THE LIBERTINES

MARGATE WEEKEND OF INTIMATE GIGS

This weekend of the 8, 9, 10th December saw people from around the globe descend on the seaside town of Margate in Kent for a series of incredibly intimate one off shows by legendary rock band THE LIBERTINES.

Proceedings kicked off at the boys in the band’s HQ; THE ALBION ROOMS in Margate on Friday for an evening of live music from ALBION, DARLINGS and Peter Doherty’s Strap Originals label signee EVAN WILLIAMS.

Saturday’s proceedings kicked off at the somewhat intimate venue for a band of this calibre at the CLIFF BAR at the LIDO ( 500 cap)

The stage was warmed up nicely by THOMAS URWIN and LO BARNES.

The room filled with an air of anticipation and the crowd simply erupted when the band took to the stage. Their set was eclectic and electric from start to finish showing that these boys are on top form returned with the release of new music just over 8 years since their last release.

The band mixed old and new performing long standing firm favourites such as ‘THE BOY LOOKED AT JOHNNY’ ‘THE LIKELY LADS’ ‘WHAT KATIE DID’ ‘ UP THE BRACKET’ ‘CANT STAND ME NOW’ as well as treating loyal fans who had rushed to buy tickets for these special gigs (completely sold out within minutes) to exclusive first plays of brand new material which is to feature on their upcoming new album ‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’

The brand new tracks included the recently released ‘RUN, RUN, RUN’ the brand new track of ‘NIGHT OF THE HUNTER’ which was released in the week in the lead up to the shows as well as previously never heard before tracks of ‘ OH SHIT’ ‘ MUSTANG’ ‘MAN WITH THE MELODY’ ‘MERRY OLD ENGLAND’ and ‘HAVE A FRIEND’ as well as the next single to be unleashed ‘SHIVER’. ( which they also managed to record the music video for on the Sunday morning featuring a host of local Margate residents)

The new album title ‘ALL QUIET ON THE EASTERN ESPLANADE’ references the band’s hotel, studio, restaurant and bar, The Albion Rooms, which they named after their infamous flat in East London which served as an early residence of the band , and which opened its doors in September 2020 and which is situated at 31 Eastern Esplanade in Margate.

Things were anything but quiet on the Eastern Esplanade this weekend however with two shows being played a stones throw away at The Lido, as well as a ‘not so secret gig’ at a Carl Barat’s nightclub in the town, JUSTINES on the Saturday night and an extremely intimate gig at THE ALBION ROOMS pre Lido gig on the Sunday afternoon.

The acoustic Sunday afternoon set was hosting outside and despite the rain, spirits were not dampened as fans were treated to a very special intimate set from the band.

By the time of the final show at the LIDO on the Sunday came around it was clear that the boys had really settled into the swing of things and it palpalble to see how much they werw enjoying themselves as well.

The Lido’s proceedings were opened up by local folk singer/hotel owner/friend of the band MORAG BUTLER and was followed up by the sensational MAX BIANCO who was hand picked to play by Carl Barat after watching him perform at at an open mic night at his nightclub in the town; Justines.

It was hot, it was sweaty it was bloody fantastic!!

Drummer, Gary Powell summed the weekend up by telling fans how they were all such gorgeous people and how proud they should all be for making the world that little bit better; all being together in one place and letting the love and music reign free.

There was so much love in that room it was palpable; a weekend never to be forgotten.

‘All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade’ will be released on March 8, and will be preceded by a tour of intimate club gigs across the UK in January and February dubbed The Albiony Tour, which the band have described as a return to “[their] roots in these small sweaty clubs, where [they] can see the whites of the crowds eyes”.