Simon Rushworth
There’ll be no escaping one of the biggest talents on the British rock scene this spring as The Blackout bounce back with a brand new album and full UK tour.
The sonically charged sextet roll out latest record Hope on April 4 and embark on an extensive nationwide tour starting a week earlier.
“The title came up a lot when we were looking through the lyrics,” said the band’s Sean Smith. “and we saw the recurring theme of the double meaning.”
“It’s a strong emotion,” added Gavin Butler. “The word itself has a sadness to it. But the album is about pushing forward and keeping your head high.”
Hope, produced by Jason Perry (McFly, KIGH) is the work of a band re-energised. Having taken matters into their own hands and enlisting the help of the ‘Riot Squad’, the band funded the recording of this, their third album via Pledge which in turn opened new doors in terms of labels.
Having signed with Cooking Vinyl (Prodigy, Marilyn Manson) on a worldwide deal at the beginning of 2011, The Blackout are looking forward to leaping to the next level with a label that shares their independent-minded philosophy and one which was enthusiastic about Hope from the very beginning.
HOPE tracklisting is as follows:
AMBITION IS CRITICAL
NEVER BY YOUR SIDE
HIGHER & HIGHER (featuring Hyro Da Hero)
HOPE (SCREAM IT OUT LOUD)
THIS IS OUR TIME
THE LAST GOODBYE
NO MORE WAIITNG
THE DEVIL INSIDE
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
KEEP ON MOVING
THE STORM
The Blackout will be unleashing the Welsh wrath once more on a 15-date UK tour. Supports slots, both from the US come in the shape of Fueled By Ramens The Swellers and hip hops new boy on the UK circuit- Hyro Da Hero who also appears on Higher & Higher due for release 28th March. The track featured on Zane Lowe’s BBC radio 1 show last night as his Hottest Track In The World.
A free and exclusive track entitled Ambition Is Critical is available to download from the band’s website, Theblackout.net now.
Tour dates:
Tues- Mar-29 Oxford O2 Academy 2
Wed-Mar-30 Liverpool O2 Academy 2
Fri-Apr-1 Cork Ireland Cyprus Avenue
Sat-Apr-2 Dublin Ireland Academy
Sun-Apr-3 Belfast N.Ireland Speakeasy, Queens Student Union
Tue-Apr-5 Glasgow Garage
Wed-Apr-6 Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
Thu-Apr-7 Northumbria University
Fri-Apr-8 Manchester Academy 2 (SOLD OUT)
Sat-Apr-9 Birmingham HMV Institute
Sun-Apr-10Norwich Waterfront
Tue-Apr-12 London Koko
Wed-Apr-13 Bournemouth Old Firestation
Thu-Apr-14 Plymouth White Rabbit
Fri-Apr-15 Falmouth Princess Pavillion
Sat-Apr-16 Cardiff Solus
Tickets £13.00 regionally. London £14.00, Cork €15.00, Dublin €18.50