THE BLUETONES - event info

The Bluetones filled the gap that the Stone Roses left behind, providing graceful but muscular guitar pop with slightly psychedelic overtones. The band appeared during the waning days of Brit-pop, their debut album rocketing to the top of the charts upon its release in early 1996.

"What we do is a continuation of what went on in the 60s without the flower-power bullshit. Good tunes. And over-lapping melodies; the best lyrics in the world don't mean anything without a nice tune." - Mark Morriss

In 1996 a division occurred among the coat wearing fraternity of mop haired males around the UK, Gallagher wannabes purchased a Parka, those who liked to see themselves as a little more studious, a little less Quadrophenia and a little more Dead Poets Society, they went out and got themselves a Duffle.

The Bluetones played no small part in this, as the university campus video for their re-released debut single Slight Return seemed suddenly to be shown every forty minutes on one TV show or another. Mark Morriss and his mates had arrived on the scene with an indie pop anthem and a winter wardrobe that propelled them straight into the top ten.

They may not have reached the dizzy heights of peers Oasis and Blur, but with a string of unforgettable singles including Slight Return, Bluetonic, Cut Some Rug, Marblehead Johnson, Solomon Bites the Worm, and the incredible If..., The Bluetones remain to this day one of the most criminally under-rated bands of the Britpop era.

14 years later they have 5 charting studio albums under their belt, including 3 in the top ten and 13 top forty singles, and are still touring regularly to a dedicated and passionate fan base. Strong rumours of a new album in 2010 could bring about a return to grace for a band more than capable of writing timeless guitar pop that you just can’t help but sing along to.