black-grape

Shaun Ryder released new solo single (stream it); Black Grape going on UK reunion tour

by Bill Pearis

Shaun Ryder (right), with Kermit & Bez of Black Grape
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Happy Mondays / Black Grape frontman Shaun Ryder announced earlier this year that he had “something in the pipeline.” Turns out he’s got a few things in there. He dropped a white label 12″ last week, his first new music in eight years. Both tracks are pretty good: “Close the Dam” being chilled out funk, and “Electric Scales” a little on the crazed side. Ryder, who Factory Records chief Tony Wilson used to compare to W.B. Yeats, still gets off some good lines, too. It’s a welcome return and you can stream both sides below.

Rhino recently reissued Happy Mondays’ classic 1990 album Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches on vinyl (they used the original master tapes, it sounds great), and Shaun and Bez and Kermit will be on a Black Grape reunion tour in the UK / Ireland this summer. Tour dates are listed, along with a stream of their 1995 debut, It’s Great When You’re Straight… Yeah, below…

Black Grape – 2015 Tour Dates
June 3: Glasgow Garage
June 4: Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
June 5: Middlesborough The Venue
June 6: Doncaster Diamond Live Lounge
June 8: Derby The Venue
June 10: Bilston Robin 2
June 11: Cambridge The Junction
June 14: Bristol Bierkeller
June 15: Southampton The Brook
June 19: Dublin Academy
June 20: Belfast Limelight
June 21: Donegal Sea Sessions
June 26: London The Forum
June 27: Brighton Concorde
July 1: Leamington Spa Assembly Rooms
July 3: Manchester Academy
July 4: Shetlands Mareel
July 5: Aberdeen Beach Ballroom
July 10: Newcastle Riverside
July 11: Leeds Stylus
July 12: Warrington Parr Hall