‘Hardest working band in rock’ hit the road again

The band will be playing at the Mandela Hall, after their show was upgraded due to popular demand, on Thursday April 12.

The Belfast date comes just ahead of the release of their infectious new single ‘Make A Beast of Myself’, which is due to be released on April 23.

The UK and Ireland tour, which includes dates in Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Derry, comes hot on the heels of a successful US tour, which saw the band travel the States to promote their current album ‘Free’.

Made up of Sam on lead vocals and guitar, Ross on bass, piano and vocals, Barry on guitar, cello and vocals and Craig on drums and vocals, Twin Atlantic were formed in Glasgow in 2007 and have been recording and touring every since.

“We have always kept getting really good offers and it is hard to say ‘no’,” explained Ross. “It seems like we are always doing something. We feel lucky because we are being offered things when so many people aren’t.

“We were in the US and did a couple of tours back to back,” he continued. “It feels like we have been away for a long time but when you get an opportunity to do something like that you just have to do it.”

It is notoriously difficult for British bands to break into the US market, but Twin Atlantic have been pleased with their State-side success. “It was hard in many ways but we have a good and loyal fanbase over there,” continued Ross.

“We have just released our new album there and it is the first time we have had a proper release there so the next six to twelve months will tell how it is going.”

The band have been touring ‘Free’ since last year and are hoping to introduce some new material over the summer, when they hit the festival circuit.

“At the minute we are in the middle of sorting out the festival dates. We know we are playing the main stage at T in the Park and we have had a few other offers in as well,” said Ross.

“We will be touring on the back of our last album until the summer and we will try to have a new song out over the summer as well. We are just finalising that at the moment.

“There was an amazing response to the last album and the shows we are doing on this tour are the biggest we have ever done.”

Living up to their reputation as one of the hardest working bands in rock, the band will be taking a short break after the summer but already have plans to hit the studio again, with hopes of releasing a new album early next year.

“We are going to try to record at some stage,” he continued. “We have quite a lot of things written. We are trying to work through that to see if we still think it’s good and we hope to release something at the start of the year.”

Before that, however, they have a new tour to get out of the way and the band are looking forward to their return visit to Belfast next week.

“Because the UK is where we are from and were we started, it is where most people know us,” explained Ross. “Playing in the UK and Ireland is the best feeling for us.”

There was such demand for tickets in Belfast, the promoters decided to upgrade the venue, with the band now scheduled to take to the stage of Mandela Hall next Thursday (April 12).

“It was really exciting that Belfast sold out quickly and that they upgraded the venue. We’ve played there before and it is a cool room so we are really looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the Belfast show are on sale now from all usual Ticketmaster outlets.

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