Charlatans

‘Glasgow is where it all began,” announces Tim Burgess – singer, listening party host, burgeoning national treasure – from the stage of the city’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom, where his band the Charlatans are playing their 16th show since 1992. Though they hail from Northwich in Cheshire, Glasgow is the only city on this tour getting two nights – a testament to the band’s long-standing affinity with the city and its indie-pop musical heritage. And tonight is a special one: “I put out a tweet saying we’d do Between 10th…

The Charlatans have announced details of a major UK headline tour for November and December.The run, which includes dates at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse and London Troxy, follows the band’s appearances at Y Not and Victorious Festivals alongside a co headline show at Halifax Piece Hall with fellow Mancunion Johnny Marr.The Charlatans have enjoyed more than 30 years in the music business, establishing themselves as a force in British music. They’ve achieved 13 Top 40 studio albums, including three number ones, and…

At 10pm on 23 March 2020, Tim Burgess tweeted: “OK. Drop the needle on the record/press play/start streaming. We’re going in…” and an online phenomenon began. Elsewhere in the news that day: “UK could face Italy-style lockdown, warns Boris Johnson”; “No 10 denies Dominic Cummings argued to ‘let old people die’”; “Trump says unproven coronavirus drugs could be ‘gift from God’”; and, “Funeral directors told to make masks out of ‘towels and bin liners’.” Yes, astonishingly, the early days of the pandemic were even grimmer…