Feeling The Beat…

Get your pork-pie hat at the ready as ska superstars The Beat are back at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt on Friday 10 June!

Formed in the working class suburbs of industrial Birmingham in England in 1978 The Beat arose at a time of high unemployment and social upheaval. From the outset the band offered messages of hope and peace with an insight into sociopolitical topics would later alongside The Specials see them heralded as forerunners of the whole 2-Tone Ska movement.

After the band originally split in the 80s they reformed for a huge reunion gig at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The overwhelming success inspired the band to head back out on the road. Effortlessly fusing Ska, Punk, Pop, Soul and Reggae, its no wonder they’re still playing to thousands across the UK.

Over the past 30 years The Beat have created themselves a very impressive résumé; Three platinum selling albums, five Top 10 hits, huge airplay in the U.S, world tours alongside artists such as The Clash, The Police, REM, Talking Heads, The Pretenders and of course The Specials.

 With a new line up featuring original lead singer Ranking Roger, drummer Everett Morton plus the talents of Matthew Goodwin (sax), Steven Harper (guitar), Mickey Billingham (keyboardist, Dexy’s Midnight Runners), Andy Pearson (bass) and Murphy ‘Rankin’ Jr (vocals, Ordinary Boys), don’t miss out as they take on classic hits Mirror In The Bathroom, Tears of a Clown, Can’t Get Used to Losing You and Hands Off… She’s Mine.

Confirmed, as support are Middlesbrough’s Modern Works. Mixing trippy sixties psychedelia with a bombastic, contemporary pop sound, Modern Works are a classic mod four piece.

Imagine the Small Faces catchier moments dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and given a high-velocity blues treatment, all draped in the archetypal regalia of the best sharp-dressing British bands needle-sharp denim, mod roundels and fringes you could sharpen a razor blade with.

The Beat, Fri 10 June, 8pm, £15.

LINKS:

TOWN HALL:    http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/what-s-on/what-s-on-arts-and-entertainment/town-hall-whats-on/

THE BEAT:    http://www.thebeatofficial.com/

By peter on June 9, 2011