Molly Hatchet UK Tour Dates announced!

 

Molly Hatchet UK Tour Dates Announced!

June 2023

 
29th     CHISELHURST – Beaverwood Club
 
July 2023
 
1st        BUCKLEY – Tivoli
2nd       BRADFORD – Nightrain
4th        BILSTON – Robin 2
5th        LONDON – 100 Club
6th        TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Forum
7th        EXETER – Phoenix
Connect with MOLLY HATCHET
http://mollyhatchet.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044635620204
https://twitter.com/mollyhatchet
https://soundcloud.com/mollyhatchet
THE HISTORY OF MOLLY HATCHET
In the early 1970s, a new genre of music was emerging in Jacksonville, Florida. A mixture of blues, country, gospel and the English invasion of rock and roll that later was to be coined the phrase “Southern Rock.” The music was filled with style and emotion and with bands in the forefront such as the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a band from Jacksonville, Florida called Molly Hatchet. Named after a famous 17th-century axe murderess “hatchet molly” who would behead her lovers with the hand tool Lizzy Borden made famous.

Their self-titled debut album was released on Epic records in 1978 and reached multi-platinum status as the band established their reputation of working hard, playing tough and living fast through intense touring with such bands as Aerosmith, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and many more. In 1979, Flirtin’ with Disaster was released, and history was in the making. The band continued touring on the road with an average of 250 live shows per year and like the first album, it also achieved multi-platinum status. Lead singer, Danny Joe Brown left the band in 1980 and contacted Bobby Ingram, a Jacksonville-based guitarist and friend, who gave Brown his first singing gig in 1975 with a Jacksonville based band called Rum Creek. Brown and Ingram then put together with keyboardist John Galvin the Danny Joe Brown Band and continued touring until 1982. The album was produced by the legendary Glyn Johns at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas as he has worked with legendary artist The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Eagles and is known as the top recording/engineer/ producer in rock and roll history.
During this time, Beatin’ The Odds (1980) and Take No Prisoners (1981) was released with singer Jimmy Farrar. Brown returned to record with John Galvin No Guts … No Glory (1983), The Deed Is Done (1984) and Double Trouble Live (1985). In early 1987, Bobby Ingram of Jacksonville came into the band as lead guitar and songwriter and the band continued to tour over 200 dates a year and in 1989 record Lightning Strikes Twice for capitol records.
In 1990, while Ingram, Galvin, and Brown continued the tradition as Molly Hatchet the tough touring schedule led to the other member’s departure from the band. The Greatest Hits album was released in 1991 and certified gold. The band from 1990 until 1996 took a break from recording but Brown and Ingram continued to write new songs and tour in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Devil’s Canyon, was produced by Kalle Trapp and Bobby Ingram the album was voted the number one rock record in various German magazines for 1996. With a history of diabetes, Brown was unable to fulfill studio and touring responsibilities and Phil McCormack took over the lead vocal position. Long time member Bobby Ingram – lead guitar, John Galvin – keyboards, Timmy Lindsey – bass, Shawn Beamer – drums, make up the current lineup along with various singers on tour.

From the release of Devil’s Cannon and the worldwide touring of the band has continued performing the classic hits such as “Flirtin’ with Disaster, “Gator Country,” “Whiskey Man” and “Dreams I’ll Never Dee,” as well as, the current hits in the true spirit and southern tradition of Molly Hatchet. The 1998 release of Silent Reign of Heroes was recorded back in Hamburg, Germany with producer/guitarist Bobby Ingram and is kept in the same spirit and tradition as the past with new hit songs “Mississippi Moon Dog,” “Saddle Tramp,” “Miss Saturday Night” and the title track “Silent Reign of Heroes”. Included on the album is an acoustic version of the classic hit “Fall of The Peacemakers”. The band is currently on an extensive 18-month world tour in support of the new release “Kingdom of XII” where guest artist Charlie Daniels appeared on 2 tracks the album charted in Europe and had great success.

In 2003 the band is celebrating its 25th anniversary of the first national or international release with first a double Live album “Locked and Loaded” recorded in Germany as they consider this their home away from home and appeared on the German Charts as SPV GmbH is still their beloved record company with Rainer Hansel and Manfred Schutz. SPV Gmbh. The live album Locked and Loaded, a double CD that was recorded in Germany at the International Harley Davidson Festival in front of 80,000 Southern rockers that has now been captured on DVD and being released fall of 2005.

After 4.5 years of touring and tracking outside of the studio on their own material, it was time to release an album that in the band’s tradition go back to the roots of straight forward southern rock and roll that are unequaled of anything the band has recorded before in the 25-year legacy. The album “Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge” recorded in the mountain tops of Bavaria was the perfect setting for such a comprehensive project. Bobby would suffer the loss of his wife Stephanie during the tracking of the album and finish after a delay. The Southern Rock community has lost a great person that she gave all and loved Molly Hatchet and the friends she met along the way.

Molly Hatchet is now led by the expertise of Olly Hahn SPV/Steamhammer GmbH in Hannover, Germany. Olly Hahn has been the driving force in support of Molly Hatchet for 30 years and is well known and respected in the European music industry.
In 2005, Danny Joe Brown the singer for Molly Hatchet passed away from complications of diabetes he had suffered with for many years, and he gave so much to the rock and roll industry and music around the world and will never be forgotten. In 2006, Duane Roland, guitarist of the band passed away and left a legacy that will never be forgotten. In 2015, Dave Hlubek, a founding member after playing in various bands around the United States has returned to Molly Hatchet after 20 years. Everyone was glad to see Dave having a good time and doing what he does best. Dave passed away in 2017 from a heart complications.

In 2018, the band headed to the Persian Gulf to play a special concert for the United States Military stationed in the United Arab Emirates and then on to Okinawa, Japan to perform for our dedicated troops in the South Pacific. Phil McCormack passed away in 2019. The band continues to tour and record. A live album “Battleground” was released in 2019 recorded in Germany, Switzerland, and in cities in the United States over a 5-year time span. The band is currently touring worldwide and has plans for a new studio album release.

As we enter the next 40 years of music, Molly Hatchet’s tradition and legacy keeps developing the common bond of southern rockers. Keeping our southern style of music alive and well. Rest assured, Molly Hatchet is a band, that after 40 years, is always workin’ hard, playin’ tough, livin’ fast, and still Flirtin’ with Disaster!

Hardballers

 

Hardball Puts A New Spin On Grunge With Hardcore/Punk Infused S/T Debut And Single “Worried As Shit”

Self-Titled Album Out July 21st + Western Canadian Tour Dates

 Jeremy Head (Drums), Front L-R: Jamie Black (Bass), Scott Budgie (Guitar/Vocals), Photo Credit - by Kaila Hald

Canada’s Hardball has emerged from the rainy coast of Vancouver, BC to bring you a raw and erratic punk/grunge self-titled debut album. Vocalist/guitarist Scott Budgie channels distressed and agitated emotions into the writing, while drummer Jeremy Head and bassist Jamie Black amplify those feelings of utter frustration, confusion, and absurdity into an energetic and aggressive grunge sound that is permeated by punk and hardcore influences. Their debut single “Worried As Shit” is the perfect introduction to the trio, they comment:

“It’s a perfect initiation to Hardball, it’s an abrupt punk song carried by a rock beat, with vocals coming from a place of confusion and self-deprecation (in typical HARDBALL fashion). It also has a cool recurring noodly riff that crushes and a sudden clean bridge was thrown in to keep the extreme dynamic range thing happening.”

While this is not nostalgic grunge, Hardball has created something innovative and contemporary while still honouring their heroes from the ‘90s alternative rock and ‘80s punk scenes. They’re having their cake and eating it too, and are offering you a slice.

In support of the album, Hardball is setting out on tour this August with appearances throughout Western Canada. Full tour dates are to be announced soon, and those in the audience can expect a wild time. Fists will be raised, things will be knocked over, and a good time will be had by all.

Turbulent and chaotic, Hardball delivers an enjoyable new album through drums going completely ape all over the place, obnoxious riffing and big low-tuned power chords, and heavily distorted bass guitar. They are recommended for fans of Nirvana, Wipers, and Hüsker Dü.

Watch and listen to the lyric video for “Worried As Shit” via its premiere AllAboutTheRock HERE.

Hardball's self-titled debut album is out July 21st, 2023.

Digital pre-save (Spotify, Bandcamp) - Linktr.ee/hardballbc

Tour Dates:
July 15 - Kelowna, BC - Runaway's Lounge w/ The Motherfuckers
Aug 4 - Vancouver, BC - 648 Kingsway w/ Paul is Dead
Aug 5 - Victoria, BC - TBA
Aug 6 - Kamloops, BC - TBA
Aug 9 - Nelson, BC - TBA
Aug 10 - Edmonton, AB - The Buckingham w/ Take Sides
Aug 11 - Calgary, AB - TBA
Aug 12 - Oliver, BC - Firehall Brewing

Track Listing:
1. Just A Tree (3:55)
2. Worried As Shit (2:21)
3. NRA (2:33)
4. In The Mail (4:16)
5. Me And You (2:47)
6. Chili (5:55)
7. Talk To Me (5:25)
8. Ian’s Song (2:36)
9. I/O (3:18)
10. Open Air (9:47)
Album Length: 42:57

Album Recording and Live Band Lineup:
Scott Budgie - Vocals, guitars
Jeremy Head - Drums, guitars, synth, backing vocals
Jamie Black - Bass, backing vocals

More info: Facebook.com/hardballmusic | Instagram.com/hardballbc

Music Venues Trust press release

Government Announces £5million new

Grassroots Music spiral 

 

London, June 14th 2023 – Music Venue Trust (MVT), the charity which represents over 900 hundred grassroots music venues across the UK, has warmly welcomed a new £5million investment in Grassroots Music Venues announced by Secretary of State for Culture Lucy Frazer. The additional funding will be made available over 2 years through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund administered by Arts Council England. 

 

The Government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision, launched today, describes the Grassroots Sector as “the lifeblood of our world-leading music sector and cornerstones of communities” and recognises the urgent need for direct financial support that addresses the collapse in touring. In 2022, the number of shows taking place at grassroots level fell by 16.9%, representing a significant threat to the talent pipeline which underpinned the global success of British music artists such as Adele, Coldplay, The 1975 and Ed Sheeran – all artists who started their careers with extensive touring at Grassroots Music Venues.

 

Rising costs for venues, in the shape of energy bills, rent, and staffing, and the lack of funding to meet the increasing financial demands of touring have led to a perfect storm for grassroots artists, with not just the number of tours cut but also the number of dates per tour significantly declining in the last 10 years.

 

Rebecca Walker, Live Projects Coordinator for Music Venue Trust, said: 

“There is a well-documented and evidenced crisis at grassroots level. We have new and emerging artists who want to tour, venues who are desperate to host them, audiences that want to see them, but the financial obstacles have simply become too great. With this additional £5million we are going to be able to work with the sector to get artists back out across the country, producing thousands of shows that simply wouldn’t be able to take place without this funding.”   

 

Music Venue Trust recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with Enter Shikari which will see £1 from every ticket sold for their arena tour in 2023 go into the Pipeline Investment Fund to support Grassroots Music Venues. The Trust is continuing to press arenas and stadiums to play their part in addressing the need for financial support for the sector, 

 

Mark Davyd, CEO and Founder of MVT, said: 

“This additional £5million is a fantastic response from the Government, recognising that we have a crisis at grassroots level which threatens the talent pipeline and the future prosperity of the entire live music industry. It’s now time for that industry to step up, take responsibility, and match this government action with its own positive response. At the top level, we are enjoying the greatest ever summer of live music in the UK. We need to ensure that Grassroots Music Venues share in that financial success, and that can be achieved simply and effectively through a contribution from every ticket sold at every arena and stadium event.”      

 

Download 2023 a success despite sound issues

SOLD OUT FESTIVAL SPANS FOUR DAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN CELEBRATION OF 20th ANNIVERSARY TWO BLOWOUT HEADLINE SETS FROM METALLICA ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY, AN INCENDIARY BRING ME THE HORIZON DEBUT HEADLINE SLOT PLUS AN INCREDIBLE SET FROM SLIPKNOT TO CLOSE THE WEEKEND DOWNLOAD BREAKS U.K. FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE RECORD SALES OF ALL TIME, INCLUDES IMMERSIVE DOWNLOAD MEGASTORE HUMANS OF DOWNLOAD – CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF THE DOWNLOAD COMMUNITY, ACROSS ATTENDEES, STAFF, ARTISTS, CREW AND SUPPLIERS EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2024 GO ON SALE TOMORROW – MONDAY 12 JUNE – AT 12PM  DOWNLOAD WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR 14 – 16 JUNE 2024 Sunday 11 June, Donington Park U.K. – This weekend’s Download Festival 20th anniversary welcomed a record breaking 100,000 attendees to the hallowed grounds of Donington Park becoming its most successful year ever. The fastest selling Download in its 20-year history, 2023’s edition showcased world-class rock and metal across four days and six stages from all over the world. The atmosphere was electric as fans once again lived up to their reputation of what is widely regarded as the UK’s friendliest audience, celebrating inclusivity, self-expression and a lot of headbanging.  With artists from Metallica to Alter Bridge to Halestorm, plus live podcasts, exclusive DJ sets, comeback sets and a whole village dedicated to the fan experience (District X), this was not a weekend to miss. The first ever Thursday headline slot saw Metallica dominate the Apex Stage with their legendary showmanship and guitar prowess. Sheffield genre-bending rockers Bring Me The Horizon owned the stage on Friday night, delivering a masterclass in thrilling a crowd with their unique and Download-exclusive production, bringing out a host of special guests including Amy Lee from Evanescence and alt-rock duo Nova Twins. Metallica followed up their Thursday night set with a spellbinding performance on Saturday evening, cementing their place in history as one of the greatest metal bands on the planet. On Sunday, Slipknot closed the Apex stage with a spectacular display of energy and power. Across the Apex, Opus, Dogtooth and Avalanche stages, festivalgoers were spoilt for choice as the sun shone over the greatest long weekend. With an unbelievable line-up, featuring the likes of Halestorm, Skindred, Evanescence, Pendulum, Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro)’s new project Empire State Bastard, The Blackout’s reunion, Creeper, Coheed and Cambria, Ice Nine Kills (who stabbed the Download Dog to death), Ghost, Parkway Drive, Electric Callboy, and supporting young British talent like Nova Twins, Kid Bookie, Kid Kapichi and many more, there really were too many musical highlights to mention. Brand new for 2023, the Download Megastore sold a huge range of Download merch onsite, commemorating the 20th anniversary and the event broke the U.K. record for most festival merchandise sales of all time. Elsewhere, the Mini Moshers campsite saw its maiden voyage, giving the younger generation of metal fans the opportunity to embrace the legendary festival in comfort. To pay tribute to the diversity of the Download crowd, the Humans of Download live photography docuseries launched, sharing the diversity of Download attendees, with their eclectic outfits and costumes being celebrated on all social channels and sites across the festival. Danny North, the creative director collaborating with Download on the project, shared: “This location and the beautiful people that inhabit this space fills my soul. I wanted to create a photo series that holds a mirror up to the people that make this festival what it is.” In 2024, Download Festival will return to Donington from Friday 14 June – Sunday 16 June. Limited Early Bird tickets are on sale at 12 noon Monday 12 June from www.downloadfestival.co.uk.  For Download 2024, a pre-purchased Car Park pass will be mandatory for those attending by car, and will not be available to buy on the day. Each pass will have clear directions, unique to the location of the allocated Car Park. Routes will differ per car park to ensure the best possible entry into the event, and transport experience for festivalgoers, airport users, local businesses and residents.   To pay tribute to the diversity of the Download crowd, the Humans of Download live photography docuseries launched, sharing the diversity of Download attendees, with their eclectic outfits and costumes being celebrated on all social channels and sites across the festival. Danny North, the creative director collaborating with Download on the project, shared: “My love of metal and this festival goes back to when my father introduced me to the music. This place carries the spirit of my ancestors. This is holy ground for me. The connection between the music that defined my life, this location and the beautiful people that inhabit this space fills my soul. I wanted to create a photo series that holds a mirror up to the people that make this festival what it is”. Visit: https://photos.downloadfestival.co.uk/2023/humansofdownload/    FOLLOW DOWNLOAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: DownloadFest Twitter: @DownloadFest Instagram: @DownloadFest TikTok: @DownloadUK   Twitch: @DownloadFest

MVT award more grants

23 GRASSROOTS MUSIC VENUES AWARDED CHARITY GRANTS IN FOURTH Round61 venues

London

, May 24^th 2023. 23 Grassroots lMusic Venues have received grants from the charity Music Venue Trust (MVT), as part of a fourth round of recipients for its major new funding initiative which provides grants of up to £5,000 for UK Grassroots Music Venues.

The Pipeline Investment Fund, established in 2022, is primarily funded by ticket sales of MVT’s recent ‘Revive Live’ programme of gigs around the UK, a hugely successful partnership with The National Lottery. To date £165,000 worth of grants have been awarded to 38 Grassroots Music Venues since December. This fourth round of payments sees a total sum of £97,516.97 awarded to a further 23 GMVs across the country.

Small scale grant applications (up to £5,000) were invited from UK based Grassroots Music Venues to support two key areas of work:

●   Small scale capital projects; including lights, sound, access, ventilation and minor building alterations

●      Staff Training; workforce diversification, succession planning, skills development and strengthening local community ties.

The grants were awarded for a range of requirements including sound and lighting equipment, staff training, soundproofing, air conditioning, repairs and venue improvements, accessibility and seating 

The full list of new recipient venues are:

Venue	City/Town	Reason for grant
The Underground	Bradford	Mixture of mixing desk, backline and production equipment
The Rose Hill	Brighton	Staff training
The Six Six Bar	Cambridge	Sound proofing
Fuel Rock Club	Cardiff	Air conditioning
CWRW	Carmarthen	Soundproofing, new production and backline equipment
The Lighthouse	Deal, Kent	Variety of sound equipment including a new sound desk
Docks Academy	Grimsby	Variety of production equipment
The Holroyd	Guildford	Backline, lighting, DJ Mixer and new mics to improve production in venue
The Old Abbey Taphouse	Hulme, Manchester	Urgent repairs and improvement
The Smokehouse	Ipswich	New sound desk
2 Funky Music Cafe	Leicester	Purchase of a new sound desk to replace a 7 year old analogue desk
Melodic Bar	Liverpool	Staging, training and seating
Loki	London (Brixton)	Purchase of speakers as part of a larger project to buy a new sound system for venue
The Dublin Castle	London (Camden)	Venue maintenance
Rebellion	Manchester	New lighting for production and training for staff
The Middlesbrough Empire	Middlesbrough	Lighting & production equipment
The Lubber Fiend	Newcastle Upon Tyne	Improve stage equipment
Little Buildings	Newcastle Upon Tyne	New sound desk to enable recording of live shows
Escape Venue	Northampton	Safe flooring
Rocknrollas	Paisley	To build an accessible ramp into the premises to increase accessibility
Chinnerys	Southend on Sea	Various production improvements
Ku Stockton	Stockton	Purchase of new monitors to replace 20 year old system
The Crescent Community Venue	York	New seating

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said:“This fourth round of the Pipeline Investment Fund once again demonstrates how much difference small amounts of money, wisely invested, can make for Grassroots Music Venues. With grassroots music venues facing extraordinary challenges right now, Music Venue Trust is determined to keep pressing the music industry and government to support this fund and ensure music communities right across the country can continue to access the very best in live music.”

The fund prioritises support for organisations who may have been excluded from other available funding and was open to all venue operators and organisations that meet any of the three definitions of a Grassroots Music Space, which can be found here.

Music Venue Trust is still actively seeking further donations, particularly from the wider music industry, to maintain and expand the Pipeline Investment Fund and make it a permanent source of support for Grassroots Music Venues. Please contact ozlem@musicvenuetrust.com for details of how this work can be supported.

In January, Music Venue Trust released their 2022 Annual Report, which was launched at a reception for MPs at The House of Commons. The report details the immense contribution of Grassroots Music Venues to the UK economy, and the current threat they face as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing post-covid recovery.

MVT is calling on the government to review the VAT on ticket sales that is currently limiting profitability and crushing a sector responsible for nurturing new, upcoming talent in the UK – talent that goes on to define British culture and create huge profit for the industry.

The report also outlines plans to ensure all new arenas opening in the UK contribute to the wider music eco-system by investing a percentage of every ticket sale into Grassroots Venues. As, without the work of GMVs to nurture new talent, there will be no big artists to fill these venues in the coming years. Taking matters into their own hands, last month Enter Shikari announced that £1 from every ticket sold for their first ever arena tour would go to MVT to support the Pipeline Investment Fund.

NEW PHOTOS!: DEF LEPPARD AND MÖTLEY CRÜE OPENING NIGHT IN THE UK FOR ‘THE WORLD TOUR’

Sheffield, UK - Monday, May 22nd, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe proved once again why they are two of the most iconic and celebrated rock legends of all time, delivering an unforgettable performance to a packed house at Bramall Lane Sheffield. The bands took to the stage and gave it their all, delivering hit after hit to the adoring crowd. The energy was electric, and fans were on their feet from start to finish. 

Joe Elliott - "Well, it finally arrived. We were so looking forward to bringing The World Tour with Motley Crue back to our home turf and what a spectacular night it was!! 

 

We knew after how well the Stadiums went down last year in North America and earlier this year in South and Central America that our UK & Europeans fans were going to really enjoy this show. But last night in Sheffield, where it all started many years ago, exceeded even our expectations! If the reaction we had last night at Bramall Lane is any indication, this UK / European leg of The World Tour is going to be fantastic!"

Mötley Crüe stated: "We literally just finished in the recording studio with Bob Rock and headed straight to the UK to start The World Tour with Def Leppard. Sheffield was an amazing first UK crowd and we’re excited for the rest of the shows including the legendary Wembley Stadium on 1st July. Both Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard have been really busy and are now ready to rip it up live across all of Europe together."

 

Credit Anthony Devlin)

The show in Sheffield was just the beginning, fans in the UK can still catch the bands in action at the iconic Wembley Stadium on Saturday, July 1st, 2023, where they will no doubt deliver another epic performance.

 

TICKETS:  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe’s official websites motley.com & defleppard.com.

 

UK & IRELAND TOUR DATES: 

Sat, Jul 1, 2023              London, UK                    Wembley Stadium Connected by EE

Sun, Jul 2, 2023             Lytham, UK                    Lytham Festival *

Tue, Jul 4, 2023             Dublin, Ireland               Marlay Park

Thu, Jul 6, 2023             Glasgow, UK                  Hampden Park Stadium