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Spotlight On: The Zutons

Posted on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 at 16:00

Jimi Arundell

Written by
Jimi Arundell

 

The Zutons reached multi-platinum success, releasing three studio albums and nine Top 40 singles including their two Top 10 feelgood anthems “Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?” and their signature song “Valerie”. The latter would later be famously covered by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse making it a triple platinum hit.

Re-energised after a hiatus, The Zutons have returned to the studio to write their first new album in 16 years and prepare to unveil their brand-new disco-infused record The Big Decider. They celebrate the arrival of their fourth LP with an intimate tour where fans can hear their new material and enjoy classic songs “You Will You Won’t” and “Pressure Point”, plus many more of your top choice favourites.

Tickets for the tour go on sale with Gigantic Tickets at 10:00 on Friday 24th November, and the excitement is rising! CLICK HERE to set your event reminder.

 

 

The Zutons formed in the spring of 2002 and the Liverpudlian indie troupe originally consisted of singer/guitarist David McCabe, lead guitarist Boyan Chowdhury, bassist Russell Pritchard, and drummer Sean Payne, later joined by saxophonist Abi Harding. Quickly snapped up by record label Deltasonic, they released their debut single "Devil's Deal” only months after first getting together.

The band would team up with The Lightning Seeds songwriter Ian Broudie to produce the debut album Who Killed...... The Zutons? which flew straight into the Top 10 thanks in no small part to their hit single “Pressure Point” plus "You Will You Won't" and "Remember Me". The critically acclaimed Gold-selling first record saw the group earn a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination and an inclusion in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

After a tour in the US, The Zutons went on to record their second album Tired of Hanging Around with famed Britpop producer Stephen Street. Drawing on northern soul influences and leaning more towards Harding’s saxophone, lead single “Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?” would be their first Top 10 entry in April 2006.

They soon repeated this achievement when “Valerie” dropped two months later which became their biggest anthem before later being picked up by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse who enjoyed 19 consecutive weeks inside the Top 20 with their reworking.

Tired of Hanging Around reached No. 2 in the charts, rocketing them from indie darlings to become a massive mainstream act and touring around America with The Killers. It was around this time that Chowdhury opted to leave the band, citing musical differences, to be replaced by The Strands’ guitarist Paul Molloy.

 

 

The third album You Can Do Anything saw the band head to Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles with producer George Drakoulias where they would pursue a grittier sound centred around psychedelic rock. Featuring the single "Always Right Behind You", they would once again break the Top 10 in 2008 and appeared at festivals Fuji Rock Festival in Japan plus Jersey Live. The band would opt to split a year later.

Core members McCabe, Payne and Harding initially reformed The Zutons for a one-off gig at Mountford Hall, Liverpool in 2016 to celebrate the life of Tramp Attack frontman Kristian Ealey who had recently died. They went on to perform a reunion tour two years later to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Who Killed...... The Zutons? debut album, later touring with disco legend Nile Rodgers forming a close bond.

The Zutons have continued to work with Rodgers, entering the fabled Abbey Road Studios where they have recorded brand new album The Big Decider which is set for release on 26th April 2024. The band have also announced an upcoming tour of intimate headline dates to showcase the new material, with tickets going on sale Friday with Gigantic.

 

📆 Tour Dates:

  • 31 January 2024: The Zutons – Old Fire Station, Carlisle
  • 01 February 2024: The Zutons – Bootleg Social, Blackpool
  • 23 February 2024: The Zutons – Waterfront, Norwich
  • 24 February 2024: The Zutons – Roadmender Northampton, Northampton
  • 28 February 2024: The Zutons – Bask, Stockport
  • 29 February 2024: The Zutons – Real Time Live, Chesterfield
  • 01 March 2024: The Zutons – O2 Academy2 Leicester, Leicester
  • 09 March 2024: The Zutons – Saint Laurence Church, Reading

The Zutons tickets are released at 10:00 on Friday 24th November.

 

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