Simple Minds are gearing up for their return to UK and Irish shores with their critically acclaimed 'Acoustic Live 2017' tour. Currently taking the event around the continent, the UK leg begins in Dundee on 17th May 2017.
Photo: Press.
By Eamon O'Neill On 15th May 2017.
Simple Minds are gearing up for their return to UK and Irish shores with their critically acclaimed 'Acoustic Live 2017' tour. Currently taking the event around the continent, the UK leg begins on home turf, with a show in Dundee on 17th May 2017. The full list of dates, which includes a stop off, appropriately at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on June 6th, can be viewed below.
The tour follows on from the release of the band's 'Simple Minds Acoustic' album in November 2016, which saw the Scottish outfit rework songs from their celebrated catalogue into new arrangements away from their usual electrical guise.
The album sessions entailed a sentimental return to their Glasgow roots for bandleaders vocalist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill, with some songs recorded in Gorbals Studio, a former railway workers’ social club located a stone’s throw from the high-rise estates of the city’s South Side where the pair took their first musical steps. It was in this building that Jim and Charlie played their first gig, as teenagers in a school glam-rock band, and emotions were understandably high on their return.
The genesis of 'Simple Minds Acoustic' can be traced back to a rare live session the band recorded for the Chris Evans Breakfast Show in September 2014, promoting their 16th studio album, BIG MUSIC. The reaction, to the band’s surprise, was overwhelmingly favourable.
With this in mind, the band began 2016 by putting together an acoustic set for the Zermatt Unplugged Festival in the Swiss Alps. Having spent weeks working on meticulously layered acoustic arrangements of their best-loved songs for that 90-minute performance, they began hatching plans to record them. With Jim and Charlie augmented by regular bassist Ged Grimes, backing vocalist Sarah Brown, acoustic guitarist Gordy Goudie and percussionist Cherisse Osei, they temporarily halted the recording of the forthcoming sequel to BIG MUSIC – an album that is "anything but acoustic" – and gave their complete commitment to an all-encompassing acoustic project. The recorded versions stick to many of the ideas forged for that Swiss show, with the synthetic sounds of old replaced with warmer effects.
Speaking about the Simple Minds Acoustic tour, Jim says; "The concert stage is where Simple Minds do their best work, it is where we forged our distinctive live reputation. For that reason we look forward immensely to taking Simple Minds Acoustic out on tour".
The singer adds; "Don't be fooled by the acoustic tag however! These shows will be as energetic and passionate as ever. With a great live line - up and a set-list full of iconic Minds songs, it is bound to be a unique and memorable experience for both band and fans. See you there!”
Tickets for all shows are on sale now, via Ticketmaster.
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Simple Minds 'Acoustic Live 2017' UK And Ireland Dates:
17 May - Caird Hall, Dundee
18 May - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
19 May - Sage, Gateshead
21 May - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
22 May - Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
23 May - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
25 May - The Spa, Bridlington
26 May - Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
27 May - London Palladium, London
29 May - Colston Hall, Bristol
30 May - Davids Hall, Cardiff
1 June - Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
2 June - The Lighthouse, Poole
3 June - Brighton Dome, Brighton
4 June - Theatre Royal, London
6 June - Waterfront Hall, Belfast
7 June - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
8 June - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Simple Minds are gearing up for their return to UK and Irish shores with their critically acclaimed 'Acoustic Live 2017' tour. Currently taking the event around the continent, the UK leg begins on home turf, with a show in Dundee on 17th May 2017. The full list of dates, which includes a stop off, appropriately at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on June 6th, can be viewed below.
The tour follows on from the release of the band's 'Simple Minds Acoustic' album in November 2016, which saw the Scottish outfit rework songs from their celebrated catalogue into new arrangements away from their usual electrical guise.
The album sessions entailed a sentimental return to their Glasgow roots for bandleaders vocalist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill, with some songs recorded in Gorbals Studio, a former railway workers’ social club located a stone’s throw from the high-rise estates of the city’s South Side where the pair took their first musical steps. It was in this building that Jim and Charlie played their first gig, as teenagers in a school glam-rock band, and emotions were understandably high on their return.
The genesis of 'Simple Minds Acoustic' can be traced back to a rare live session the band recorded for the Chris Evans Breakfast Show in September 2014, promoting their 16th studio album, BIG MUSIC. The reaction, to the band’s surprise, was overwhelmingly favourable.
With this in mind, the band began 2016 by putting together an acoustic set for the Zermatt Unplugged Festival in the Swiss Alps. Having spent weeks working on meticulously layered acoustic arrangements of their best-loved songs for that 90-minute performance, they began hatching plans to record them. With Jim and Charlie augmented by regular bassist Ged Grimes, backing vocalist Sarah Brown, acoustic guitarist Gordy Goudie and percussionist Cherisse Osei, they temporarily halted the recording of the forthcoming sequel to BIG MUSIC – an album that is "anything but acoustic" – and gave their complete commitment to an all-encompassing acoustic project. The recorded versions stick to many of the ideas forged for that Swiss show, with the synthetic sounds of old replaced with warmer effects.
Speaking about the Simple Minds Acoustic tour, Jim says; "The concert stage is where Simple Minds do their best work, it is where we forged our distinctive live reputation. For that reason we look forward immensely to taking Simple Minds Acoustic out on tour".
The singer adds; "Don't be fooled by the acoustic tag however! These shows will be as energetic and passionate as ever. With a great live line - up and a set-list full of iconic Minds songs, it is bound to be a unique and memorable experience for both band and fans. See you there!”
Tickets for all shows are on sale now, via Ticketmaster.
Like this story? Like us on FaceBook for more of the same!
Simple Minds 'Acoustic Live 2017' UK And Ireland Dates:
17 May - Caird Hall, Dundee
18 May - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
19 May - Sage, Gateshead
21 May - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
22 May - Royal Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
23 May - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
25 May - The Spa, Bridlington
26 May - Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
27 May - London Palladium, London
29 May - Colston Hall, Bristol
30 May - Davids Hall, Cardiff
1 June - Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
2 June - The Lighthouse, Poole
3 June - Brighton Dome, Brighton
4 June - Theatre Royal, London
6 June - Waterfront Hall, Belfast
7 June - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
8 June - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
