STARRING DAVE WAKELING UK AND IRELAND HEADLINE TOUR COMMENCES IN AUGUST
New Dave Wakeling / The Beat album nears completion – their first since ‘Special Beat Service’ in 1982
“The Beat are one of the most underrated bands of all time, and Dave Wakeling ought to be spoken of in the same breath as Weller and Strummer in the post-punk pantheon of heroes.” – The Quietus
“The band's secret weapon was pop, the ear-candy tunes and sharp-fanged lyrics of frontman Dave Wakeling – at his finest, a singer-songwriter as savagely witty as Elvis Costello.” – Rolling Stone
(Photo by Bryan Kremkau. Download hi-res version here: download link.
The Beat starring Dave Wakeling have announced that they’ll embark upon a rare UK and Ireland tour which commences in August. The dates include a London show at the O2 Academy Islington and also a homecoming gig in Birmingham for the frontman who now resides in Los Angeles.
The announcement comes as Dave Wakeling is putting the finishing touches to his first studio album under The Beat moniker since ‘Special Beat Service’ in 1982. Tentatively titled ‘Here We Go Love’, it’s an album that captures the best of The Beat’s signature traits – uplifting ska rhythms, infectious pop hooks and multi-cultural influences – while also adding fresh angles and a surfeit of Californian sunshine which reflects Wakeling’s adopted home.
Mostly, however, it’s unmistakeably a Dave Wakeling album. As ever, his lyrics insightfully explore political and personal issues with a barbed wit, while that voice – heard on The Beat’s classics including ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’, ‘Save It For Later’ and ‘Can’t Get Used To Losing You’ as well as General Public’s ‘Tenderness’ – is richer and more emotionally compelling than ever before.
Sonically it utilises the best of the past and the future. Mixing veteran Jay Baumgardner and producer Kyle Hoffman blended their expertise to create a sound with the warm, organic instrumentation that’s allowed The Beat’s finest moments to remain fresh all these years later. Yet they’ve also embraced the precision and convenience of contemporary digital recording. Guests on the album include Roddy ‘Radiation’ Byers of The Specials and The Skabilly Rebels, and Train guitarist Luis Maldonado.
After first establishing his reputation with The Beat, Dave Wakeling enjoyed further success in the States with the supergroup General Public and also released a solo album ‘No Warning’ in 1991. Since returning to music in the early 2000s, Wakeling has played an estimated 1000 shows as the frontman of The English Beat, most of which have been in the States where he continues to command a devoted audience. Fans of his music have included Pete Townshend, Elvis Costello, Eddie Vedder, John Peel and the late film director John Hughes.
Wakeling’s current seven-piece incarnation of The Beat will play the UK and Ireland following shows. Tickets are on general sale now.
August
26th – Isle of Wight, The Balcony Bars 31st – London, O2 Academy Islington
September
1st – Holmfirth, Picturedome 2nd – Thornhill, Electric Fields 3rd – Newcastle, Wylam Brewery 5th – Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree 6th – Edinburgh, The Caves 7th – Dublin, Whelan’s 8th – Cork, Amps 9th – Waterford, Shorrts 10th – Pontypridd, Muni Arts Centre 13th – Manchester, Academy 3 15th – Birmingham, O2 Academy 16th – Bournemouth, Mr Kyps
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