COUNTING CROWS
RETURN TO IRELAND FOR LIVE CONCERT DATES
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS:
THE HOLD STEADY
MELEE
Following
their critically acclaimed set at this year's Oxegen Festival and their
blistering SOLD OUT performance at the intimate Ambassador Theatre, the Counting
Crows will return to Ireland for two live concert dates in December.
MCD is proud to present Counting Crows at The O2, Dublin on Saturday 20 December
and Odyssey Arena, Belfast on Sunday 21 December, 2008. Featuring very special
guests The Hold Steady and Melee, this is the line-up of 2008 and these promise
to be unforgettable shows.
Tickets for Dublin and Belfast will go on general sale on Friday 15 August at
9.00am from Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide. A pre-sale open only to
members of the Counting Crows Fan Club will run from 9.00am, 13 August until
6.00pm, 14 August.
Counting Crows are a global phenomenon, having sold over 20 million albums
worldwide and amassing countless Top 10 chart placings worldwide. Counting Crows
have been a huge presence in the music world; from initial hit single Mr.Jones
to 2005's Accidentally In Love featured on the Shrek 2 soundtrack. The
soundtrack saw the band garner an Academy Award and Golden Globes nomination,
while also performing at the Academy Awards. Their new album, Saturday Nights &
Sunday Mornings, released on March 24th saw the band split their musical
personality with the rock Saturday Nights produced by Gil Norton (of Pixies and
Foo Fighters fame) whilst the more acoustic Sunday Mornings portion sees Brian
Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine) at the desk.
Resisting the musical trends in New York City, vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn
formed The Hold Steady after moving from Minneapolis in 2000. Wanting to capture
the sound of bands such as the Replacements and the Grifters, he recruited
guitarist Tad Kubler, drummer Judd Counsell and bassist Galen Polivka. Recording
mostly live, the band released its debut album, Almost Killed Me, in March 2004
followed by Separation Sunday (2005) and Boys and Girls in America (2006). After
writing the majority of their fourth record on the road, The Hold Steady
returned to John Agnello's Water Music studio to record Stay Positive. In July
2008 the album was released by both Vagrant and Rough Trade. The band also
graced the Green Room Stage at this year's Oxegen Festival where they drew a
huge, enthusiastic crowd.
Influenced by the songwriting classicism of Elton John, Coldplay's Chris Martin
and neo-soul star John Legend, Melee present their own style of carefully
crafted melodic pop on 'Devils & Angels', the quartet's debut album, released on
April 3rd. The songs, which range from driving pop-rock anthems to uplifting
power ballads, are characterized by solid hooks, lilting melodies, and front man
Chris Cron's soaring vocals and expressive piano-playing.
Under the banner “Counting Crows - Live from Hyde Park”, ticket buyers will be
offered a link to download five free live tracks of Counting Crows' spectacular
sold-out headlining appearance at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London.
Live tracks include: Have You Seen Me Lately, Colorblind and Anna Begins, plus
Le Ballet d'Or and Hanging Tree from Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings.
COUNTING CROWS
With Very Special Guests:
THE HOLD STEADY
MELEE
THE O2, DUBLIN
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER 2008
ODYSSEY ARENA, BELFAST
SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 2008
Tickets On sale: 9.00am Friday 15 August
In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
24hr hotlines:
Republic Of Ireland - 0818 719 300
Northern Ireland - 0870 243 4455
Buy online: www.ticketmaster.ie
For More Information Please Contact James Rollins
Tel: 07967 584573, Email: james@jamesrollins.co.uk
For More Information Please Contact James Cunningham at MCD
Tel: (01) 2841747, Email: jamescunningham@mcd.ie