[LISTEN] Pete Doherty - The Whole World Is Our Playground

It looks like that Mr Doherty has already got the itch for a new record, and so it seems. The follow-up to his 2009 solo début album is set to be released later on this year. The first track off it was released as a part of Record Store Day, and just in-case some fans didn't manage to grab a copy for themselves here's a stream.

[GIG REVIEW] The Libertines @ The Empire, Coventry, 19th January 2016

Time For Heroes... After about a two hour wait The Libertines finally graced the stage of the Coventry Empire and one way or another it was going to be a night that everyone inside the 700 cap venue will never forget.

I was perhaps slightly sceptical at first when they opened up with 'Barbarians', but that quickly changed. Messy, tenuously sloppy, full of energy and not giving a …. exactly what we all love about them, by the time 'Heart Of The Matter' kicked in, the venue was electrified.

Five songs in the opening chords of a true Libertines classic ring out and truthful to the lyrics 'They scream and they shout for … for the boys in the band', it was a piece of magic which could only be followed by a several big cheers at the front of the crowd chanting 'Pete, Pete, ooo Pete, we love you'.

What was about to follow was beyond special, after several people flying over my head (as expected in was a Libertines gig after all) the boys decided to mellow things out a bit. A true gem and certainly a personal favourite from the new record 'Milkman's Horse' reminded everyone why they fell in love with this band with lyrics that cut straight to the heart and touch your soul.

It was classic after classic after that with 'What Katie Did', 'You're My Waterloo' and 'The Man Who Would Be Kind' making you not wanting to take your eyes of the stage for even a second. The lead single for the new record 'Gunga Din' brought the energy levels back right to roof and had everyone bouncing around. 'I Get Along' and things started to get messy at the front, after several punches to the head I had to retreat to the back for the rest of the show, but not before 'Can't Stand Me Now', despite all that probably the best gig anyone can ask for!

'Belly Of The Beast' another fantastic track from the new record, set the way for more classics such as 'Death On The Stairs' and 'Vertigo' reminiscing of the good old days. For all the sceptics out there The Libertines were better than ever before and 100% real, it was if though there was a time machine and we were all cueing up 10 years ago in front of Dublin Castle in Camden.

Pete and Carl look at each other for a second as if to say 'This is absolutely brilliant' and then Pete picks up an acoustic guitar, we all knew what was about to come and 'Music When The Lights Go Out' starts. The crowd erupted and was left to sing the first two verses of the songs, putting a big smile upon all The Libertines' faces.

There was only one song that can follow that and it has never seemed so relevant as before. 'Time for Heroes' and there they were, true heroes to so many of us. Rock and Roll isn't dead, it alive and well and it's called 'The Libertines', surely though that couldn't be the end of the night?

After 10 minutes chanting and the whole of 'Twist and Shout' being sang by the crowd, the boys came back to the stage to preform 3 more classics 'Up The Bracket', 'What A Waster' and 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' putting an end to one of the best gigs I've ever attended.

Overall a fantastic night for everyone at the venue and especially for Coventry music scene. Is the stadium tour going to be the same or would it be as Pete said 'We're not coming back from that again', we'll just have to wait and see.

Reviewed by - Veso Mihaylov

Festival review… Lollapalooza Berlin 2015

When in November 2014 we heard the news that Lollapalooza would be heading to Europe for the first time ever a buzz went through It's All Indie HQ. We were extremely excited and pleased to be able to welcome the American spectacle in 2015. 

10 months on, I travelled to Berlin to see if Lollapalooza would live up to our expectations. 

Located at Berlin's now disused Tempelhof airport, the festival sports a vibrant, urban feel with the old terminal and runway giving it a unique vibe. 

As expected of Lollapalooza the line-up was very impressive featuring international bands of the highest quality.

Saturday

My Lollapalooza weekend kicked off with a loud, energetic set by US band Joywave who clearly had a lot of fun interacting with their fans. "We're the biggest band to come out of the USA in the 21st century - don't double check that on Google", they announced before telling the crowd that they hadn't been able to get into Berghain (Berlin's most famous nightclub) the night before. Considering their very unfavourable stage time (13:10) they managed to attract a good crowd thus engendering a great start to the festival. 

Joywave kick off our Lolla experience

I continued with Glass Animals and their groovy unorthodox sound. Performing on the Alternative Stage to a big crowd the band's calm sound made sure everyone survived the scorching lunchtime sun in style.

Newly founded supergroup FFS (Franz Ferdinand & Sparks) attracted a massive crowd which seemed to know the lyrics to every song. The Franz Ferdinand tracks performed definitely provoked the biggest reaction with people everywhere dancing to the sounds of one of the best indie bands ever to grace the stage. FFS song "Collaborations Don't Work" showed everyone watching the band(s) perform that if there is such a thing as a near-perfect match in music, then Sparks and Franz Ferdinand may have found just that.

Collaborations DO work!

I remember reading a magazine on a flight home with Pete Doherty on the cover when, mid flight, the girl sitting next to me asked whether he had died. Amy Winehouse had just passed away and the question seemed chilling, yet justified. It was then that I figured I would probably never get to see the incredible Libertines live. Years later it's happened. After cancelling their London and Manchester shows the days before, it was unclear whether the band would perform in the first place. When they did come on stage, however, it was obvious to the crowd that this was a moment they had to enjoy and cherish - their second chance may not come again too soon. Musically the band weren't at their best. An absolutely drunk Carl Barat slurred into his microphone and the band made various mistakes throughout - much to each other's amusement. Macklemore playing at the same time meant that mostly only "real" Libertines fans had come to see the London band creating a Libertine-esque intimate atmosphere on the old airfield. Each of the band's old songs received loud sing alongs with "Gunga Din" proving to be the highlight of their new album. The band returned to the stage with two encores before drummer Gary Powell used the empty, post-gig stage to stomp around and perform a weird dance to the amused crowd.

Pete Doherty looked shaken but happy when returning to his dressing room located inside the old airport terminal building.

The Libertines actually turned up to their Lolla show

Sunday

My second and last day at Lollapalooza saw Wolf Alice start the action on the Main Stage 1, where they performed their last festival show of their, very busy and spectacular summer. The London band used the opportunity to say thank you to their fans on numerous occasions in between their loud, aggressive songs.

Wolf Alice take to the Main Stage

Up next for me was Spanish band Crystal Fighters, who kicked off nearly an hour late after being stuck in traffic. This didn't stop the crowd from going wild with the band when they did finally start their set. Performing just two days after  the anniversary of the passing away of their former drummer Andrea Marongiu the band showcased a mix of tracks from both their debut "Star Of Love" and follow-up "Cave Rave". Giant (really really really giant) beach balls thrown into their crowd further lifted the mood of their partying fans. Their unique sound perfectly fitted the Berlin afternoon sun and made sure that everyone in attendance enjoyed the, possibly, last days of summer. 

I once wrote the following about MGMT: "Throughout the whole concert I couldn't help thinking that this is a band now actually exploring that long-elusive dark side of the moon."
Since the same goes for Tame Impala and I'd hate to repeat myself unnecessarily so I'm going to leave it at that. The Australian band are a spectacle which has to be seen live. Taking to the stage in what was their last festival appearance of the summer, the band performed a set of the high quality their fans expect. 

Tame Impala are perfect in the Berlin night

After attending festivals in the UK, Central Europe and Japan I can only recommend a visit to Lollapalooza 2016 - in my opinion it may just be the best festival you can attend next summer.

Benjamin Brown

The Libertines fail to turn up for tonight's (10/09) London show

The time has just gone 11pm, and The Libertines are yet to turn up to their intimate gig at Camden's Electric Ballroom on the eve of their album release.

Many punters at the gig have taken to social media to express anger, confusion and various other opinions on the matter - including those not attending. Reasons given are based upon the fact that Pete Doherty has gone missing, and one gig-goer even saying he got stuck in a cubicle in a Whetherspoons, with Gary Powell now carrying him to the venue.

Tweets are now starting to come through that doors to the venue have been closed and people still have no idea what is going on. Photos from the venue appear to show the crowds slowly drip feeding out to get the last trains home.

Their record, Anthems For Doomed Youth, is due out at Midnight and tonight's gig was to celebrate that with a show in a part of London that means the most to them. The Libertines have shown no signs of this happening since their comeback, especially with all the events that have been happening around their album - so it's understandable that this comes as a slight surprise to many, although the band are notorious for doing things like this back when they were in the peak of their career.

Updates to follow.

UPDATE 23.34PM - People are now starting to report that the bar has been closed, lights have gone up and equipment is being unplugged. Nobody seems to have been given reasons for tonight's events.

UPDATE 23.38PM - A message has now been passed on to gig-goers stating that "due to an unforeseen emergency, tonight's gig has been postponed." Scroll down to watch a video of the announcement being received by boos and glass throwing.

UPDATE 23.48PM - The emergency is now being referred to as a "medical emergency" by some. We'll wait for an official statement before confirming a matter this serious.

UPDATE 12.13AM - The Libertines have tweeted as the record has been released. Fans continue to send tweets of love to Pete, in light of the news.

UPDATE 01.05AM - A statement has been put out, confirming that London and Manchester's shows have been postponed. They reveal that no other commitments will be effected. It reads:

"Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight the Libertines have had to postpone their sold out shows at the Electric Ballroom in Camden and at the Ritz in Manchester tomorrow night. Peter, Carl, John and Gary apologise whole heartedly to their fans and will reschedule both shows as soon as possible. This will not effect any of The Libertines other commitments. HQ."

Ticket holders for Camden and Manchester, please head to https://t.co/gHDax13FlZ HQ

— Libertines (@libertines) September 11, 2015

UPDATE 11.19AM - The band have now tweeted that Pete is okay, although they do stress that this is a personal matter and hint at saying no more about it. The full tweet reads "We can assure everyone that Peter is safe. Clearly this is a private matter, but we also feel it necessary to let people know he is ok."

Tweets from fans:

This is what it's all been about, the new album, out now. If you're playing it right now, we really want to hear from you. x

— Libertines (@libertines) September 10, 2015

Announcement that tonight's gig has been postponed due to a medical emergency @libertines @EBallroomCamden pic.twitter.com/wBxSxGHzLE

— roisin gadelrab (@roisingadelrab) September 10, 2015

The Libertines announce September UK mini-tour

Reading and Leeds Festival headliners The Libertines have announced five intimate shows commencing in Glasgow on September 6th and running until September 11th in Manchester. These shows will be the first club shows the band have played since March 2004.

Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 4th September
 

To make sure you bag a ticket, pre-order the new Libertines album, "Anthems For Doomed Youth", from the official store, and get access to an exclusive pre-sale starting tomorrow at 10am.

The Libertines UK Tour
September
6th - Glasgow Academy
7th - Nottingham Rock City
8th - Bristol Academy
10th - London Electric Ballroom
11th - Manchester Ritz

The Libertines release new song "Gunga Din"

After playing at Glastonbury last week The Libertines have now released the first song of their coming album "Anthems For Doomed Youth".

The video for "Gunga Din" shows the band in Thailand, where Pete Doherty had been on rehab to finally overcome his drug addiction.
Gunga Din leaves no doubt that The Libertines will be as good as ever when they return with their new album!

The Libertines announce new album "Anthems For Doomed Youth"

The Libertines release their highly anticipated new album "Anthems For Doomed Yout"h through Virgin EMI Records on Friday 4th September 2015. A single "Gunga Din" is available from Friday 3rd July. The album is now available to pre-order on the official site, iTunes and Amazon.

The video for "Gunga Din" was filmed in 'Walking Street' Pattaya, it was directed by Roger Sargent and will be available to view at 8PM on Thursday 2nd July here. The first play of the single by Annie Mac (Radio One) will première half an hour earlier at 7:30PM.

The Libertines - "Anthems For Doomed Youth"

1. Barbarians
2. Gunga Din
3. Fame and Fortune
4. Anthem for Doomed Youth
5. Heart of the Matter
6. Belly of the Beast
7. Iceman
8. You’re My Waterloo
9. Fury of Chonburi
10. The Milkman’s Horse
11. Glasgow Coma Scale Blues
12. Dead For Love

Will The Libertines be secret guests on The Pyramid Stage tonight?

The rumour mill is in over drive that The Libertines will perform a secret surprise set on The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury tonight, filling in for Florence + The Machine's original slot. With an image circulating the web, featuring a strip of gaffer tape with the word 'Albion'.

Florence has stepped up to headline when Foo Fighters were forced to pull out, with Emily Eavis confirming 'there is definitely something filling that gap but under no circumstances will it be announced'.

The mystery slot will be from 8.20pm - 9.30pm, with Florence now on at 10.15pm.

The Libertines to headline Low Festival in Spain

The Libertines have been announced as the second headliner for Benidorm's Low festival
They will be joining previously announced acts Kasabian, The Drums, The Raveonettes and The Growlers, as well as many Spanish bands.

The festival runs from 22nd to 24th of July.

 

The Libertines to headline T In The Park 2015

The Libertines have just been announced as a headliner for this year's T In The park festival up in bonny Scotland. This year will be held in its new home of Strathallan Castle on the weekend of July 10th to the 12th.

Tickets for the festival go on sale February 27 at 9am from the T in the Park website.

Carl Barat plays Libertines and The Jackals songs at NYE gigs

Carl Barat on New Years Eve performed some of The Libertines' songs and - his new band The Jackals - material at two shows during the day. They performed two sets during the day in London, one at The Macbeth in Hoxton and prior to that, one at the Amersham Arms in New Cross.

Carl Barat And The Jackals played:

• 'Victory Gin'
• 'A Storm Is Coming'
• 'Gin And Milk'
• 'Summer In The Trenches'
• 'We Want More'
• 'Death On The Stairs'
• 'March Of The Idle'
• 'Run With The Boys'
• 'Deadwood'
• 'Glory Days'
• 'Let It Reign'
• 'Bang Bang You're Dead'
• 'War Of The Roses'
• 'The Gears'
• 'I Get Along'

The Libertines share footage from Virgin EMI singing in Thailand

After signing to Virgin EMI Records the other day, Carlos, Gary and John visit Peter on Ko Si Chang Island to sign a new record contract. Here's a short - and slightly strange - video for you all to watch.

Libertines sign record deal and plan new album

We've got some amazing news for fans of The Libertines. The London band have just signed a record deal with Virgin EMI on Ko Si Chang Island (Pete Doherty is currently in rehab in Thailand). The band also announced that they're planning to release a new album next year, which will be the first since their eponymous LP  which dates back to 2004.
"After everything we have been through The Albion sails on course again, I couldn't be more excited.", Carl Barat said.

The band regrouped for their first live shows in four years this summer.

Perhaps we are heading back to the good, old days?

The Libertines decline to comment on Glastonbury rumours

The Libertines are one of the favourites (according to newspapers and bookmakers) to headline Glastonbury in 2015, and to add more into the mix the band have declined to comment on such rumours. Thus helping the bookies cases in assuming they'd be performing in Pilton in 2015.

An undisclosed source is quoted as saying.

"The Libertines have been on Glastonbury’s wish list for ages but shot straight to the top when they saw the appetite for them. They are still deciding if the band will headline the Pyramid or the Other Stage."

Source NME.com

Carl Barat reveals 'five new songs' written for The Libertines next album

Carl Barat has revealed that he and Pete Doherty have got five new songs on paper for their forthcoming album.

The album will be the band's third and comes off the back of a series of comeback shows. Barat was speaking as Doherty currently undergoes rehab in Bangkok. He's said that Pete is doing 'grand' and 'these seem like great times'.

Barat didn't give any further information on the upcoming album but said that one track is called 'Woke Up Again', so keep your eyes out for that in the coming months.

Jack White to produce The Libertines' new album?

NME, DIY and Gigwise and simply everyone in music is talking about Jack White, yes him, producing The Libertines' brand new album!

Speaking to French TV station D8, Doherty claimed that the Third Man founder had offered a helping hand in the process.

"Jack White says he’d like to do it, I don’t want to get too hopeful."

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The Libertines WILL play new material at Alexandra Palace shows

Speaking to XFM while at the Benicàssim Festival in Spain the band confirmed that they'll be playing new songs over the three days in September, the shows are on the 26th, 27th and 28th. With some really good supports lined up too!

The Libertines UK dates in September
26 London Alexandra Palace
27 London Alexandra Palace
28 London Alexandra Palace

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Peace, Swim Deep and Circa Waves to support The Libertines

The bands have all been announced to support The Libertines over the 3 shows they'll be performing at Alexandra Palace in North London.

The Libertines UK dates in September
26 London Alexandra Palace (w/ Peace)
27 London Alexandra Palace (w/ Swim Deep)
28 London Alexandra Palace (w/ Circa Waves)

Carl Barat says The Libertines will release new album in 2015!

According to NME the band are going to record the album in Germany. Carl Barat spoke to NME and revealed these details and more to NME in an interview.

He said...

"I don't wanna just go on the road because then you'll get cabin fever and have an epic fallout. So yeah, I want to keep something fresh coming in. We just need to find the time."

Pete has also been up for the idea too adding...

"For some reason in my head, I'm thinking October, November time. That's what will have to happen. Basically, it'll have to be like Paris, but in Hamburg, and for a bit longer. I'm well up for it."

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The Libertines to headline Alexandra Palace

Shortly before they went on stage at Hyde Park in central London tonight, The Libertines announced details of two further headline dates. This time taking place in North London's stunning venue Alexandra Palace in September, on the 27th and 28th.

Tickets go on sale on Monday [via The Libertines facebook page]

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