPINN, and Bad Sounds will make their appearance as well.

Check out the complete line-up from the Instagram post above.

Last year, Sound City did achieve its goal of gender-balanced line-up for the campaign of PRS KeyChange. The festival was able to curate the line-up in which 59% of all musicians were female and mixed groups. This year, Sound City will continue its remarkable achievement by holding a conference Sound City+ at the British Music Experience on May 1. More information about the conference will be announced soon.

And for more information about Liverpool Sound City 2020, please visit its official site.

Standon Calling Reveals Additional Names for 2019 Line-Up which sees Special Guests Friendly Fires Join Headliners Rag ‘N’ Bone Man and Wolf Alice

Caitlyn Hart — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 15:36:04 +0000

Standon Calling has revealed the second wave of names that will be performing at the 2019 festival, after having announced it’s first round of acts for 2019 a couple of weeks ago. Among the names at the top of the second wave of acts are, Hertfordshire locals, Friendly Fires who have joined the already star-studded line up of Standon Calling, 10 years after they headlined in 2009. The music, comedy and arts festival will take over Standon Lordship near Ware between Thursday the 25th of July and Sunday the 28th of July 2019.

JUST ANNOUNCED! @FriendlyFires join us as special guests this year, plus @RoisinMurphy, @Mahalia, @CrazyPMusic and a whole host more.
Join the party https://t.co/wLTJ6GM4dV pic.twitter.com/sSo7T4qVvv

— Standon Calling (@StandonCalling) February 27, 2019

Hailing from the nearby town of St. Albans, Friendly Fires will be joined by Mahalia, Roisin Murphy, Steam Down, Kawala, Emma McGrath, Fangclub, Babeheaven, and Hattie Whitehead. The second wave of acts announced today (February 27), will see headliners and special quests Friendly Fires join the rest of the headliners which includes bluesman Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Mercury-Prize winners Wolf Alice, and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

Standon Calling Festival founder, Alex Trenchard, said: “It was brilliant to see such a great reaction to our first wave of artists, and we’re delighted to add even more special names and performances for Standon Calling 2019. Friendly Fires’ 2009 Standon Calling performance remains one of the most all-time memorable Standon Calling moments. They’re one of the best bands I’ve ever seen live and this St Albans band’s homecoming special guest show is going to be mind-blowing.”

The following acts are also on the bill and joining the already stellar line-up are IDLES, Lewis Capaldi, Band Of Skulls, Kate Nash, The Big Moon, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Go! Team, The Cuban Brothers, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Sea Girls, The Joy Formidable, Warmduscher, Flamingods, Steam Down, Kawala, The Daniel Wakeford Experience, Elvana, The She Street Band, Sado Opera, Iris Gold, Laurel, Emily Burns, Saint Agnes, Meggie Brown, Honey Lung, The Howl & The Hum, and Juniore, with more names still to be announced.

Festival director Alex Trenchard added: “With the likes of Róisín Murphy, Mahalia and Steam Down joining today – and the unmissable Sado Opera – it’s undeniably our greatest Standon Calling line-up to date, and one that has me counting down the days to July already.”

The following acts are also on the bill, and will be joining the already stellar line-up is DJ Sets from: Erol Alkan, Simian Mobile Disco, Crazy P Soundsystem, Norman Jay, Fleetmac Wood, La Fleur, Luke Solomon, Justin Robertson, Menendez Brothers, Eli Escobar, Defect, Soho Radio, Groove Garden, Hospitality, and many more. Meanwhile, the energetic Russell Kane will be headlining the Comedy stage along with Angela Barnes and Abandoman, with children’s favourites Dick & Dom taking the reins over at Family Entertainment, with more still to be revealed.

With more acts still to be announced this summers festival is already shaping up to be an epic event that is not to be missed. Tier 4 tickets for the festival have just been released, and are available now starting at £159 for weekend camping tickets. For more info and everything else head over to the Standon Calling website.

Citadel Festival Announces 2019 Line-up Featuring Catfish & The Bottlemen, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, and Friendly Fires

Caitlyn Hart — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 14:54:30 +0000

Citadel Festival has revealed the first wave of acts on its 2019 line-up, which sees some of todays hottest artists set to perform at the summer festival. Leading the names is Catfish & The Bottlemen, who have been announced as this year’s headliners. The festival will be returning to, Gunnersbury Park, on Sunday the 14th of July 2019.

The first wave of artists, for this year’s Citadel Festival, have been announced today (February 25), with Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Friendly Fires and Bear’s Den, among the other leading acts that feature on the top of the bill. Meanwhile, the following acts are also on the bill and will be joining the already stellar line-up is Matt Corby, DMA’s, Honeyblood, Dream Wife, The Coronas, Fontaines DC and many more.

Landing to you today, a new #Citadel19 is upon us

Revealing our headliners @thebottlemen and so much more to discover

Tickets go on general sale Wednesday 27th February at 9am x pic.twitter.com/v6oAayZNhk

— Citadel Festival (@CitadelFestival) February 25, 2019

Joining Catfish and The Bottlemen, on the Main stage, at the festival will be Rag ’N’ Bone Man, Friendly Fires, DMA’s, Dream Wife, The Coronas, and Balcony. Meanwhile, the Communion stage will feature Bear’s Den, Matt Corby, Honeyblood, Matthew and the Atlas, The Teskey Brothers, Cleopatrick, Banfi, and MarthaGunn.

Concluding the first wave of acts, and playing the DIY stage is Tinariwen, Hyukoh, Fontaines DC, Talos, The Murder Capital, Squid, Bill Jefferson, and Cosmic Strip. Citadel will return for its fifth edition, this summer, having first launched back in 2015, in Victoria Park. Tickets will go on sale, on the 27th of February 2019, at 9am, and can be purchased here.

This will be its second year at its new west London home of Gunnersbury Park, which also hosts Lovebox. The festival isn’t all about the music as there will also be a gathering of some of London’s best known food traders, including Patty and Bun, Other Side Fried and Only Jerkin’.

Last year’s Citadel festival featured the likes of Leon Bridges, Chvrches, and, headliners in Aussie indie psych outfit, Tame Impala. Catfish will head to Gunnersbury Park for their first headline slot at the festival, this year. Their set will feature a selection of new material to fit amongst some of their biggest hits and live favourites, including Kathleen and 7.

It’s set to be a busy summer for Catfish & The Bottlemen, who recently released new single, ‘Fluctuate’, ahead of their third album, ‘The Balance’, which is set to hit the shelves, on the 26th of April 2019. The album was recorded with Jacknife Lee, who has worked with the likes of The Killers and U2, in County Westmeath’s Grouse Lodge Studios.

Speaking about the album, Catfish & The Bottlemen frontman, Van McCan, said: “He was the first up and the last awake. It’s good when you’re completely engulfed in recording in a place like that, living together, because every day and all day it was about the songs. We had fun too; they were the funniest album sessions we’ve done.”

Friendly Fires Tease Comeback With New Single ‘Love Like Waves’

Joe Whitcombe — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 22:21:03 +0000

St. Albans’ Indie-dance maestros Friendly Fires have begun the build to their much-anticipated new project. Teasers for new music began in Autumn 2017, with a series of trailer videos being released, before announcing a full-on comeback show at London’s Brixton Academy for later this week, with a string of festival dates added for later in the summer. These will be the band’s first live dates since 2012.

pic.twitter.com/HxiXpALxna

— Friendly Fires (@FriendlyFires) September 13, 2017

To celebrate their imminent gig, the band have begun to release snippets of a new song, to keep fans enthralled. The track is called ‘Love Like Waves’, and samples have been published via the band’s various social media pages, which you can check out below. The posts are accompanied by a date- 05.04.18- the date of their comeback gig in Brixton.

The band have the reason for their long absence (their last album was 2011’s Pala) to NME, elaborating, “Creativity can be an ephemeral thing. Sometimes ideas flow, as does the confidence to develop them into finished pieces of work. Other times it’s a struggle but you battle through it, and during some even more difficult times it feels like nothing comes at all.

“Well, we feel like we’ve reached the end of a long period of the latter scenario and are much closer to the former. We’re making music that is meeting the standards we’ve set in the past; the relationships between us are good, and we want to write a new chapter for the band that has been our lives’ most significant work.

“It’s taken time and water under the bridge to get to this point, but in many ways us coming back now after a long break could be the best possible way for it to happen. We’re working out of Ed’s old garage, just like we did at the start. Our individual addictions – largely to modular synths and county cricket – are finally under a semblance of control.”