Due to a huge live demand, plus eager anticipation for their excellent new album ‘Freedom Run’ and full UK tour, The Rifles announce three headline March shows at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and The Troxy in London, plus The Ritz in Manchester. Their riotous and celebratory gigs are not to be missed.
Fans can be part of The Rifles’ London Weekender, where they can attend the back-to-back Shepherds Bush and Troxy shows for just £28. This offer is strictly limited to the first 200 tickets via the band’s website, so speed is advised. Bookings for the individual gigs are also available at Live Nation and The Rifles’ site.
Confident that ‘Freedom Run’ marks their best LP yet and a creative coming-of-age, The Rifles make a bold statement in booking these large venue headline shows, further sealing their reputation as one of the UK’s biggest bands with a massive, devoted following.
Tickets go on-sale 9am, Monday 12th September
Thursday 29th March @ The Ritz
Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5NQ, Tickets £13.50 adv / www.livenation.co.uk
Friday 30th March @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Shepherd’s Bush Green, London W12 8TT, Tickets: £17.00 adv / www.livenation.co.uk
Saturday 31st March @ The Troxy
490 Commercial Road E1 0HX, Tickets: £17.00 adv / www.livenation.co.uk
Limited number of weekend tickets available for £28 here
“Songs like this could take the band to another level” The Guardian
“It’s not often that you’re so blown away by an album that you’re left speechless” Popped Music
“As long as the band continues then The Rifles’ fans will keep coming back for more” Clash Music
On September 19th, Essex five-piece The Rifles present ‘Freedom Run’, their much-anticipated third studio album. From opening track ‘Dreamer’s blast of romantic, timeless-yet-fresh guitar pop, it’s immediately clear ‘Freedom Run’ is a record that finds The Rifles in fine fettle and bristling with energy. Confident, concise and vital, the band have upped their songwriting ante into a fine craft, with a driving spirit and unified soul that’s clearly audible.
With absolutely zero filler and potential singles aplenty, ‘Freedom Run’ signals a band for whom this appears to be only the beginning. With a huge fervent following and the ability to sell out Brixton Academy, The Rifles have long since outlived their original peers.
“Even though this is our third album, in many ways it feels like our first“, says Joel. “It’s definitely a progression”. Rebirth and change are themes that re-occur throughout the album, typified on the reflective indie jangle of ‘Long Walk Back’.
The album’s first single ‘Tangled Up In Love’ has already picked up plays by Zane Lowe and Fearne Cotton Radio 1, plus XFM due to its summery romanticism and killer hook. ‘Eveline’ is an equally classic song and marks the album’s first respite from energised anthems, with its yearning early 60s-style folk rock meets Merseybeat.
The pounding, piano-driven ‘Love Is A Key’ kicks things back up a notch, with yet another hugely strong song; a prime example of a positive, sincere group lacking in the arch self awareness of many new bands.
‘Falling’ takes things down a slightly psychedelic tangent, sounding like the lovechild of first album Stone Roses and Doves. Ever the MODS, the Phil Spector-esque ‘Nothing Matters’ is a nod to the scene of which their heart lies, that musically they’ve transcended.
Similar to when early 60s R&B combos discovered acid and pot, The Rifles’ minds have been expanded, evident on the epic penultimate track ‘Little Boy Blue (Human Needs)’. It sounds like an interstellar jam between The Who and Hawkwind, spiked by Lemmy’s speed stash.
‘Freedom Run’ was recorded at Paul Weller’s studio, Black Barn and produced by the legendary Chris Potter (The Clash, The Stones, The Verve). The album also marks a personnel change, with Lee Burgess and Kenton Shinn (of the band Garda) replacing Grant Marsh and Rob Pyne. “Things have developing brilliantly with the new boys Lee and Kenny”, says Joel. “We believe we’ve so much we can bring in the future. It really does feel very positive”.
