We’ve always held the opinion that when tickets for a Madness gig go on sale, and if you’re able to afford them, you get your order in as soon as you can as you don’t want to risk them selling out before you’ve snapped some up.
If you were hoping to catch the band at the Galway International Arts Festival on Friday 27th July and have yet to purchase a ticket you may be out of luck as this event is now showing as having sold out.
The band are also performing the following day, this time at the 3 Arena in Dublin (with support from The Lightning Seeds). If you want to attend this gig but haven’t bagged a ticket then you really need to get a move on. News has reached us detailing that the event only has a few tickets remaining.
See below for all forthcoming Madness and Madness related gigs and events. If there’s something we’ve missed off or you feel should be added then please let us know.
Available only for the next couple of weeks. These official Madness T-shirt’s feature lyrics from the Magnum Opus song The Liberty of Norton Folgate. They will be shipped on July 20th, available only for this limited time period.
Available in 3 sizes, the profit is going to the Music Venture Trust.
Lee Thompson’s One Man’s Madness DVD & CD Soundtrack
Lee ‘Kix’ Thompson is a most unlikely character. Early career choices had him spend a year in Borstal. He still hasn’t found the receipt for his first saxophone. Luckily, he met two other unlikely characters: Mike ‘Barso’ Barson and ‘Chrissy Boy’ Foreman, who shared his interests of graffiti, train hopping and music.
One Man’s Madness, a feature length rocku-docu-mockumentary directed by Jeff Baynes, tells the story of Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson, told by Lee and his fellow Madness band mates, his family, friends and musicologists, who strangely all look a little like him! From meeting Barso and Chrissy Boy, and later Suggs, Chas, Woody and Bedders, to becoming one of Britain’s most iconic and successful bands, this joyous and light-hearted film follows the path of Lee’s life through his lyrics and songs, including such Madness classics as The Prince, Embarrassment, House Of Fun, Lovestruck and NW5.
Two CD set. Original soundtrack to the 2018 documentary about Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson. Includes tracks from Madness, Crunch, ‘Thommosina Leigh’, Ian Dury, and the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra. Including Hidden Tracks.
New Mad store T-shirts
New T-shirts are now in stock for the summer gigs. They including a fetching Morris Minor car picture harking back to Driving in My Car video and the Mad 7 number plate, with the paraphrase lyrics From Muswell Hill to Selsey Bill!
Danceable and delightful, this debut album of the band’s much loved original songs pushes on through, breaking the mould of standard ska cover band. Catchy tunes and powerful brass and rhythm section make this a must-listen. Featuring Lee Thompson.
I Remember Way Back When
This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby goes back in time to report on what was going on in the world of Madness 5 years, 10 and 15 years ago this week.
5 years ago…
Issue Number: 741 – Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th July 2013
It was stilll sweltering here in Blighty, and while the the MIS subscriber base had, we assumed, been relaxing in their back gardens, at the seaside or by the pool we’d been slaving away over our keyboards in an effort to bring you this week’s issue.
From gig dates and gig reviews to details of Madstore sales and Dury art kickstarters, we had it all for you this week and a lot more besides.
Moving past the regular gig and merchandise lists we were into our “Live and Intensified” article, and this Jonathan Young gave us a lengthy review of the recent Ska Orchestra gig held at Brockworth Jungle, a free festival in Lambeth.
“It’s a pretty full and long set of nearly all the Ska Orchestra songs. Although the sun doesn’t peek out for Alison Limerick, it arrives for the ska orchestra. Line up tonight again features guest bassman Tadman, and guitarist Andy Riley. Darren Smith in the brass line up with Steve turner, Chalky and Bob. Drummer Mez, and the two faithful keyboardists”.
Next, it was on to this week’s feature, which this time covered the legendary Blockhead Norman Watt-Roy.
He’d been an inspiration for Madness during his time in The Blockheads, and he’d collaborated with the magnificent seven several times, even joining the band for Live and studio work in the past.
But this was the first time Norman has put together a solo album. Entitled Faith and Grace, this was his first album in 43 years of playing.
“When I started it wasn’t going to be an album. Gilad Atzmon was working with me on some instrumental pieces I wanted to do. Gil as producer liked the results of these couple of pieces.
He said I should do some more. Make a CD and include some songs. I said “I don’t know I’m a bass player not a singer.” Then at the time my late wife Pattie started saying “do something for yourself. So I thought Why Not.” So I thought I’d cover one of Ian’s songs, and one of Wilcko’s. I chose Billericay Dickie. I didn’t want the album too Jazzy but to pay tribute to Jaco Pastorius who it like king of the bass. “
Record Collector Magazine loved it, giving the album a very respectable 4 out of 5.
In our “Tweets of a Dove” section we featured Mike Barson, Woody, Bedders and even Paul Tadman who had this to say about the Beockwell Park gig;
“F**k me that was fun! I’m on a high chums. Friends one and all I know I’m standing in for Bedders in this Orchestra lark but thank you for such a great response this afternoon at Beockwell Park., it’s not often I get asked for a Mark King / Norman Watt Roy style bass solo off the cuff but always glad to oblige. South London done me proud today.
Bless you gang …
I love you all x”
We brought this issue to a close by reporting that we’d finally taken delivery of issue 14 of the excellent Mad Not Mad fanzine. We were hoping to have an in-depth review, but work and other commitments had meant that you’d have to wait until next week.
10 years ago…
Issue 481 – Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th July 2008
The big rumour doing the rounds this week was that Madness were apparently lined-up, along with Oasis, Lily Allen and Kelly Rowland, to perform at a knife crime awareness gig in London’s Finsbury Park this September.
A few music news web sites had reported on this over the past few days, but we recommended that until you’d heard this from a more substantial and reliable source you should take it with a pinch of salt.
On to music re-releases, and Jean-Pierre Boutellier got in touch to tell us that the legendary One Step Beyond album was about to receive a rerelease as a picture disc, as a date and catalogue number had just been issues.
Unfortunately, this was the first we’d heard about it, and the only info JP had to offer. If we heard anything else we promised to let you know.
We kicked this week’s collection of articles off with a rummage through the archives, and a journey back to 1995, when Suggs was interviewed about his first solo album. In it he commented on a number of tracks including Camden Town and Green Eyes, and revealed that “Fortune Fish” was one of the names shortlisted for the album title.
Next, it was over to Mojo magazine, and their preview of The Liberty of Norton Folgate, which was due out in September.
By the time you read this the group will have unveiled the album at London’s Hackney Empire, but Smyth says he’s still not sure he can see the end in sight. “We’ve written so many songs for it,” he says. “The ambition is to have totally strong content to make it one of those certain albums you play as a whole. So y’know… I hope it’s like Sgt. Pepper’s.”
Now, whether you thought the previous week’s reworked lyrics from Dan Fossard were truly awful, or a great amusing aside, you’d not doubt be equally horrified or delighted by the latest punning sensations from Mr Iain Mason.
Many of you had heard the Hackney Podcast MISCast1 by now, beginning as it did with our discovery that the Hackney Empire had lumped the Folgate shows in promotionally with the start of their “Spice” festival – a series of entertainment shows they were trying to link together. Iain promised 400 puns about it when he got back to work. And sure enough 2 days later we got this…
1. Solid Tarragon
2. Driving In My Paprika
3. Thyme
4. Saffrony Night, Sunday Morning
5. Embarrassmint
6. Tears You Can’t Chive
7. It Must Be Lovage
8. Madras (Is All In The Mind)
9. Primrose Dill
10. Are You Cumin (With Me)
11. Clove Escape
12. Johnny The Horseradish
13. Night Boat To Carob
14. Tarzan’s Nutmeg
15. Please Don’t Ginkgo
16. That’s The Caraway To Do It
17. Cayenne Shame
19. No Cinammoney
20. That Mace
21. Bed & Breakfast Mandrake
22. Cardamommy’s Boy
23. Sunday Myrrhning
24. NW Fivespice
25. Mr Speaker Gets The Wort
26. Missing Eucalyptus
27. Tamarind’s (Just Another Day)
28. Salts Into Mischief
29. The Liberty Of Norton Fennelgate
30. Edelweiss Heat
Elsewhere in this issue we had news of a new download for the die-hard fans out there. Entitled “Lost in Nassau”, and weighing in at around 12 minutes in length, this recording consisted mainly of instrumentals, from a pre-release of the 7 album. All this was presented by Mr Bosh, who turned out to be non other than Carl!
We brought this week’s issue to a close with a nice review of the Our House performance at The Theatre Royal, Glasgow, on the 4th of July, a mammoth write-up from Jonathan and Mikel, detailing their recent Spanish Madness exploits, and brought the issue to a close with details of a new Dance Brigade track which had just been uploaded to MySpace.
15 years ago…
Issue 219 – Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th July 2003
With me facing the joys of moving home, Jonathan took up the slack and single-handedly out this week’s issue together. A task made all the more challenging, as it was such a quiet news week.
Although not listed on any advertising materials, it seemed that an extra date was about to be added to the forthcoming Christmas tour, if Carl’s hints that the string of dates would see the tour starting in Dublin was anything to go by. Only time would tell if it would be officially announced, and added to the line-up.
With interest in the Madness Weekender in Great Yarmouth growing, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when certain people started contacting the organisers with “please reserve me a room and I’ll then send a cheque”, style emails.
One of the organisers, Vince Carden, was quick to point out that the hotel wanted to see the colour of people’s money before they’d book a room in their name. Vince also pointed out;
“The other reason for paying early is to avoid the possibility of sleeping with somebody you don’t want to sleep with – I mean in the same room, that’s not a reference to beer goggles! Oh yes, there’ll be no falling for lamposts in Great Yarmouth…”
Being so short on news this week left Jonathan with a little quandary as to how he should fill the issue. In the end he decided to pad it out with a large chunk of script from the issue of long defunct TVseries, ‘Press Gang’, which featured Suggs in a one-off appearance as a pop star ‘Jason Wood’.
Rob Hazelby
MIS Feature
French fan Talks to Chris about Madness now and next year.
Posted this week to the French MIS – After the gig this week in southern France…
Cedric Caillaud spoke to Chrissy boy about the 40th, the world cup, Brexit, The next album of songs and more.
Chris said a London Madness Exhibition was possible for next year, and another tour at the end of the year, and concerts, even an album is possible. But that plans are still top secret, and an album not yet started in terms of recording.
He played two instrumental backing track demos on his phone of tunes he had been working on on guitar (that sounded like work movin on from his recent Grandslam demo last time out).
Jonathan Young
Sign of the Times
Gazette Review – Alnwick Castle Madness
Alnwick was awash with pork pie hats, fezes and monochome chequered T-shirts yesterday as the town was struck by more than a touch of madness.
It wasn’t a new fashion wave nor traditional dress, although the black-and-white pattern could be misconstrued as a magnified version of the Northumberland tartan.
No, it was an invasion of ska, with the kings of Two Tone headlining the latest in the spectacular Summer House Sounds concerts in the Pastures opposite Alnwick Castle
Madness were here and their legion of fans were going to make their presence felt. The streets were awash and the pubs overflowing – with strains of Baggy Trousers
and Our House blasting from bars, vehicles and groups of happy revellers enjoying impromptu singalongs.
The weather was perfect, the setting was perfect and, guess what, the music was perfect – all three bands, including supports The Lightning Seeds and The Tailormade, delivered … and some!
From the moment, The Tailormade cried ‘Hello Hogwarts’, this concert was magic. There was already a fantastic atmosphere, laced with a canny dollop of nuttiness that harked back to the heyday of ska in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
But both the warm-up acts were excellent, the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show house band, The Tailormade, kicking off with a catchy set of vibrant tunes that started
the vast crowd jumping. I reckon there will be a new band of fans and a few downloads made after that performance, edgy, fun and on message.
Next up was The Lightning Seeds, who headlined the recent Northumberland Live concert at Blyth, with a short set of some of their numbers. There was a lot of love for the Seeds – they could have played for another half-hour for my liking.
Sadly, England didn’t quite reach today’s World Cup Final, which would have prompted a rendition of the Seeds’ most famous song – frontman Ian Broudie collaborating with Baddiel and Skinner for Three Lions, the football anthem of choice these days. The crowd did their best to persuade them to give it a shot anyway, with their own chorus of It’s Coming Home in between songs, but to no avail.
By then, the anticipation had reached fever pitch, suitable headwear had been donned and there was a rush to get closer to the stage. And so, to the glorious refrains of One Step Beyond, our heroes appeared, the charismatic Suggs captivating throughout, backed by five of the seven original members of one of Britain’s favourite groups.
“Look at this lot,” Suggs said, gesturing to the band. “I’m surprised they’re all still alive!”
Amazing saxophonist Lee Thompson, guitarist Chris Foreman, Mike Barson on keyboards, drummer Dan Woodgate and bassist Mark Bedford all played their part.
While they may have lost some of their energy, they are still engaging and brilliant live. And the sight of hundreds of red felt fezes bouncing up and down was amazing! The staging and lighting was not the flashest I’ve ever seen – no big screen for those stuck at the back of the field – but to be honest, it was not required – it was the sound and the near-the-knuckle banter that took the honours.
After a blast of Embarrassment, Suggs and Co took us back to beginning when they burst onto the music scene in 1979 with The Prince.
Hit after hit rolled then off the set – My Girl, The Sun and the Rain (which inappropriately, in the middle of a 1976-style heatwave, begins ‘It’s raining again’, as Suggs pointed out) and Wings of A Dove among them.
But it was when they hit their only UK number one (incredibly), House of Fun, that the party shifted into overdrive. Baggy Trousers, Our House and It Must Be Love followed and the audience were in a crazy sort of delirium, reminiscent of those daft days nearly 40 years ago – oh, what a laugh we had!
An encore was a necessity – no one was going nowhere, as the boys from Camden Town would put it.
Their theme tune Madness and Night Boat to Cairo wrapped up what was a fantastic night for those of us old enough to enjoy a bit of silliness way back when and
a whole new generation of younger fans indoctrinated by a legion of blokes like me giving dad-dancing a bad name.
Paul Larkin
Time
That’s almost it for this week, but before we go, we’ve just got time to tell you that Ska band Dakka Skanks have been added to the 2018 line up for The House of Fun weekender. They’ll be part of the Saturday night main stage line up, coming on before Madness.
