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Former Glastonbury headliners will return to the live stage as ‘Le Petit Orb’, a pared-back version of their live act. LPO as per press is a “2 piece that takes the orb into places other orbs can’t reach . Into lectures & funny hat competitions with saucy music from the future”.

Alex Paterson, the founder of The Orb has been trying to find a way to connect to fans and perform live during the pandemic. In March this year, he launched a new music label Obscure Records, a place for new music from around the world. “The name is a play on the Obscure label Eno set up on Editions EG in the 1970s. Orbs Cure. Clever parrot-Orbscure! Orbscure! Orbs Cure for all ills. Orbs Cure made 2 chill”- commented Paterson on the label name.  

The first release under the new label was The Heavens released on 28th May, a collab from Paterson and original The Orb member, Andy Falconer (aka Sedibus). “Organic in feel and clearly referencing our shared roots, The Heavens is an immersive journey of ambient electronica which not only references a source, but the distance travelled from that point of origin to something new” explained Falconer.

This year Alex Paterson also released his biography in collaboration with music journalist Kris Needs, titled: “Babble on an’ Ting: Alex Paterson’s Incredible Journey Beyond the Ultraworld with The Orb”. 

“I decided to do a book now as I have reached one full human cycle 60. Also, to tell my side of stories and to set the record straight on planet Orb,” said Patterson. “Working with Kris was seriously brilliant fun. We have been friends and allies for decades now. He’s a beautiful man with a deep knowledge of all things secret and actually lived through some of the stories together”. Get your copy here.

As live performances during the pandemic were on hold, Paterson performed two groundbreaking online holographic shows. 

Enter the Kettle is the upcoming and second album from Paterson and the Orb’s new label. It can be pre-ordered here.

The Orb will play 19 shows across the UK starting on 28th October in Aberdeen. Tickets are available to purchase via the band’s page. Every performance will begin with a Q&A session with Alex Paterson and each ticketholder will have a chance to vote for tracks to be performed during shows.

The Orb UK Tour Dates are:

28/10/21 – Lemon Tree -Aberdeen
29/10 – St Lukes -Glasgow
30/10 – Summerhall – Edinburgh

5/11 – Cheese & Grain – Frome
6/11 – Earth – London
7/11 – Phoenix – Exeter
8/11 – Glee – Cardiff
16/11 – Glee – Nottingham
17/11 – Epic Studios – Norwich
18/11 – Komedia – Brighton
19/11 – Mash – Cambridge
22/11 – Roisin Dubh – Galway
23/11 – Liberty Hall Theatre – Dublin
24/11 – Empire – Belfast

7/12 – Glee – Birmingham
8/12 – Stoller Hall -Manchester
9/12 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
11/12 – Leadmill – Sheffield
12/12 – Wylam Brewery – Newcastle Upon Tyne