Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

The Drums will return to the UK later this year for a full headline tour in support of their second album, ‘Portamento’, out September 5th through Moshi Moshi / Island Records. For the week of album release, the band plays three intimate, sold out, launch shows in London to preview the new record. New UK headline dates as folllows:  Mon 28-Nov – Birmingham Institute - The Library Tue 29-Nov - Newcastle 02 Academy Wed 30-Nov – Leeds Metropolitan University Sat 03-Dec – Glasgow 02 ABC Sun 04-Dec - Edinburgh Picture House Mon 05-Dec – Cambridge Junction Tue 06-Dec – Portsmouth Pyramids Centre Thu 08-Dec – Bristol 02 Academy Fri 09-Dec – London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire Sat 10-Dec – Manchester - Ritz Artist presale via http://thedrums.com/shows/: Wednesday 17th August General on sale: Friday 19th August (All tickets £13.50 except London £15) Previously announced dates: Mon 05-Sep – London, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen SOLD OUT Tue 06-Sep – London, Lexington SOL

Like a bolt from the blue, The Drums return with their second album, ‘Portamento’ to be released on September 12th through Moshi Moshi / Island Records. ‘Portamento’ - released just over a year since their debut - reveals a band tugging lightly at the boundaries of their sound while still retaining their recognizable sonic signatures. Sweet rushes of melody and brittle synthesizer sheens colliding with wiry Spector-esque guitar lines are still very much present, but singer, Jonny Pierce’s lyrics have assumed a deeper, personal tone and coupled with the band’s own more expansive production, ‘Portamento’ is a more complex, but ultimately more rewarding listen than their debut. Emerging from Brooklyn via Florida in 2010, The Drums initially caught the ear of the indie world with their ‘ Summertime! ’ EP - an escapist collection of beach pop fantasies – which preceded their self-titled debut album, released in June 2010. ‘The Drums’ has gone on to sell 200,000 albums world-wide, reflecting

As The Drums begin their inaugural tour of their homeland in September, they’re delighted to announce they will return to the UK this winter with a headline tour, and release double A-side single featuring live favourite, ‘Me and the Moon’ and ‘Down By The Water’ on December 13th. The single and nearly sold out UK tour, look set to cap a remarkable 12 months for The Drums. Last week the band was nominated for “Best New Act” at the Q Awards 2010, which followed the news the band were voted NME’s “Best New Festival Band” (polling 25% of their readers’ votes) – the latter coming after a succession of thrilling UK festival shows including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park, Oxegen and their support slot with Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, London. After selling out their first London Forum show almost immediately, a second show has been announced on Wednesday 24th November. UK headline tour dates: Wednesday 24th November - London HMV Forum ** SOLD OUT ** Thursday 25th November - Lon

The Drums began their inaugural tour of their homeland in September and are now delighted to announce they will return to the UK this winter with a headline tour, and release double A-sided single featuring live favourite, ‘Me and the Moon’ and ‘Down By The Water’ on December 13th . The single and nearly sold out UK tour, look set to cap a remarkable 12 months for The Drums. Last week the band was nominated for “Best New Act” at the Q Awards 2010, which followed the news the band were voted NME’s “Best New Festival Band” (polling 25% of their readers’ votes) – the latter coming after a succession of thrilling UK festival shows including Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds, T in the Park, Oxegen and their support slot with Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, London. After selling out their first London Forum show almost immediately, a second show has been announced on Wednesday 24th November. UK headline tour dates: Wednesday 24th November - London HMV Forum ** SOLD OUT ** Thursday 25th November - L

2010 has seen NYC based quartet The Drums go from being one of the most talked about new bands of the year to being the band most likely to make 2010 their own, with the release of their self-titled debut LP out on June 7th. Off the back of their critically acclaimed Summertime! EP - released in October 2009 on Moshi Moshi Records - The Drums took the coveted opening slot of the NME tour throughout February before being crowned winners of the "Philip Hall Radar Award" at the NME awards. Having played an intimate sold out three-date UK tour during the last week of March (where they were watched by Morrissey, Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths), the band has just put the finishing touches on their debut album, produced by lead singer Jonny Pierce. Joining the dots between the melodic glitter of sixties girl groups and some of Factory Records' finest, The Drums contains 10 brand new tracks with only summer hit-in-waiting Let's Go Surfing and torch-burning, heartb

Florence + The Machine Cosmic Love  Single released - July 12th Island The final single to be taken from the million selling album ‘ Lungs ’ is Florence’s personal favourite - Cosmic Love . A wildly impassioned hymn to the overwhelming supernatural power of love, the epic Cosmic Love has been a show stopping favourite at Florence’s gigs ever since it was first written. Florence is currently on tour in America and played to an ecstatic crowd at the Coachella Festival . She heads back to the UK in May for her sold out Cosmic Love tour as well as a Somerset House show (July 15th) and a headline slot at this years Latitude Festival (July 16th). Cosmic Love May Tour - Florence + The Machine supported by the Drums 05 Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
 06 Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
 07 Empress Ballroom, Blackpool
 09 Empress Ballroom, Blackpool
 10 Civic Theatre, Wolverhampton
 11 Civic Theatre, Wolverhampton
 13 HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London
 14 HMV Hammersmith Apollo, London
 15 HMV

Having just finished the NME Awards Tour with a triumphant show at London’s Brixton Academy, The Drums were crowned winners of the “Philip Hall Radar” award at NME awards last month. The quartet has now announced they will be playing three intimate shows across the UK later this month. Additionally, they’ll be treating fans to a performance and signing at instores in each of the cities: Manchester, London & Glasgow. Tickets for The Drums headline show @ the 900 capacity venue, Heaven on 8th June were put on sale last week and SOLD OUT in one day! An additional date @ Heaven on the 9th June has now been added. Instore Monday 29th March – Classic Grand, Glasgow (Instore @ Avalanche) Tuesday 30th March – Deaf Institute, Manchester (Instore@ 1pm, HMV Arndale) Wednesday 31st March – Old Blue Last, London Thursday 1st April – Instore @ 6pm, Rough Trade, London UK Shows Friday 30th April – Live at Leeds Festival, Leeds Saturday 1st May – Camden Crawl, London Tuesday 8th June – Hea

Tickets for The Drums headline show @ the 900 capacity venue, Heaven on 8th June were put on sale this morning and have SOLD OUT in one day! · Additional date on the 9th June added due to popular demand The Drums announce headline London show @ Heaven in June Band win “Philip Hall Radar” award at NME awards  New single ‘Best Friend’ out March 29th Having just finished the NME Awards Tour with a triumphant show at London’s Brixton Academy , The Drums were crowned winners of the “ Philip Hall Radar ” award at NME awards on February 24th. The quartet have now announced a new London headline show for June plus they’ll be playing Camden Crawl & Live at Leeds Festival as well: 30th April – Live at Leeds Festival, Leeds  1st May – Camden Crawl, London  Tuesday 8th June – Heaven, London  SOLD OUT Wednesday 9th June _ Heaven London New date added by popular demand Heaven, London: Under The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NG Tickets go on sale Friday 12th March £11.50 http