#Bristol Valley Theater

[chrisryanspeaks]

PORCHES Announces New Album Shirt Watch the Video for New Single “Joker” + Announces Fall North American Tour

Porches, the recording project of NYC’s Aaron Maine, announces his sixth studio album, Shirt, set for release on September 13 via Domino. Shirt blends angsty fantasy with confessional melodrama, oscillating between reality and make-believe to reflect both the innocence of suburban youth and the complexities of adulthood. The album is a fusion of chaotic impulses, insatiable desires, and a perpetual yearning, exploring the tension between one's personal identity and public persona. The result is a familiar yet uncanny rock album, featuring anthemic tributes to this intrinsic duality, built on a mix of crashing and caressing sounds. Check out “Joker” below: Today, Porches releases the new single “Joker,” characterized by an intoxicating kick and clap rhythm. The track repeats "God's grace" like a mantra, evoking pastoral Americana imagery, such as a boy and his dog, or a flag on a pole, while hinting at darker themes beneath the surface. The accompanying video for “Joker” is directed by Nick Harwood, with Ben Carey as the director of photography. PORCHES ON TOUR UK/EU 9/18 - Munich, DE @ Kranhalle 9/19 - Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club 9/20-21 - Hamburg, DE @ Reeperbahn Festival 9/22 - Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet 9/23 - Bruxelles, BE @ Botanique 9/24 - Paris, FR @ Point Éphémère 9/26 - Brighton, UK @ Chalk 9/27 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla 9/28 - Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall 9/30 - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 10/1 - Birmingham, UK @ Mama Roux’s 10/2 - London, UK @ Heaven NORTH AMERICA 10/15 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair 10/16 – Washington, DC @ Atlantis 10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 10/18 – Durham, NC @ Motorco 10/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) 10/21 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In 10/22 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 10/24 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam 10/25 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 10/26 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge 10/28 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater 10/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 10/31 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom 11/1 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre 11/2 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza 11/6 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 11/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre 11/9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar 11/12 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 11/13 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s 11/15 - Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theatre 11/16 - Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi 11/20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

PORCHES Announces New Album Shirt Watch the Video for New Single “Joker” + Announces Fall North American Tour

Porches, the recording project of NYC’s Aaron Maine, announces his sixth studio album, Shirt, set for release on September 13 via Domino. Shirt blends angsty fantasy with confessional melodrama, oscillating between reality and make-believe to reflect both the innocence of suburban youth and the complexities of adulthood. The album is a fusion of chaotic impulses, insatiable desires, and a perpetual yearning, exploring the tension between one's personal identity and public persona. The result is a familiar yet uncanny rock album, featuring anthemic tributes to this intrinsic duality, built on a mix of crashing and caressing sounds. Check out “Joker” below: Today, Porches releases the new single “Joker,” characterized by an intoxicating kick and clap rhythm. The track repeats "God's grace" like a mantra, evoking pastoral Americana imagery, such as a boy and his dog, or a flag on a pole, while hinting at darker themes beneath the surface. The accompanying video for “Joker” is directed by Nick Harwood, with Ben Carey as the director of photography. PORCHES ON TOUR UK/EU 9/18 - Munich, DE @ Kranhalle 9/19 - Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club 9/20-21 - Hamburg, DE @ Reeperbahn Festival 9/22 - Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet 9/23 - Bruxelles, BE @ Botanique 9/24 - Paris, FR @ Point Éphémère 9/26 - Brighton, UK @ Chalk 9/27 - Bristol, UK @ Thekla 9/28 - Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wall 9/30 - Glasgow, UK @ Stereo 10/1 - Birmingham, UK @ Mama Roux’s 10/2 - London, UK @ Heaven NORTH AMERICA 10/15 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair 10/16 – Washington, DC @ Atlantis 10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 10/18 – Durham, NC @ Motorco 10/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) 10/21 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In 10/22 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 10/24 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam 10/25 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 10/26 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge 10/28 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater 10/29 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 10/31 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom 11/1 – Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre 11/2 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza 11/6 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 11/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre 11/9 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar 11/12 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 11/13 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s 11/15 - Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theatre 11/16 - Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi 11/20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel Read the full article

[michael-radi-the-glamorous-life]

*And* I Have To...What?

We often ask a lot of our performers - and directors, designers, and everyone else of course as well, but this post is performer-focused.

We especially ask a lot of our performers in a summer stock rehearsal setting.

But sometimes we ask for even a little more.

Perhaps you have a special skill that the director would like to include in a show. For example: you play an instrument, you tumble, you’re a gymnast, you can juggle, you can do impersonations…or a thousand other possible talents.

And then there are shows that ask for even more than a little more, and to do it all in 8 days.

And that, my friends, is the zany, fast-paced romp that is Murder For Two at Bristol Valley Theater!

Special Skills

When I first saw Murder For Two Off-Broadway in 2013, I was thrilled at the insane talent level of these two performers onstage in front of me.

I knew very little about the show, except that it was supposed to be extremely funny and constantly surprising - and both of those turned out to be spot on assessments. My delight was then followed by two thoughts:

“A show like this that requires so little will most certainly be done everywhere once licensed!”

And “Wow…maybe not. That show asks soooooo much from its performers that it might be difficult to find people to do it!”

Oddly, I think I was partially correct on both accounts.

As I mentioned to people this past spring that I would be playing Marcus (the detective role) in Murder For Two this summer, theatre people kept saying to me:

“Wow, everyone is doing that show!”

And that makes me chuckle a little.

Now, I will say that since the licensing for this show became available a few years ago, a lot of theaters immediately pounced with a desire to do it. However! We are talking about around a dozen professional theaters that have actually slated to do this show this season.

And it’s a two-person show.

How many theaters did Mamma Mia! this year, or Legally Blonde? I don’t know the numbers, but these were both on the top 10 most produced list for several of the past few years.

But for such a highly specialized type of show like Murder For Two, suddenly around a dozen seems like a large number.

And why is that? What does this show require?

And The Kitchen Sink

I’ve done plenty of shows that have asked for me to include a multitude of skills other than the basics of theatre or musical theatre performance - playing piano, arranging, a cappella singing, composition, puppetry and tap dancing (both learned for specific shows), stylized singing, physical comedy, dance, etc.

But Murder For Two asks its performers for a very specific set of skills.

We begin with the basics:

Acting - I would hope so!

Singing - Not a terribly large amount, but some challenging material (especially lyrically).

Dancing - Not necessarily required by the text, but certainly utilized in this production!

Then more specialized skills:

Stylized Physical Comedy - The show calls for some very specific physical moments between the two actors, some of which are tricky, and all of which rely on very strong physical presence and spot-on comedic timing. Definitely not the most natural style for many actors, myself included.

Multiple Characters - The suspects role calls for the actor to play 10 extremely distinct and varied characters throughout the show. Not only is this difficult to do in general, but both actors then have to keep track of exactly whom is being spoken to and where they are on the stage, which was quite the challenge in the rehearsal process. And even though the detective role does not play more than one character, they do have to impersonate three characters during the show. It can be a crazy time!

Tracking Invisible People - Not a skill I would put on the resume, but it’s necessary nonetheless! Not only do we have the multiple characters to track, the detective role spends much of the show speaking to an invisible character as well. Ever tried convincing an audience that you’re speaking to someone who doesn’t exist? It’s a touch tricky!

Accompaniment - The first of the piano skills! Not all pianists are good accompanists, but this is a definitive requirement for this show. Both performers must be able to play musical theatre music extremely comfortably for this show to take place, and they must be able to accompany themselves as well as the other performer. Not the easiest task.

Stride Piano - This is a very specific type of piano playing that not everyone is aware of, though I’m certain most people have heard it at some point. It’s a style of playing that derives heavily from ragtime and jazz, which was then infused in a great deal of early musical theatre. Basically, it requires the left hand to constantly jump from the bottom of the piano to the middle of the piano and back again, while the right hand plays unrelated melodies and harmonies up top. If you haven’t grown up playing or mastering this style - and I did not - this can take a looooooooot of practice to master for this show.

Piano Duet - One of my favorite parts of both seeing and performing this show is the dueting that occurs between the two performers at various points. Not often do you get to see two pianists playing simultaneously on the same keyboard, but it’s so delightful when it’s done well!

Line Sequencing - This is more for the detective role. Much of the show is the suspects role changing characters and getting laughs, which can be a big challenge for them. The greatest challenge for the detective role, however, is that following those laughs they must move the plot forward in a way that does not usually connect to what was just said. This sort of line and plot sequencing that doesn’t follow a logical pattern was one of my personal biggest challenges in putting this show together so quickly. Lines are sometimes difficult enough to memorize, but when it’s an illogical jump, it’s even harder!

95 Minutes On Stage - Not so much a skill, but still something difficult being asked of the performers. There are only two actors and they are both onstage for almost the entirety of the show’s 95ish fast-paced minutes. It’s excellent fun once you have it down!

So, as you see, it’s only a few things that are required for this show. No problem at all!

And That’s How We Grow

I won’t pretend that this show has not been a challenge to learn - it certainly has been!

But where and when else could I find myself in a position to push my limitations and overcome such specific challenges?

I’m definitely thankful for the opportunity to join the ranks of those performers who have performed Murder For Two and tackled the insanity that is this show. And once it’s set, as it now is, there’s nothing left to do but have a blast! Which is precisely what I intend to do. :-)

I hope to see you there!

[girlactionfigure]

Army vet Jerome Silberman. You might not immediately recognize this Army vet until we tell you his acting name: Gene Wilder

Gene Wilder was born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 11, 1933. He graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1951 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1955. He spent the next year studying theater at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, United Kingdom. He was then drafted into the Army on September 10, 1956.

Gene was assigned to the medical corps and trained at Fort Sam Houston. After training, he was assigned to the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a paramedic. During those years he began taking acting classes at Herbert Berghof Studio in New York City. He was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1959, at the age of 26 he adopted the name Gene Wilder as his stage name.

Over the next several decades, Gene directed and stared in films, stage plays, commercials, television shows, wrote screenplays, several novels and a memoir. His film career began with a minor role in the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde. His first major role was in Mel Brooks’ 1968 film, the Producers. However, he is most known for his work in films such as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

At the age of 8, Gene became interested in acting after he discovered he could make his mother, who was struggling with rheumatic heart disease and had recently suffered a heart attack, laugh.

Gene lived in Stamford, Connecticut with his wife until his death on August 28, 2016, at the age of 83, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

We honor his service.

The Giant Killer

[dreamaketron]

5 Things You Didn’t Know About: Bristol, Tennessee

Bristol Tennessee is a small and booming little town set at the foot of a majestic mountain backdrop. 

Although a relatively small town compared to other metropolitan areas in the state of Tennessee, Bristol has an eclectic mix of attractions to offer to those relocating & long time residents alike. Some are natural, God made beauties. Some created and carefully crafted by those who established Bristol, TN to the city it is today. 

All of these attractions/places are cherished by local residents, but if you're from out of town: or trying to find that next map dot to try out they might come as a surprise to you. 

What You Didn’t Know About Bristol, Tennessee:

1. First up on the list: Bristol Caverns & Appalachian Caverns: 

Truly hidden beauties. Our Caves. Not Just Any Caves. Massive, underground caverns. The Bristol Caverns were carved from an ancient underground river; some of these caverns are estimated to be  as old as 200-400 million years old! Hard to imagine as we are cruising through Bristol to the grocery store that such a place exists right in our backyard. Appalachian Caverns located just a short drive from Bristol shares the same mystic, but with the added fun of gem mining and rock climbing walls for kids to enjoy!

2. Bristol’s twin city Bristol, VA Boasts The Birthplace of Country Music Museum: A 24,000 SQ Feet exhibit is an affiliate partner with the Great Smithsonian Museum. Our quaint little town holds its roots as the birthplace of the country music genre. Several festivals are held in Bristol each year with incredible national, and local musicians sharing those same roots. The majority of these can be enjoyed outside, at outdoor concerts and venues that Bristol’s State Street sets up for both residents and tourists alike. 

3. South Holston Lake: Simply put an angler’s paradise. South Holston Lake is a TVA reservoir spanning 7580 Acres and is considered to be one of the top 2 lakes in Northeast Tennessee for smallmouth bass fishing & a perfect location for fly fisherman. Bristol’s South Holston Lake shares 60% of its border with the pristine and lush Cherokee National Forest. Dog lovers will also find a peaceful retreat with Osceola Island (located at the bottom of the reservoir) which has trails right up to the edge of the  water. 

4. Bristol Motor Speedway & Thunder Valley Raceway: That’s right Bristol has its very own Nascar Track. The track often referred to as the “Last Great Colosseum '' for its intense battles to victory and its Roman inspired architecture. The Speedway also has a drag strip just up the hill that hosts annual NHRA Events & the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.  Residents know it well by the true thunder it brings to the valley, as the cars race down the .25 mile dragstrip. Looking for a thrill try on our local street fights event held at the dragstrip. If that's not your style try out a peaceful and serene family trip through the BMS during the holidays when the tracks are transformed into a light display and Santa’s village with 2 million lights! A sight to be seen! (benefiting speedway children’s charity)

5. Bristol Loves the Arts: Between the brightly colored murals painted downtown on several historic buildings, our Bristol Theater, and our downtown art galleries. Those looking to relocate here to our town will cherish the history and the wonder that our Arts & Crafts culture has to offer. 

Whether you're a family looking for a new town to call home, living the single life with your favorite pup, an investor looking for a getaway, or anyone in between Bristol has plenty of surprises to offer you!  

Looking to Relocate? Make a move? Become an investor in an adorable town? Call Me Dreama Ketron at 423-723-7713! I am a local TN Real Estate Agent with Apple Realty and would love to discuss your options in buying into Bristol, TN! I am a resident here, and am proud to call these mountains my home!

Dreama Ketron     TN Affiliate Agent   423.723.7713     djk@applerealty.net

[woodlibraryteens]

Teen theater participants were lucky enough to go see 'Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Jersey Lily' this afternoon at Bristol Valley Theater! The visit to BVT wraps up the Finger Lakes Community Arts Grant (FLCAG) Wood Library received for this program!! #bvtnaples #flcag #teentheater (at Bristol Valley Theater) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0wp9OEnv3y/?igshid=hl5498ebzufr

[themusicenthusiast]

Halestorm and In This Moment Announce Additional Dates Together; Rocking South Side Ballroom in Dallas on December 12th

Halestorm and In This Moment apparently had so much fun touring together back in the spring that they are going to team back up this winter. That’s great news for fans who didn’t live near any of the markets they visited on that initial run. The month long tour -- which will see New Years Day also returning to provide support -- will kickoff in Norfolk, VA at Constant Convocation Center on November 16th, the trio of female-fronted rock outfits visiting a total of seventeen cities. Other notable stops include the BB&T Pavillion in Camden, NJ (November 17th), New York, NY’s Hammerstein Ballroom (November 24th) and Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY (December 5th). The tour will conclude in Florida at Mahaffey Theater in Saint Petersburg on December 16th. By then Vicious will have been out a few months, giving fans plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the new music from Halestorm’s highly anticipated new release. They’ll surely be playing a healthy serving of those songs, along with the classics. Still pushing their 2017 release, Ritual, In This Moment is sure to have another spellbinding show planned for spectators, their choreographed performances being something.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Current Halestorm Tour Dates: 2018 July 28--Dubuque County Fair--Dubuque, IA 29--Centennial Terrace--Toledo, OH 31--UMBC Event Center--Baltimore, MD August 2--Mohegan Sun Arena--Uncasville, CT 3--The Albany Capital Center at Times Union--Albany, NY 4--Maine State Pier--Portland, ME 6--Stone Pony--Asbury Park, NJ 7--Express Live!--Columbus, OH 9--Bluestem Amphitheatre--Moorhead, MN 10--Stir Cove--Council Bluffs, IA 11--Illinois State Fairgrounds--Springfield, IL 14--Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater--Missoula, MT 16--Star Theater at Spokane Arena--Spokane, WA 17--CenturyLink Field--Seattle, WA 18--The Cuthbert Amphitheater--Eugene, OR 20--Bi-Mart Amphitheater at the Expo--Central Point, OR 21--Grand Sierra Resort and Casino--Reno, NV 23--The Warfield--San Francisco, CA 24--Harrah's Resort SoCal Events Center--Valley Center, CA 25--Fremont Street Experience--Las Vegas, NV September 14--Red--Moscow, Russian Federation 15--Zal Ozhidaniya--Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 16--Tavastia Club--Helsinki, Finland 19--The Academy, Middle Abbey Street--Dublin, Ireland 20--The Telegraph Building--Belfast, United Kingdom 22--O2 Academy 2 Sheffield--Sheffield, United Kingdom 23--O2 Academy--Glasgow, United Kingdom 24--O2 Academy--Birmingham, United Kingdom 26--O2 Apollo--Manchester, United Kingdom 28--O2 Academy Brixton--London, United Kingdom 29--O2 Academy--Bristol, United Kingdom October 1--Poppodium 013--Tilburg, Netherlands 2--Cigale--Paris, France 3--TRIX ANTWERP--Antwerp, Belgium 5--Vega--Copenhagen, Denmark 6--Train--Aarhus C, Denmark 8--Debasser Strand--Stockholm, Sweden 9--Rockefeller Music Hall--Oslo, Norway 11--Markthalle--Hamburg-Nord, Germany 12--Kesselhaus in der Kulturbrauerei--Berlin, Germany 14--Batshkapp--FRANKFURT / MAIN, Germany 15--Live Music Hall--Cologne, Germany 16--Backstage Werk--Munchen, Germany 18--Simm City--Vienna, Austria 20--Les Docks--Lausanne, Switzerland 21--Dynamo--Zurich, Switzerland 22--Alcatraz--Milan, Italy 24--Bikini--Barcelona, Spain 25--But--Madrid, Spain November 16--Constant Convocation Center--Norfolk, VA 17--BB&T Pavillion--Camden, NJ 20--Old National Events Plaza--Indianapolis, IN 21--Allen County ExpoCenter--Fort Wayne, IN 23--Convention Center--Syracuse, NY 24--Hammerstein Ballroom--New York, NY 26--Cleve Masonic Auditorium--Cleveland, OH December 1--1st Bank Center--Broomfield, CO 2--Hartman Arena--Park City, KS 4--Shrine Mosque--Springfield, MO 5--Rupp Arena--Lexington, KY 7--Horseshoe Casino--Hammond, IN 8--The Armory--Minneapolis, MN 11--Aztec Theater--San Antonio, TX 12--South Side Ballroom--Dallas, TX 14--Amway Arena--Orlando, FL 16--Mahaffey Theater--Saint Petersburg, FL

Photos by Jordan Buford Photography

[chakrahunny]

2 Day Guide For Bristol Visit

Intro This overview is planned for visitors or travelers that are limited to a 2 day trip to Bristol. There is a brief historic section complied with by the 6 'must see' places or tourist attractions which Bristol has to offer followed by an option of great Hotels or accommodation which are in closeness to the picked attractions. History The city stands at the mouth of the river Avon which streams into the Severn Estuary in England, which consequently flows straight right into the Atlantic Ocean. Hence considering that middle ages times Bristol created as a significant sea faring port in England. In 1497 John Cabot set out from Bristol in his ship The Matthew with a team of 26 and also is attributed with the discovery of America. Latterly a variety of Americans have been able to trace their ancestry back to that initial trip. In 1547 the city was checked out by Queen Elizabeth 1 and also described the Church of St Mary Redcliffe as the 'fairest, goodliest and also most well-known Parish Church in England'. Profession from the City was and expanded improved significantly by the advent of the Slave Trade in the 18th Century. Bristol ships would certainly cruise to Africa where servants would be purchased or traded for goods and after that carried on to The West Indies and also America where they were sold on or exchanged for Tobacco, Sugar as well as Chocolate. Bristol ended up being a centre for Shipbuilding to very high criteria as well as gave rise to the expression 'ship form as well as Bristol style'. It was here that Isambard Kingdom Brunel developed and developed The SS Great Britain, back then the globe's largest iron, drove steamship. She was released by Prince Albert in 1843 and also sailed on her initial trip to America in 1845. Brunel likewise famously developed the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge in Bristol. He passed away 5 years before its completion in 1864. Nowadays the City is extremely cosmopolitan and also has a thriving service and also financing quarter along with a large trainee population at the city's 2 colleges. 6 'Must see'attractions in the 2 days 1. The Clifton Suspension Bridge The bridge is only a brief range form the city centre. It covers the Avon Gorge and also is a splendid testament to the brilliant of Brunel. Make certain to watch it from listed below by cars and truck as you drive along the Portway after that up bridge Valley Road. Park on the Clifton side of the bridge and also stroll throughout the bridge to take in spectacular sights in the direction of the city or down the Avon Gorge. 2. St Mary Redcliffe Church This church was constructed by the Merchant Venturers of Bristol as well as is so grand in aspect as well as design that it is regularly misinterpreted to be the Cathedral. Try its Undercroft coffee shop where normal online jazz sessions are held. 3. Trip of the Docks and waterfronts by Ferry. Go to the city centre where ferryboat trips leave regularly throughout everyday of the year. Take the directed excursion ferryboats which are extremely low-cost and also observe many appealing waterfront features as well as sites consisting of The Arnolfini Gallery, The Watershed Media Centre, The Industrial Museum (currently closed for repair as well as flanked by the 19th Century Cranes), the outstanding Lloyds TSB Headquarters structure and a reproduction of The Matthew tied together with the large SS Great Britain. 4. The SS Great Britain and also The Matthew The SS Great Britain was brought back to Bristol in 1970 after being left to rot in the Falkland Islands after haing its mast damaged in tornados off Cape Horn. The ship has undertaken constant repair in dry dock as well as is currently a stunning gallery which has actually won several significant vacationer honors. Berthed together with in the water is the reproduction of The Matthew (see History area over), which is a working ship/museum which can be worked with for sailings and also whereupon journeys can be taken in the docks location. One entryway cost consists of both ships. The Matthew is dwarfed by the SS Great Britain as well as it is tough to consider the cramped conditions Cabot and also his crew of 26 must have sustained in their voyage across the Atlantic to America. 5. The British and Empire Commonwealth Museum at Temple Meads Station This museum is located at the mainline railway station in Bristol The original Terminal for the GWR was made by Brunel as well as now houses the Museum alongside the more recent station. Just recently the Museum has currently taken over the housing of the Slave Trade Exhibition which was previously at the Industrial Museum in the Docks. 6. Centuries Square, IMAX, Wildscreen and also Explore @ Bristol. This is a modern-day waterside complicated improved the site of former warehouses at Canons Marsh. This is an incredibly popular area for visitors with children - there being lots of fascinating water features for youngsters to play in. The IMAX movie theater is a 3D movie theater with programs for youngsters as well as the contemporary Wildscreen and Explore @ Bristol are hi-tech contemporary scientific research and nature themed buildings as well as hands on exhibits. Hotels close to the attractions Jury's Hotel, Prince Street This 4 star resort is on the waterside near the Watershed Media Centre as well as to the Arnolfini Gallery. The Marriot Royal Hotel, College Green, Bristol This is Bristol's many elegant hotel (4star) located on College Green alongside the Cathedral as well as is generally often visited by actors and stars doing at the City's Hippodrome Theatre close by. Originally Victorian today entirely refurbished. Mercure Brigstow Hotel, Welshback, Bristol This is Bristol's latest modern hotel with a central riverside area. Near The renowned Llandoger Trow pub and hotel and also The Duke bar (live jazz sessions evenings as well as weekend breaks). The Youth Hostel, Narrow Quay, Bristol Runs from a converted storehouse exactly on the waterfront, close to the city centre and also is outstanding value for cash. The Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol This Hotel delights in a stunning aspect ignoring the Avon Gorge and also the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Its outside sunlight balcony bar which forgets the Gorge and also Bridge is popular in Spring as well as Summer.

[mergerecords]

Hiss Golden Messenger's new album Hallelujah Anyhow is out September 22, and the band has shared two songs from the album, "Domino (Time Will Tell)" and "When the Wall Comes Down."

Watch the lyric video for the latter above, and check out both songs via your preferred digital service.

Pre-order Hallelujah Anyhow: http://smarturl.it/HallelujahAnyhow

Hiss Golden Messenger on tour: Sep 14 Nashville, TN – Americanafest Sep 15 Bristol, VA – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Sep 17 Atlanta, GA – Midtown Music Festival Sep 19 Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena* Sep 20 Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena* Sep 21 Orlando, FL – Amway Center* Oct 14 Columbia, SC – Jam Room Music Festival Oct 20 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel Oct 21 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar Oct 22 Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi Oct 23 St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House Oct 24 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall Oct 26 St. Paul, MN – Turf Club Oct 27 Eau Claire, WI – The Halls at Lismore Oct 29 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room Oct 30 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater Nov 02 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern Nov 03 Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret Nov 04 Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown Nov 05 Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater Nov 07 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall Nov 08 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour Nov 10 Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar Nov 11 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress Nov 14 Austin, TX – Barracuda Nov 15 Dallas, TX – Club Dada Nov 16 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall Nov 17 New Orleans, LA – Tipitina's Nov 18 Birmingham, AL – Saturn Nov 19 Decatur, GA – Eddie's Attic Nov 30 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom Dec 01 Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom Dec 06 Boston, MA – The Sinclair Dec 07 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom Dec 08 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom Dec 09 Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live Dec 11 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club * w/ Mumford & Sons

[mason-shell-blog]

Preview night for Lucky Stiff. Running spot. Wish us luck. (at Bristol Valley Theater)

[michael-radi-the-glamorous-life]

Just The Perfect Blendship

One of the absolute best parts of the theater that I feel people don’t talk about enough is the people - the community.

Sure, every June as we all get ready to sit down together in NYC and across the country to watch the Tony Awards, or are preparing for one of the major benefits like Broadway Bares, or even just during Pride Month in general, theatrical and non-theatrical publications will talk briefly about how Broadway is a community. And it is! It’s a fantastic community with the same pros and cons that any community might have.

But only “Broadway” is discussed as being the community itself.

And as soon as you call something the “Broadway” community, there is an innate elitism to that term - whether geographically or in terms of production budget - which gets thrown into everyone’s minds.

But what is this Broadway community? Is it just the thousands of people actively working in NYC’s largest theatrical houses? Just those who contribute to the city’s multi-billion dollar industry?

I don’t think so, no.

I think the Broadway community is far larger than that. Personally, I would consider the Broadway community to include anyone and everyone working in theatre across the entire country. I would even consider the Broadway community to include the multitude of theatre lovers - those who don’t necessarily work in the industry, but participate through other means by supporting those who do, or even just attending all productions they can and keeping tabs on what’s happening in the industry.

In my opinion, it is crucial to consider everyone involved in the theatre everywhere as part of the Broadway community.

“But why?”

Allow me to explain!

The Other Sport

People always talk about how sports are such a great influence on development, particularly the aspects of teamwork and community. We make books and TV shows and films by the dozen on this subject.

Bu what about theatre?

Doesn’t theatre have the same positive influence on people that sports do? I would answer with a resounding yes. Not only do you learn to work as a team (though we usually use the term “ensemble”) with fellow performers, you also build an entire community with your directors, choreographers, musical directors, stage management, stage crew, designers, run crews, pit members, etc.

And just like sports, theatre pushes the mind and the body to constantly learn and grow - to do more than you previously could.

From an educational standpoint, I cannot count the number of times I have heard the parents of my students say “Theatre is our sport” or “My son has soccer, but my daughter has theatre”. Theatre people understand this concept, but I think that the majority of people who are not directly involved in theatre don’t see it as a community-building venture the way we see sports.

Some of this may be due to the lack of mainstream media and commercial attention in comparison with sports, though I think it’s mostly due to an undervaluing and under-appreciation of the arts in our culture. When you aren’t taught to look up to something, you won’t be highlighting its positive aspects moving forward.

But I cannot emphasize enough how important the ensemble and community nature of theatre is. It permeates every level - from elementary school pageants all the way up through Broadway blockbusters. Theatre folks are a particular subset of good humans who you can learn from, come to know, and to count on, just by their nature as fellow theatrical people.

People often say that theatre is family.

And thus far in my life and career, I’ve only seen mounting evidence to support this.

Theatre people are the best people.

So Big, So Small

One of the most confusing things to me about theatre is how - whether you’re talking about a specific show or the entire community at large - you can simultaneously feel like a small droplet in an ocean of people and like you know everyone personally.

For instance, on my current contract at Bristol Valley Theater we have dozens of people in the company working constantly (and often separately) to piece together each production. Most of the time I spend during the days is with the cast, director, and stage management, whom I know intimately at this point. In relative terms to the time I spend here, I rarely see the production or build crew.

However! In those rare moments where we are all eating lunch in the lobby, or on a quick break, or see each other in town after work hours, there’s an immediate connection. We may have all worked in separate areas throughout the day, but it’s all to the same end and in the same place. There’s an innate understanding of the work and the people, and it’s always delightful to spend that time with one another.

The same is true of the theatrical community as a whole.

A common saying in life - but that gets particular play in the theatre - is “it’s a small world.” Never does that feel so true as when meeting someone new in this business. Give it a few minutes, and chances are that you will have figured out ten people and five theaters that you know in common.

Everyone knows everyone, and we are all connected in a million ways. And it’s wonderful.

Why is that wonderful?

Because we have all had that teamwork/ensemble way of life instilled in us throughout our educations and careers. We support each other. We want to work with each other. We want to succeed, yes, but we want others to succeed as well.

Success in one area of the theatre breeds success for everyone at all levels, and we aware of that.

The only way to continue moving forward is to do so together.

There’s No People Like Show People

Seriously. Theatre people are the best.

One of the things I love most about working in theatre is meeting wonderful people and making fantastic new friends.

New friends mean both enrichment for my life, but also enrichment for my chosen field of work. Where else can you - on a consistent basis at least - do your work and further your career, all while having a blast and loving the humans you are surrounded with?

Doing So Happy Together at BVT has given me wonderful new friends that I already cherish more than I consciously know. And their departure after Sunday will be a tearful one. However, I know that we will be seeing one another and working together again. I can almost guarantee it.

And this is the meat and bones of the “Broadway community”: People of all ages across the country, doing theatre in schools, at community houses, non-equity houses, large regional houses, and yes, on Broadway, all learning and growing together to create their art.

There is nothing like it, and it’s truly the best.

[bthenoise]

PUP Sign To Rise Records, Announce New Album, New Tour & Share Infectious Lead Single “Kids”

Well everybody, after a fairly quiet 2018, it looks like Canadian punk outfit PUP are ready for a massive 2019 as they have just dropped the mother load of announcements.

Just revealed this morning, the band has announced they have officially left SideOneDummy Records for the likes of Rise Records and will be releasing their highly anticipated follow-up to 2016′s smash The Dream Is Over later this year.

“Sup y’all!! We are so so stoked to let you know that our third album Morbid Stuff will be out on April 5th!,” shared the band online. “We worked so hard on this thing and cannot wait to share it with ya!!! If you ordered our latest zine, you've probably already heard our new song "Kids." For everyone else, its streaming now! You can also pre-order Morbid Stuff right now! There are a few different ridiculous pre-order options, including the PUP Annihilation Preparedness Kit (complete with inflatable boat), the Morbid Stuff Colouring Book Edition (including PUPencil Crayons & colouring sheet of Nes Vuckovic’s amazing cover art) and several different coloured vinyl variants!” “We will be touring Morbid Stuff for pretty much all of 2019,” added the band. “Tickets for the first leg of the North American, UK, and European dates of The Morbid Stuff Tour-Pocalypse™ will go on-sale this Friday, January 18th. We also have an exclusive ticket presale starting tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon local time. Sign up on puptheband.com now through 11:30am local time tomorrow for the show you are interested in to receive the presale password.”

So to summarize, basically, after announcing a new label, new album, new single and new tour, today might just be the best day ever for PUP fans. To check out the band’s infectious lead single as well as tour dates for their upcoming headliner, be sure to look below. To pre-order Morbid Stuff, head here.  

TRACKLIST: 1. Morbid Stuff 2. Kids 3. Free at Last 4. See You at Your Funeral 5. Scorpion Hill 6. Closure 7. Bloody Mary, Kate and Ashley 8. Sibling Rivalry 9. Full Blown Meltdown 10. Bare Hands 11. City

TOUR DATES: Mar 26 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Mar 27 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Mar 29 - Vancouver, BC - Wise Hall Apr 03 - London, ON - Rum Runners Apr 09 - Bristol, UK - The Fleece * Apr 10 - London, UK - The Garage * Apr 11 - Leeds, UK - Community Room @ Brudenell Social Club * Apr 12 - Glasgow, UK - Cathouse * Apr 14 - Paris, FR - La Boule Noire * Apr 15 - Dunkirk, FR - Les 4Ecluses * Apr 16 - Brussels, BE - AB Club * Apr 18 - Berlin, DE - Cassiopeia * Apr 19 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang * Apr 20 - Cologne, DE - MTC Club * Apr 21 - Amsterdam, NE - Upstairs @ Paradiso * Apr 25 - Boston, MA - Royale # ^ Apr 26 - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel ^ Apr 29 - Philly, PA - Union Transfer # ^ Apr 30 - Pittsburgh, PA - REX Theater ^ May 01 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom ^ May 03 - Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Ballroom ^ May 04 - Chicago, IL - Metro ^ May 05 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Café ^ May 06 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater May 08 - Dallas, TX - Trees ^ May 09 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk ^ May 10 - Houston, TX - Rockefeller's ^ May 11 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks ^ May 13 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West ^ May 14 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle ^ May 15 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle ^ May 17 - Washington, DC - The Black Cat ^ Jun 07 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall # ^ Jun 19 - San Diego, CA - The Irenic ^ Jun 20 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom ^ Jun 21 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom ^ Jun 22 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore ^ Jun 24 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge ^ Jun 25 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox ^ Jun 27 - Boise, ID - The Olympic ^ Jun 28 - Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue ^ Jun 29 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theatre ^ Jul 01 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf ^ Jul 02 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar ^ Jul 03 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room ^

* - with support from MILK TEETH # - with support from Diet Cig ^ - with support from Ratboys

MORE FROM PUP:

[woodlibraryteens]

Last week Katie and a group of teens got to see Lucky Stiff at Bristol Valley Theater, today Katie had some inspiration when processing #iseelondoniseefrance by Sarah Mylonowski #luckystiff #bristolvalleytheater #bvt #montecarlo

[jrfk-e]

Thundercat - 'Friend Zone' by BRAINFEEDER 'Drunk' Out Now - Brainfeeder / Stream / Download: http://ift.tt/2kiTsM6 Taken from 'Drunk' released 24th February 2017 via Brainfeeder. “DRUNK” WORLD TOUR - Tickets: http://ift.tt/1J66A0J 12 Feb The Independent - San Francisco, CA - SOLD OUT 13 Feb The Independent - San Francisco, CA - SOLD OUT 14 Feb The Independent - San Francisco, CA - SOLD OUT 16 Feb Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR 17 Feb Rickshaw Theatre - Vancouver, BC 18 Feb Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WA 19 Feb Barboza - Seattle, WA - SOLD OUT 21 Feb Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT 22 Feb Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO 24 Feb Fine Line Music Cafe - Minneapolis, MN 25 Feb Concord Music Hall - Chicago, IL 26 Feb Magic Stick - Detroit, MI 28 Feb Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON 01 Mar SAT - Montreal, QC 02 Mar Paradise - Boston, MA - SOLD OUT 03 Mar Irving Plaza - New York, NY 04 Mar Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA 05 Mar U Street Music Hall - Washington, DC - SOLD OUT 07 Mar Terminal West - Atlanta, GA 08 Mar Nashville, TN - Exit In 10 Mar Buku Music + Art Project - New Orleans, LA 11 Mar Warehouse Live - Houston, TX 12 Mar Trees - Dallas, TX 16 Mar Barby Club - Tel Aviv, Israel - SOLD OUT 17 Mar Babylon - Istanbul, Turkey 18 Mar Niebo Club - Warsaw, Poland 19 Mar Yaam - Berlin, Germany 20 Mar Mojo - Hamburg, Germany 21 Mar CBE - Cologne, Germany 22 Mar Thekla - Bristol, UK 23 Mar Gorilla - Manchester, UK 24 Mar Invisible Wind Factory - Liverpool, UK 27 Mar Vicar Street - Dublin, Rep. Of Ireland 28 Mar Heaven - London, UK 29 Mar La Cartonnerie - Reims, France 30 Mar Trabendo - Paris, France 01 Apr Fri-Son - Fribourg, Switzerland 02 Apr Theater Moods - Zurich, Switzerland 03 Apr Atelier Babylon - Bratislava, Slovakia 04 Apr Porgy & Bess - Vienna, Austria 05 Apr Lucerna Music Bar - Prague, Czech Republic 07 Apr Motel Mozaique Festival - Rotterdam, Netherlands 08 Apr Transition Festival - Utrecht, Netherlands 09 Apr BRDCST Festival - Brussels, Belgium 15 Apr Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival - Indio, CA 22 Apr Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival - Indio, CA 27 Apr Liquid Room - Tokyo, Japan 28 Apr Blue Note - Nagoya, Japan 29 Apr Metro - Kyoto, Japan 30 Apr Conpass - Osaka, Japan Follow Thundercat - Twitter: http://ift.tt/2be5F2d Spotify: http://ift.tt/2bfkjTB http://ift.tt/1J66A0J

[gigsoupmusic]

Craig Finn releases new single 'It's Never Been A Fair Fight'

Begins his most comprehensive tour to date on October 11th in Bristol Craig Finn will celebrate his upcoming European and U.S. tour with the release of “It’s Never Been A Fair Fight,” available now on Partisan Records along with an acoustic version of the song as its B-side. A powerful live performance video of “It’s Never Been A Fair Fight” filmed earlier this year at a special concert performance at Brooklyn, NY’s Murmrr Theatre can be seen online. Finn has also announced a one-off instore at London's Rough Trade East on October 18th. This event is free entry, with the option to pre-order an album and ticket, ready and waiting to collect on the day. More details here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2WFLEYFUUs&feature=youtu.be “It’s Never Been A Fair Fight” precedes a range of upcoming live dates surrounding Finn’s acclaimed new solo album, I Need A New War. The tour – which sees Finn backed by his touring band, The Uptown Controllers – begins October 11th at Exchange in Bristol, England and reaches the U.S. November 1st at Austin, TX’s Cactus Cafe Presents at the Texas Union Theater. “‘It’s Never Been A Fair Fight’ is about the extreme difficulty of staying true to the rigid rules of a subculture as you get older,” says Finn. “The character in the song revisits an old peer and finds struggle and disappointment in the place he left behind. I’ve always really loved this song, and people seemed to connect with it on my acoustic tour with Brian Fallon. Excited to be sharing the full band version with the world.” The dates in the U.K. and Europe are the first to feature The Uptown Controllers overseas and will see Finn play his first headline shows in Beligum, Netherlands and Germany. Laura Stevenson will be special guest on all of the U.K. and Europe shows. On touring, Finn says, “I’m beyond thrilled to be bringing the Uptown Controllers to the UK and Europe for the first time. The band has developed into something very musically exciting, and is able to do much justice to the material on I Need A New War and the prior two solo releases. The Uptown Controllers are loose, lush, elegant and fun. We will be joined in the UK by our friend Laura Stevenson, who has been known to join us on stage. These shows will be very special. Following the UK/Europe we will be touring Texas and West Coast USA for the first time with this band lineup. We are greatly looking forward to all of it.” CRAIG FINN & THE UPTOWN CONTROLLERS TOUR 2019 OCTOBER 11 - Bristol, England – Exchange * 12 - Nottingham, England – Bodega * 13 - Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut * 15 - Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club * 16 - Manchester, England - Deaf Institute * 17 - London, England - Olso20 October * 18 - London, England - Rough Trade East (live + signing) 19 - Liverpool, England - Phase One * 20 - Dublin, Ireland - Sugar Club * 22 - Antewerp, Belgium – Trix * 23 - Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso * 24 - Hamburg, Germany - Molotow Skybar * 25 - Berlin, Germany – Privitaclub * NOVEMBER 1 - Austin, TX - Cactus Cafe Presents at the Texas Union Theater ** 2 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada ** 5 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar ** 7 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theater ** 8 - Mill Valley, CA - Sweetwater Music Hall ** 9 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel ** 12 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR ** 13 - Seattle, WA - Triple Door ** * w/Special Guest Laura Stevenson ** w/Special Guest Cassandra Jenkins For complete details, please visit craigfinn.net/tour. Read the full article

[chorusfm]

PUP Announce New Album; Share New Song

PUP will release their new album, Morbid Stuff, on April 11th via their own imprint label Little Dipper in a partnership with Rise Records. Today they’ve debuted the new single “Kids” and pre-orders are now up. They’ve also announced some new tour dates. Track Listing * Morbid Stuff * Kids * Free at Last * See You at Your Funeral * Scorpion Hill * Closure * Bloody Mary, Kate and Ashley * Sibling Rivalry * Full Blown Meltdown * Bare Hands * City Tour Dates 3/26/19 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth 3/27/19 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite 3/29/19 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall 4/3/19 – London, ON @ Rum Runners 4/9/19 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece & 4/10/19 – London, UK @ The Garage & 4/11/19 – Leeds, UK @ Community Room at Brudenell Social Club & 4/12/19 – Glasgow, UK @ Cathouse & 4/14/19 – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire & 4/15/19 – Dunkirk, FR @ Les 4Ecluses & 4/16/19 – Brussels, BE @ AB Club & 4/18/19 – Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia & 4/19/19 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang & 4/20/19 – Cologne, DE @ MTC Club & 4/21/19 – Amsterdam, NE @ Upstairs @ Paradiso & 4/25/19 – Boston, MA @ Royale # ^ 4/26/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel ^ 4/29/19 – Philly, PA @ Union Transfer # ^ 4/30/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ REX Theater ^ 5/1/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom ^ 5/3/19 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom ^ 5/4/19 – Chicago, IL @ Metro ^ 5/5/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe ^ 5/6/19 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater 5/8/19 – Dallas, TX @ Trees ^ 5/9/19 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk ^ 5/10/19 – Houston, TX @ Rockefeller’s ^ 5/11/19 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks ^ 5/13/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West ^ 5/14/19 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^ 5/15/19 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ^ 5/17/19 – Washington, DC @ The Black Cat ^ 6/7/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall # ^ 6/19/19 – San Diego, CA @ The Irenic ^ 6/20/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^ 6/21/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^ 6/22/19 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore ^ 6/24/19 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge ^ 6/25/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox ^ 6/27/19 – Boise, ID @ The Olympic ^ 6/28/19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue ^ 6/29/19 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^ 7/1/19 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf ^ 7/2/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar ^ 7/3/19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room ^ # Diet Cig ^ Ratboys & Milk Teeth Toronto, Ontario’s very own punk powerhouse — PUP — are proud to announce their new album, _Morbid Stuff_, set for release on the band’s brand new label Little Dipper, in partnership with Rise Records/BMG on April 5, 2019. Produced, recorded and mixed by Dave Schiffman (Weezer, Cass McCombs, The Mars Volta), Morbid Stuff is everything that PUP fans have grown to love about them, but dialed up to 11. It’s gang’s-all-here vocals, guitarmonies, and lyrics about death. Lots of them. The album’s visceral, wildfire first single, “Kids,” can be heard HERE. “‘Kids’ is a love song from one nihilistic depressive to another,” explains Stefan Babcock. “It’s about what happens when you stumble across the only other person on the face of this godless, desolate planet that thinks everything is as twisted and as fucked up as you do. And thanks to them, the world starts to seem just a little less bleak. But only slightly – it’s still pretty fucked up to be honest.” This Spring, PUP will embark on a North America, UK and Europe tour in support of Morbid Stuff. Pre-sale tickets will be available tomorrow, Jan 16th at 12:00 PM local time at www.puptheband.com, and $1 of every ticket sold through the presale will go towards The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. Sign up NOW through 11:30 AM local time tomorrow at the band’s website to receive the presale password. General tickets are on sale Friday, Jan 18th at 10:00 AM local time. See below to find a show near you. In addition to album pre-orders, which are available now HERE, you can also pre-order “The PUP Morbid Stuff Annihilation Preparedness Kit,” which includes a CD or limited edition colored LP, a long sleeve shirt, a backpack with sewn-on patch, custom band aids, a waterproof container, and a multi-tool with fork, spoon, etc. A very limited edition version of the Annihilation Preparedness Kit also comes with a real full-sized inflatable boat. Yeah, you read that right. Get yours HERE. Formed in Toronto five years ago, PUP — comprised of Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Zack Mykula, and Steve Sladowski — quickly became favorites of the punk scene with their first two, critically-beloved albums, winning accolades everywhere from the New York Times to Pitchfork, from NPR and Rolling Stone, and more. Their last album, The Dream Is Over, not only debuted at #1 on the Billboard “Heatseekers” chart, but also catapulted them into international waters, selling out shows across the world throughout 2016. With _Morbid Stuff_, PUP grew up, then doubled down on everything that made you love their first two albums. Fitting to their ethos, their new album takes the dichotomy of fun and emotional wreckage in their songs and blows it up, projection-style, onto the biggest wall possible, teetering between gleeful chaos and bleak oblivion while wielding some of the best choruses the band has ever written. It’s also a pretty intense foray into singer Stefan Babcock’s fight with depression, an album dressed up with heartbreak, broken dreams, self-loathing, and castigating yourself for thinking you matter enough to even bother hating yourself. And in perfect PUP fashion, taking responsibility of his own depression lead him to….laughter. Admitting his depression allowed him to laugh in its face, and the result is that marriage of darkness and joy that made PUP who they are, but in a brand new way. Indeed, despite its dark subject matter, at times _Morbid Stuff_ is funny as hell, even in the music. Often times a heavy barrage of hardcore is coupled with a light, folky guitar that lives quietly in the background. Rollicking choruses disappear into nothing but a hopeful group chant, echoing through until the end of the song. PUP’s rage isn’t pure rage anymore; it’s rage being taunted by the reality that the rage is its own fault. It’s all the fury and celebration you’ve come to know, but rooted in understanding of where that fury comes from. It’s the most insightful, sweetest, funniest, sickest, angriest, saddest and most inescapably desperate collection of songs they’ve recorded to date. If their self-titled record was the fuse and The Dream Is Over was the bomb going off, _Morbid Stuff_ is your family sifting through the rubble, only to find you giggling while you bleed to death. --- Please consider supporting us so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/pup-announce-new-album-share-new-song/