Legendary Australian band The Church have announced two dates in London which are to take place this summer. At this event they will be playing their “Starfish” and “Séance” in their entirety. The weekend will also feature solo sets from band members and a screening of Jean Cocteau’s film “Wood on The Poet” with a live improvised soundtrack. There will also be tracks from Steve Kilby’s 2008 solo album “Painkiller” plus material from related bands Jack Frost and Far Out Corporation formed by Kilby and Ian Haug with The Go Between’s Grant McLennan. Tickets can be obtained here.The Steve Kilby biopic film “Something Quite Perculiar” is being screened tonight at the Regent Street Cinema as part of the Vive Le Rock sponsored Sound screen festival. He is also playing a solo show at the Islington in London.
The Church formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave, neo-psychedelia and indie rock, their music later became reminiscent of dream pop and post rock. The founding members were Kilby on lead vocals and bass, Peter Koppes and Marty Wilson-Piper on guitars and Nick Ward on drums. Ward left after the first album and they went through a succession of drummer throughout their career as well as other personnel.
Their debut album “Of Skins and Heart” released in 1981 produced their first radio hit “The Unguarded Moment” and they got signed to major labels in Australia, Europe and The United States. However, the got dropped by their American label after they were unsatisfied with the bands second album and subsequently did not release it. This proved to be a problem for the band’s international success but they did eventually achieve chart success again in 1988 with the album “Starfish” which featured “Under the Milky Way” which was a top 40 hit in the states. Subsequently they have not had much mainstream success but have remained a cult band with a dedicated following and in 2010 were inducted into Sydney’s ARIA Hall of Fame. They continue to tour and record.
London Dates
Saturday 8th June-Bush Hall, Shepard’s Bush
Sunday 9th June- Bush Hall, Shepard’s Bush
