The Charlatans at O2 Academy, Birmingham

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Posted 2021-11-25 by Andy Coleman ⇒ follow

Sat 27 Nov 2021 - Tue 21 Dec 2021

The Charlatans are back on the road to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, with a show at Birmingham's O2 Academy on November 27, 2021. The tour continues until December 21, concluding at Edinburgh Corn Exchange . The series of shows coincide with the release of The Charlatans' career-spanning 'Best Of' compilation, A Head Full of Ideas.

Over the years, The Charlatans have notched up 13 Top 40 studio albums – three of them number ones – alongside 22 hit singles, four of them top 10. The anniversary tour should have taken place last year as their first album, Some Friendly, was released in 1990. However, the pandemic forced the postponement till 2021.

The Charlatans are used to setbacks. The rollercoaster highs have been accompanied by some shattering lows which could have felled a less resilient band, from nervous breakdowns to near bankruptcy and the deaths of two founder members. But they carried on, adapting to changing trends, yet maintaining the classic Charlatans sound – driving Hammond organ, Northern Soul and house-influenced rhythms, swaggering guitars and singer Tim Burgess's sunny yet yearning vocals.

The A Head Full of Ideas album is available in a number of formats. The vinyl LP limited edition box set is a diverse collection on five transparent blue vinyl LPs, spanning their hits, classic live performances, unheard demos and rarities and remixes. Within the box there is an exclusive original demos 7" featuring Indian Rope/ The Only One I Know, as well as a signed print of a tour poster from the early 90s and a booklet of unseen photographs and sleeve notes by journalist Dave Simpson.

There is also a triple vinyl LP version and a 2CD deluxe version featuring the hits albums, plus a bonus live album, Trust is For Believers. Finally, a CD and vinyl LP of the hits is available.

**The Charlatans' 2021 UK tour dates:

Nov 27: O2 Academy, Birmingham;
Nov 29: De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill;
Nov 30: Academy, Bournemouth;
Dec 2: O2 Academy, Oxford;
Dec 3: Corn Exchange, Cambridge;
Dec 4: O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester;
Dec 6: Engine Shed, Lincoln;
Dec 8: Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool;
Dec 9: City Hall, Newcastle;
Dec 10: Brixton Academy, London;
Dec 14: Great Hall, Exeter;
Dec 16: Rock City, Nottingham;
Dec 17: O2 Academy, Leeds;
Dec 18: O2 Academy, Glasgow;
Dec 20: Music Hall, Aberdeen;
Dec 21: Corn Exchange, Edinburgh. **