Anticipated: 2014 Q1 Live

By Tom Aylott

Rx Bandits return to the UK this February

Last week we took a look at the releases we’re most excited about in the first quarter of 2014, and today we’re turning our eye to gigs. This year looks fantastic for tours so far, and though we’re already a couple of weeks in, the first three months have plenty to offer – despite being festival free!

We’ve also got some amazing Punktastic Presents… stuff coming up (starting from February) that we can’t wait to announce, so keep your eyes peeled for that… Here’s the tours and gigs we’re most excited about (in tour start date order);

RX Bandits

One of our favourite bands of all time, RX Bandits have returned to celebrate the anniversary of ‘The Resignation’, and bring the brass back to the UK for the first time in A LONG TIME in a few weeks. Do not miss.

JANUARY
29 BRISTOL Fleece
30 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
31 MANCHESTER Academy 3

FEBRUARY
01 LEEDS Cockpit
04 BIRMINGHAM Hare & Hounds
05 PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms
06 LONDON Scala

We Are The In Crowd / Neck Deep / Save Your Breath

Hopeless Records’ WATIC and new signings Neck Deep both have new albums in early 2014, and to celebrate they’re out with Save Your Breath – who are supporting their recent effort as well. A big pop punk tour to get down so early in the year.

JANUARY
29 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
30 LEEDS Cockpit

FEBRUARY
01 GLASGOW Garage
02 NEWCASTLE University
03 LIVERPOOL O2 Academy 2
05 MANCHESTER Academy 2
06 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy 2
07 BRISTOL Fleece
08 PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms
10 LONDON KoKo

Less Than Jake / Reel Big Fish / Zebrahead

Most ska punk tours that can shift tickets these days feature one of Less Than Jake or Reel Big Fish, and with them teaming up for a UK tour with Zebrahead in early 2014, this was an unmissable prospect for those who aren’t too fussed about ska not being cool. We love a bit of LTJ – and their new album is excellent – so come and join us, wearing your very best shorts.

FEBRUARY
01 CARDIFF Great Hall
02 BRISTOL O2 Academy
03 MANCHESTER Academy
04 NEWCASTLE O2 Academy
05 GLASGOW O2 ABC
06 LEEDS O2 Academy
07 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
08 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
10 NORWICH UEA
11 OXFORD O2 Academy
12 PORTSMOUTH Pyramids
13 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
14 LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
15 LONDON O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

Losing Sleep / T-Shirt Weather

Losing Sleep and T-Shirt Weather put out a split earlier in the month (we streamed it ahead of release). It’s brilliant, and the bands are having a release show with Moose Blood and Young Attenborough in London in early February to celebrate.

FEBRUARY
08 LONDON Gallery Cafe

A Day To Remember / Mallory Knox / Every Time I Die / The Story So Far

As well as this monster line up, Every Time I Die and The Story So Far will be embarking on shows around the UK as well, so people are really being spoiled this February for shows. ADTR’s controversial album release has some arena sized hits on it, so these shows are only appropriate really.

FEBRUARY
08 CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
12 LONDON Alexandra Palace
14 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
15 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo

We Are Knuckle Dragger / Let’s Talk Daggers / Shitwife / Grin & Bear It / Flowers Of Evil

Another excellent London show here, and even better – it’s free! We Are Knuckle Dragger and Let’s Talk Daggers are excellent live, and we’re looking forward to seeing the rest in the flesh for the first time as well…

FEBRUARY
16 LONDON Old Blue Last

Taking Back Sunday

Long time champions of the emo/pop punk scene, Taking Back Sunday are coming back to the UK for only two shows in February – visiting London and Coventry for some relatively intimate performances to support the release of their new album ‘Happiness Is’.

FEBRUARY
23 COVENTRY Kasbah
26 LONDON Koko

Arms Aloft

We can’t wait to see Arms Aloft on their forthcoming European shows, spread all across February and March, featuring Calvinball in the UK on most dates!

FEBRUARY
26 ILLINGEN (GER) Juz
27 LANDSHUT (GER) Wintergarten
28 MICHELDORF (AT) Baraka

MARCH
02 MARIBOR (SI) Gustaf Hall
03 GRAZ (AT) Sub
06 NURNBERG (GER) Zentralcafe
07 BERLIN (GER) Cassiopeia
08 ARPKE (GER) Jugendtreff Hinterhof
10 LEUVEN (BEL) Rock Cafe
11 LILLE (F) Monk’s Bar
12 PARIS (F) La Mechanique Ondulatoire
13 BRIGHTON (UK) Sticky Mike’s w/ Calvinball
14 LONDON (UK) The Urban Bar (White Chapel) w/ Calvinball
15 BASINGSTOKE (UK) Sanctuary w/ Calvinball
16 BIRMINGHAM (UK) Scruffy Murphys w/ Calvinball
17 MANCHESTER (UK) tba w/ Calvinball
18 CARDIFF (UK) Gwdihw w/ Calvinball
19 PLYMOUTH (UK) White Rabbit
20 SOUTHAMPTON (UK) The Avondale
21 HOUTHALEN (BEL) Crossbone Fest
22 HEIDELBERG (GER) Villa Nachttanz
23 LEIPZIG (GER) Kulturcafe Manfred
24 MAINZ (GER) Haus Mainusch

Yearbook / Brawlers

Yet another awesome free London show, with the excellent Yearbook and the swiftly rising Brawlers taking on the Old Blue Last this March for our friends at Brain Wave.

MARCH
07 LONDON Birthdays

Architects

Architects are back with a brand new album on Epitaph in 2014, and we for one can’t wait to see the new songs live after checking out the first single from the release. The band have plenty of massive tunes in the arsenal as well – so these should be great.

MARCH
07 MANCHESTER Academy 2
09 SHEFFIELD Leadmill
11 CARDIFF Solus
12 BIRMINGHAM Institute
13 SOUTHAMPTON Mo’ Club
14 LONDON Camden KOKO

All Time Low / Tonight Alive / Only Rivals

Another massive pop punk tour follows the WATIC one, this time with another Hopeless Records band! All Time Low are bringing Tonight Alive and rising pop punks Only Rivals along for the ride, so expect plenty of bouncy choruses!

MARCH
08 LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
09 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
10 NEWCASTLE O2 Academy
11 GLASGOW O2 Academy
13 MANCHESTER Academy
14 MANCHESTER Academy
15 LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
17 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
18 BEFLAST Ulster Hall
19 DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
21 GLASGOW O2 Academy

A Wilhelm Scream / Gnarwolves

We shouldn’t really have to say a lot about this tour. You’re mad to miss it. If you can go. Go.

MARCH
11 LEEDS Cockpit 2
13 NORWICH Waterfront Studio
15 LONDON Borderline

Code Orange Kids / Twitching Tongues

2014 is shaping up excellently for Hardcore fans, and this joint tour from Code Orange Kids and Twitching Tongues should have people salivating. Code Orange Kids really are exciting, and this will be the first time we’ll have seen a headline show from the band. Stoked.

MARCH
14 FRANKFURT Elfer
15 LICHTENSTEIN JZ Riot
16 HAMBURG Hafenklang
17 MÜNCHEN Feierwerk
18 BUDAPEST Dürer Kery
19 VIENNA Arena
20 PRAGUE 007
21 ESSEN Cafe Nova
22 EDEGEM JH Nootuitgang
23 LONDON Camden Underworld
24 LEICESTER Scholar
25 GLASGOW Audio
26 MANCHESTER Star and Garter
27 PARIS TBA
28 STUTTGART Juha West
29 DORDRECHT Northcote Festival
30 BERLIN Cassiopeia

Takedown Festival 2014

Last but not least… Funeral For A Friend, Kids In Glass Houses, Turbowolf and many more excellent bands are taking to Southampton this March at the return of Takedown festival. It’s one of the UK’s earlier festival events of the year – but it’s well worth getting stretching those muscles ahead of Hit The Deck, Groezrock and the like from April onwards.

MARCH
15 SOUTHAMPTON University

And…. breath.