The Beat – All The Hits And More – UK Tour and Festival Dates
ALL THE HITS AND MORE
UK TOUR AND FESTIVAL DATES CONFIRMED
“…..The Beat. Who needs the brave new world when the old school is still this good?” Sunday Mirror
One of the biggest bands of the 2-Tone movement, The Beat have announced full UK headline tour dates from September to December and which will be preceded by a series of summer festival appearances including Hop Farm.
The Beat present a wall of sound that transcends time and ska fusion rhythms to ignite a crowd. They play with the sole aim of connecting with and entertaining their appreciative audience with their relentless energy and world class musicianship.
The Beat are known the world over for a string of hit singles, including “Mirror in the Bathroom”, “Too Nice To Talk To”, “Can’t Get Used To Losing You”, “Hands off She’s Mine” and “All Out To Get You”. Their songs of peace, love and unity fuse ska, pop, reggae and punk rock and their dynamic live show has garnered them a loyal following at home and abroad.
The Beat formed in Birmingham in 1978, part of the West Midlands ska revival scene that also produced The Specials and The Selecter, whilst London saw the formation of Madness and The Bodysnatchers.
Their first single was an arresting version of Smokey Robinson’s “Tears Of A Clown”, given a completely new feel, and was backed with their own composition “Ranking Full Stop”. Released in a one-off deal on Jerry Dammers’ Chrysalis-backed 2-Tone label, the single stormed into the Top 10 in December 1979, and saw the band appear twice on Top Of The Pops. Backed by Arista, the band formed their own label Go-Feet Records.. The first release in February 1980 was another Top 10 hit, “Hands Off… She’s Mine”, and was the first of twelve chart singles for the band on Go-Feet.
The band released three albums “I Just Can’t Stop It” (1980), “Wha’ppen” (1981) and “Special Beat Service” (1982), which contained many tracks that demonstrated their more politicised and socially-conscious leanings. All three albums were reissued in the Summer of 2012 by Edsel Records with bonus additions.
‘Stand Down Margaret’ (TOTP 1982)
The 2014 line-up features Ranking Roger and Ranking Junior on vocals, Fuzz Townshend on drums plus Andy Pearson, Matt Godwin and Steve Harper and Bobby Bird on bass, sax and guitars.
Full UK tour dates below:
Apr 12 Derby, The Flowerpot
Apr 25 Totnes, South Devon Arts Centre
May 03 Whitchurch, Rockus Festival
May 17 Bury, The Met
May 24 Carlisle, The Brickyard
May 25 Dymock Festival
May 26 Dorchester Festival
Jun 07 Gloucester, SportBeat Festival
Jun 08 Minehead, Butlins – Ultimate 80s
Jun 13 Wellingborough, BWM Scooter Rally – Santa Pod
Jun 20 Skegness, Butlins – Hot Summer Party
Jun 21 Bognor Regis, Butlins – Ultimate 80s
Jul 05 Rotherham, Slamfest
Jul 06 Kent, Hop Farm Music Festival
Jul 26 Holmfirth, Picturedrome
Aug 02 Leeds, Ska & Mod Festival
Aug 23 Upton Upon Severn, Upton Music Festival
Aug 31 Cheshire, Rewind Festival
Sep 05 London, Brooklyn Bowl @ The O2
Sep 06 Marlow Bottom, Rock Bottom 2014
Sep 12 Colchester, Arts Centre
Oct 18 Brighton, Concorde 2
Oct 24 Stockton-On-Tees, ARC
Nov 08 Falmouth, Pavilions
Nov 07 Reading, Sub89
Nov 15 Chester, The Live Rooms
Nov 21 Bath, Komedia
Nov 22 Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
Nov 28 Manchester, Club Academy*
Dec 05 Gloucester, Guildhall
Dec 12 Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Dec 13 Birmingham, Institute*
*Tickets for Manchester are £17.50 and Birmingham are £19.50 and are onsale now at www.gigsandtours.com /0844 811 0051.
“Mirror in the bathroom, please talk free.
The door is locked just you and me.”
www.facebook.com/TheBeat / http://www.twitter.com/TheBeat