Billy Mahonie return to the road for 1st time in 24 years
British Post-Rock legends - Billy Mahonie - will be hitting the road for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.
Following the release of their highly praised new album “Field of Heads” earlier this year, the London four-piece will be taking it out on a whistle stop tour of the UK this November.
Kicking off at London’s Signature Brew on 6th November, the 11 date tour will also include stops in North Shields, Glasgow Sheffield, Brighton and beyond, before coming to a head at The Village Pump in Trowbridge on 16th November.
Howard Monk, drummer of the band (and also promoter/booking agent who has helped the careers of many household name artists too) booked the tour. Teasing what to expect, Howard says:
“I’m proud that so many folks remembered and wanted to book the band. It’s a cracking tour going to some of the main cities and great, grassroots venues in exciting places where we’ll get to reconnect with old friends. The bands we’re getting to come and play with us are awesome too. We’re going to have to put some work in to make sure we’re on our game!”
The full list of dates are as follows:
BILLY MAHONIE - NOVEMBER TOUR 2024
6 - LONDON Signature Brew
7 - NORTH SHIELDS Three Tanners Bank
8 - GLASGOW Hug’n’Pint
9 - ATHERTON The Snug Coffee House
10 - SOWERBY BRIDGE Puzzle Hall
11 - SHEFFIELD, Hallamshire Hotel
12 - CAMBRIDGE Portland Arms
13 - LEICESTER The Musician
14 - BRIGHTON Prince Albert
15 - EXETER Cavern
16 - TROWBRIDGE The Village Pump
Formed in the first wave of British post-rock alongside the likes of Mogwai in the late 90s, John Peel favourites Billy Mahonie have returned with the first new music from their original line-up in some twenty-four years. Whilst their debut album “The Big Dig” released in 1999 on Too Pure Records, is considered a classic of the post rock genre, Billy Mahonie always crafted their intricate music with memorable hooks and melodies and performed it with energy and gusto. Theirs was not an aimless, meandering sound, instead the songs and attitude were rooted in punk rock, and still are. Billy Mahonie put the rock into post-rock.
Out now via Whistling Sam Projects, new album “Field Of Heads” sees the band returning with their classic original line-up of Gavin Baker (guitar), Howard Monk (drums), Hywell Dinsdale (bass and guitar) and Kevin Penney (bass and guitar). Whilst this line-up has been semi active for a few years, no new material came to fruition. After their last gig in 2017, however, the band decided it was time to get back into the studio, but with two members living abroad new challenges were faced, but ideas were shared, old ones were resurrected and finally in October of 2019, Billy Mahonie were back in the studio.
Recorded over two long weekends on either side of the Covid 19 lockdowns, the band tracked at The Church studios, owned by their former collaborator and front of house engineer Paul Epworth, with senior engineer Luke Pickering at the controls, allowing ‘Field Of Heads’ to quickly take shape.
New single Kaiju gives the music world the first taste of “Field Of Heads” and right from the off, it’s classic Billy Mahonie. Immediately bursting into life with the energy and melody that is so unique to their sound, Howard’s driving drums thrust the music ahead as the guitars and synths weave their way around them. Intricate and shifting, but never at the expense of a tune that sticks in your head. Catch the band touring their latest work in the UK this November.
Check out the Billy Mahonie Kaiju Rehearsal Bootleg Video below:
