Punk Pioneer TV Smith returns to Manchester with his Catalonian band The Bored Teenagers to play a full set of classic songs originally recorded and performed by The Adverts along with other material from his back catalogue as solo artist spanning almost 40 years.
As lead singer, songwriter and frontman of the legendary Adverts TV Smith was at the forefront of the first wave of British Punk Rock along with other bands such as The Clash, The Damned, and The Sex Pistols. The Adverts achieved chart success with classic singles Gary Gilmores Eyes and No Time To Be 21, as well as producing 2 of the greatest Punk albums (Crossing The Red Sea with The Adverts and Cast Of Thousands); performing live regularly at venues such as the Roxy and touring with Iggy Pop before splitting in 1979. TV went on to further success with TV Smith’s Explorers, another hit single, Tomahawk Cruise and classic album “The Last Words Of The great Explorer” before embarking on a solo career which continues to this day.
Although these days known mainly as a solo artist, TV still plays a small number of gigs with a full electric band backing him. His association with the Bored Teenagers goes back to 2003, since then they have toured Europe regularly, making many main stage appearances at the Blackpool Rebellion festival where they will be performing again this Summer along with a small number of club dates across the country.
Support comes from Manchester's Harvey's Rabbit who achieved some notoriety in the 90's with their single "Is This What You Call Change?" which featured in John Peel's Festive 50, as well as further releases on the indie Rotator label; plus a Peel session and live performances with bands such as The Fall. In recent years the band have re emerged as The Harveys releasing new material on Half Edge Records, but perform tonight as Harveys Rabbit with original members.
Further support comes with a solo acoustic set from Scottish punk singer songwriter Billy Liar, whose current album Crisis Actor is out now on Pirate Records. Whether performing with his band which goes by the same name or as solo artist with a guitar, Billy who has often been referred to as a Punk troubadour, delivers big songs with fire and a personal feel.