The Blue Aeroplanes

Event information

The Blue Aeroplanes are one of Bristol’s most celebrated bands having released over a dozen albums plus multiple singles, EP’s and compilations over the last 30 years. Much of the appeal of The Blue Aeroplanes lies in their excellence as a live act. Happy headlining gigs in small indie venues or supporting big acts such as REM and Siouxsie & the Banshees on major international tours, The Blue Aeroplanes have a reputation for keeping their set list as fresh as the line-up of guitarists. Frontman Gerard Langley has a huge stage presence, always wearing his trademark shades even at night in dark venues, and will move from casually introducing songs and making cryptic comments to answering questions from the audience back to his half-sung, half spoken snarling delivery of his lyrics. Memorable performances include the band’s 1992 appearance at Glastonbury which was broadcast on BBC Radio 1, the finale at the Hammersmith Apollo when 12 guitarists were seen on stage performing “Breaking in My Heart” and their annual appearance at Fiddlers in Bristol which has now been relocated to the band’s own venue, The Fleece.

‘Beatsongs’, released in 1991, was the band’s most successful record in America with ‘Yr Own World’ garnering rotation play on all major alternative radio stations. Recorded at Oceanway in Los Angeles, the album was a broader-based affair than Swagger, featuring many songs that were to become staples of the Aeroplanes’ live set for many years. The album was partly remixed and overdubbed in Bristol but all the tracks from the original playback in LA are included on CD2. The booklet for ‘Beatsongs’ remastered contains many fascinating archive photos.

In June 2013 The Blue Aeroplanes toured the UK for the first time in seven years to mark the Cherry Red reissue of their most commercially successful release, ‘Beatsongs’.