23 September 2014
John Reed
Irish rockers The Boomtown Rats, led by musician/philanthropist Bob Geldof, are returning to America for two gigs this month at the Terminal 5 in New York City on September 26, 2014 and The Royale in Boston, MA on September 28, 2014. After these handful of shows, the band will return to the U.K. for a slew of shows in October and November (tour dates are below).
The band, which presently consists of original members Geldof, Pete Briquette (bass), Simon Crowe (drums), and Garry Roberts (guitar), officially reformed in 2013, but have not performed in the States since the 1980’s.
While it’s well known that Geldof (and the band members) were involved in the “Band Aid” and “Live Aid” projects in the mid-80’s, The Boomtown Rats also scored 12 Top 40 hits in the U.K. between 1979 to 1982 ("I Don't Like Mondays" charted on two separate occasions, the last time in a 1994 re-issue which made it to #38 on the charts). Until the reunion, the bands last official gig had been in 1986 at the “Self Aid” concert (“Self Aid” was a concert to raise consciousness on the state of unemployment in Ireland).
When asked why the band is regrouping, Geldof has stated that he felt it was “the right time to re-Rat, to go back to Boomtown for a visit."
And the time is right.
Upon their return in 2013, the band performed a killer set at the Isle of Wight Festival. Post-Festive, Geldof exclaimed that, "It's weird. I'd forgotten how powerful a band The Rats are!"
While the re-grouping of the Rats is huge news in itself, the band is also bringing along fellow Ireland-based bands The
Sutnning and Munday (who performed at The White House in Washington on St. Patrick’s Day this year) as openers, and the shows will hosted by Irish comedian Joe Rooney. The package tour is being called “The Big Session.”
Tour dates for The Boomtown Rats:
SEPTEMBER
Friday 26th - Terminal 5, NYC, USA
Sunday 28th - Royale, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
OCTOBER
Saturday 18th - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
Sunday 19th - Newcastle 02 Academy
Monday 20th - Glasgow 02 ABC
Wednesday 22nd - Sheffield 02 Academy
Thursday 23rd - Liverpool 02 Academy
Saturday 25th - Manchester Ritz
Sunday 26th - Lincoln Engine Shed
Tuesday 28th - Leamington Spa Assembley
Wednesday 29th - Bristol 02 Academy
Friday 31st - Portsmouth Pyramids Centre
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1st - Oxford 02 Academy
Monday 3rd - Cambridge, The Junction
Tuesday 4th - Leicester 02 Academy
Thursday 6th - Bournemouth 02 Academy
Friday 7th - London, The Forum
Sunday 9th - Great Hall, Exeter
