In all the commotion and drama surrounding The Specials reunion tour of the UK, its important to note that Madness are already out on the road with many shows scheduled around the world this year (Hello Poland!) and they are busy promoting the release of their new album 'The Liberty of Norton Folgate' which is their first new music (if you don't count The Dangermen) in ten years. The band have also announced the final line-up for Madstock in Victoria Park this July.
The band are currently on tour in Australia playing their first shows there in more than 20 years. Reviews have been incredibly positive including this one from Aussie music Web site Undercover.com and from FasterLouder.com. While the band are not the headliners on the festival shows they are playing in Australia, they are being received like headliners. The exciting news for fans is that the band are working in songs from the 'Norton Folgate' LP including the new single 'Dust Devil" as well as album tracks 'NW5', 'Forever Young' and 'Clerkenwell Polka'.
Here is the actual set-list from the V Festival show in Melbourne, Australia on March 31, 2009:
Below is video of the band performing the track 'Forever Young' from the Norton Folgate record at the V Festival in Melbourne on March 31st, 2009. Note the sub bass player for Mark Bedford.
Once they return from Down Under, the band will embark on a European Tour that culminates this summer with shows back in the UK at Glastonbury and finally at Madstock. The band have just announced the final line-up which includes The Pogues and U.S ska sensations The Aggrolites who made an impression on the band when they opened shows for The Dangerman tour of the U.S. a few years back. There is a rumor that either Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Arkestra or The Specials may make a surprise appearance at Madstock, but neither Madness nor Dammers/The Specials has confirmed it. I hope they do as it would be the best way to celebrate 30 years of 2-Tone.
You can get tickets for Madstock online here.
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