I have to admit that my eyes have never so much as glanced at a copy of NME magazine, and have heard some people criticise their style and ethos. That said, I do know one thing, they are known as something of tastemakers, not just in the magazine business, but in the live events arena too. So when they promise something exciting from their 2010 Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, I believe them!
This years tour kicks off in Newcastle on February 4th, before travelling around the country, finishing off in London on the 20th February. Tickets have been on sale since November, and everyone going is sure to be in for a treat, as a whole host of great bands take to the stage for your listening pleasure. If you like music at it’s hotly tip rock filled best, then get yourself down to a gig for the likes of The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums. With the Maccabees known as mould-breaking, Bombay Bicycle Club tearing up the live circuit with their folky/punk sound, The Big Pink promising some Electric Rock, and The Drums embracing 50’s surf rock, it’s sure to be an interesting night out!
The aim of course, is to continue the legacy left from previous NME tours, which have always been a breeding ground for new talent, many of whom have gone on to hit the big time. With the list of past performers including names such as The Ting Tings, The Klaxons, Coldplay, and The Arctic Monkeys, it’s easy to see why this is a highly regarded tour in the rock arena, but if you need anymore convincing, over to the lead singer of the Maccabees:
“We understand the legacy of this tour….The old NME tours years ago, if I missed one I’d think shit, I’m never going to see that again. So that’s a nice thing to be a part of. It looks like a good tour to me… we’re as lucky as anyone to be on it. As far as upping our game, we understand the kind of bands who have headlined before. The kind of calibre those groups are, we’ve got to reach that”.
Full tour dates are below, with tickets costing £15.58 except Brixton O2 Academy where tickets are £18.10. Ticket price includes a 50p + VAT charity donation. Tickets will be on sale exclusively through www.nme.com/tickets or 0871 230 1094. Some dates are sold out, but please check the website or ring up for latest ticket availability. There are also some tickets still available for the NME Awards Shows in London, featuring names like British Sea Power and Delphic. Again please check for latest availability.
All that remains for me to say is, if you’re going along to any of these shows, have a great night out! Rock and Roll!
NME AWARDS SHOW DATES (FEBRUARY):
Thursday 4th – Newcastle O2 Academy
Friday 5th – Glasgow Barrowland
Saturday 6th – Manchester Academy
Sunday 7th – Leeds O2 Academy
Tuesday 9th – Nottingham Rock City
Wednesday 10th – Norwich UEA
Thursday 11th – Birmingham O2 Academy
Saturday 13th – Cardiff University
Sunday 14th – Bristol O2 Academy
Monday 15th – Brighton Dome
Tuesday 16th – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Thursday 18th – Portsmouth Pyramid
Friday 19th – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 20th – Brixton O2 Academy