Up and coming young upstarts Hardwicke Circus have announced that they will be touring the South East at the end of the month. The six-piece group who are under the management of Stiff Records founder Dave Robinson have recently been in Perivale Studio owned by Pat Collier formerly of The Vibrators recording a new ep with producer Terry Edwards.
Says frontman Johnny Foster “We have been looking forward to getting to grips with the South Coast for a good while to bring our Carlisle music down to the sea.” Adds Robinson “This tour will be great for The Hardwicke’s. “Playing a lot of dates in Kent and the South Coast will show them off big time.”
Hardwicke Circus have for some time now been building a reputation as one of the most vibrant young bands to emerge from the UK. Their bluesy-punk sound has been compared to the likes of the E Street Band and Southside Johnny as well as The Doors and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.
Live is where they built up their fanbase which is unsurprising as they are a band that needs to be seen as much as listened to. Foster in particular has the makings of a classic rock n roll frontman being reminiscent of classic-era Mick Jagger. However, they are not a completely retro act, with their classic sound having a modern spin on it.
Comments Foster “It’s a very visual thing, and I think people like to see the seven of us on stage. “You don’t really find that in modern bands. I’ve always liked the big band and I always aspired to play in one, with cinematic songs. To have seven people channel that same vision, I think we’re really lucky.”
“The bands I’m into and the singers I like, it’s always ‘Do they have something to say.” That’s the attitude I take. If you’ve got that, it translates on stage. Yes, it’s a performance, but at the same time, there’s something quite sincere about it. You completely immerse yourself in that lifestyle, and all the bands we’re into have that ethos.”
Hailing from Carilse in Cumbria, the bands name comes from a famous roundabout in the town. “Three years ago we were under a different name, then we got a group of songs together and realised that with this new direction, we needed to change the name. There’s an art and performance thing about the name Hardwicke Circus, which we like.”
In addition to their loyal fanbase they have also met the approval of several gurus of production. They have worked with Peter Collins who has produced Bon Jovi and Rush as well as Chris Tsangarides who has worked with everyone from Thin Lizzy to Depeche Mode.
Full list of tour dates:
Fri 29 Mar – Vinyl Tap, Preston
Sat 30 Mar – The Cavern, Raynes Park, London
Sun 31Mar – Balabam, Tottenham, London
Thur 4 Apr – Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate
Fri 5 Apr – The Lighthouse, Deal
Sat 6 Apr – The Half Moon, Putney, London
Sun 7 Apr – Latest Music Bar, Brighton
Mon 8 Apr – The Holroyd Arms, Guildford
Tue 9 Apr – The Railway Hotel, Southend
Wed 10 Apr – Hotel Pelirocco, Brighton
Fri 12 Apr – Blackmarket VIP, Hastings
Sat 13 Apr – The Rose & Crown, Walthamstow, London
Sun 14 Apr – The Duke of Cumberland, Whitstable
Thur 18 Apr – The Bedford, Balham, London
Fri 19 Apr – The Magic Garden, Battersea, London
