*TO HEADLINE BBC INTRODUCING STAGE *

*AT READING & LEEDS FESTIVALS*

*+ LIVE SET & INTERVIEW ON BEATSTREAM TOMORROW*

*‘COLUMBIA’ THE DEBUT ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 21**ST** ON MODERN SKY UK*
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=ce6e569d9c&e=3ac8d5141c>

*“The Blinders ply their trade with a powerful passion in a similar vein to
IDLES with an Arctic Monkeys inflection*” 8/10, Louder Than War
<thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=THE%20BLINDERS%3A%20Interview%20Request>
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<thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=THE%20BLINDERS%20-%20gig%20request>
<Thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=The%20Blinders%20-%20Album%20Request>

*THE BLINDERS will headline the BBC Introducing Stage at this weekend’s
Reading & Leeds Festivals.* The hotly tipped Manchester-based trio will
play Reading Festival on Friday 24th August (stage time 7.20pm), and Leeds
Festival on Saturday 25th (stage time 7.10pm). Ahead of these sets, they
will headline the Festival Republic Stage at Leeds Festival on Thursday 23rd
(stage time 10.15pm), and they will complete a packed weekend by supporting
The Wombats at Inner City Live in Hull on Sunday 26th (Zebedees Yard, stage
time 6.35pm).

*Prior to Reading & Leeds, The Blinders will perform an exclusive live set
& interview for **Beatstream*
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=6c9db15204&e=3ac8d5141c>*
tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd August at 7pm*. Focusing of upcoming talent and
local live music, Beatstream is the only music streaming platform that
streams events live as they happen, connecting music lovers with the music
they love when it’s not possible to be there person.

The Blinders recently unveiled the video
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for new single ‘Brave New World’
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=5ed377c305&e=3ac8d5141c>,
a coruscating anthem about the distorting impact of hyper-capitalism,
referencing everything from Trump’s Presidency to Aldous Huxley.

‘Brave New World’ is taken from The Blinders debut album ‘Columbia’, which
will be released September 21st and is available to pre-order
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=1169a050af&e=3ac8d5141c>.
The album also includes the singles ‘L’Etat C’Est Moi’, which was a Huw
Stephens Tune Of The Week on Radio 1 and playlisted at 6Music, and ‘Gotta
Get Through’, which spent five weeks at No.1 on Amazing Radio.

Loosely based around the concept of Columbia as *“an alternate world
informed by reality”*, on the album The Blinders display a ferocious
intelligence, as informed by history, literature and art as they are by
Britain’s current political and economic woes. The striking cover of
‘Columbia’ pictures singer/guitarist Thomas Haywood in the tribal warpaint
he wears for live shows, where he assumes the fearless persona of Johnny
Dream. Produced by Gavin Monaghan (Editors, The Sherlocks, Goldblade), the
album sees 21 year-old childhood friends Haywood (vocals, guitar), Charlie
McGough (bass) and Matt Neale (drums) follow Johnny Dream on his spiritual
awakening, from the coruscating swagger of the opening ‘Gotta Get Through’
to the raw, beautiful and ultimately redemptive finale ‘Orbit (Salmon Of
Alaska)’.

The Blinders have been picking up specialist radio support since their
first DIY releases from the likes of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Daniel P
Carter, Radio X’s John Kennedy, and 6Music’s Chris Hawkins and Steve
Lamacq, who recently had the band on his show for a BBC Music Introducing
Session
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=0b56338e16&e=3ac8d5141c>
.

The Blinders will follow Reading & Leeds with a headline set at the Tim
Peaks stage at Festival No.6 on September 9th, and will embark on a 22-date
UK headline tour throughout October and November.

*THE BLINDERS LIVE:*

*FESTIVAL SHOWS:*

August 23 Leeds Festival, Dance To The Radio/Festival Republic Stage
(10.15pm, headline set)

August 24 Reading Festival, BBC Introducing Stage (7.20pm, headline set)

August 25 Leeds Festival, BBC Introducing Stage (7.10pm headline set)

August 26 Inner City Live, Hull (Zebedee’s Yard w/The Wombats, stage
time 6.35pm)

Sept 9 Festival No.6

Sept 29 Tenement Trail, Glasgow

*HEADLINE TOUR:*

*OCTOBER 2018*

Mon 15 *Manchester* Academy 2

Tues 16 *Newcastle *The Cluny

Thurs 18 *Hull *The Adelphi

Fri 19 *Cardiff *SWN Festival

Sat 20 *Cardiff *SWN Festival

Mon 22 *Stoke-On-Trent* The Sugarmill

Tues 23 *Birmingham* The Castle & Falcon

Weds 24 *Nottingham* Bodega

Thurs 25 *Derby *The Venue

Fri 26 *Sheffield *Plug

Sun 28 *Leeds* Brudenell Social Club

Mon 29 *Liverpool* Buyers Club

Tues 30 *Aberdeen*, Drummonds

*NOVEMBER*

Thurs 1 *Preston* The Ferret

Fri 2 *York* The Crescent

Sat 3 *Lincoln* 2Q Festival

Mon 5 *Oxford *The Bullingdon

Tues 6 *Cambridge* The Portland Arms

Weds 7 *London* The Garage

Fri 9 *Southampton* Heartbreakers

Sat 10 *Brighton* The Haunt

Sun 11 *Bristol* Thekla

*Download the press shot here
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=9c844a9150&e=3ac8d5141c>*

For more info please contact thom@sonicpr.co.uk
<thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=THE%20BLINDERS%3A%20Interview%20Request>
<https://sonicpr.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=22b8cece1ceb580aeae1d78f3&id=c6f0803b75&e=3ac8d5141c>
<thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=THE%20BLINDERS%20-%20gig%20request>
<Thom@sonicpr.co.uk?subject=The%20Blinders%20-%20Album%20Request>

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