THE WEDDING PRESENT will headline Manchester’s O2 Ritz this May.

The show will also see them joined by special guests MIKI BERENYI TRIO, the new project by the former vocalist of LUSH (** Just Announced **).

Remaining tickets on sale here:
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-wedding-present/o2-ritz/2403074

Following their widely acclaimed ‘Seamonsters’ 30th Anniversary tour, David Gedge and co will be returning with a brand new show for 2023 in support of their latest work: ‘24 Songs’.

A new creative project from The Wedding Present, ‘24 Songs’ has seen the legendary indie band releasing a new 7” single every month throughout 2022. A joint collaboration between Sleeper guitarist Jon Stewart and TWP’s David Gedge, ‘24 Songs’ hits upon a perfect meeting of minds. With a string of singles already available to hear, their output so far has included a gorgeous duet featuring David and Louise Wener [also from Sleeper] on ‘We Should Be Together’, plus rousing new track called ‘Don’t Give Up Without A Fight’ which combines classic Wedding Present feistiness with a Krautrock finale.

Devoted fans who remember the band’s ‘Hit Parade’ series, will know the notion of a monthly 7” single is not entirely new to The Wedding Present. But as its 30th Anniversary rolls into view, David Gedge explains how the ‘24 Songs’ will be breathing new life into that classic concept:

“The Hit Parade went on to become something of a significant milestone in the history of the band and it’s a project about which I’m often asked. As its thirtieth anniversary approached, I began to wonder if we should celebrate it in some way. A ‘Hit Parade Part 2’ didn’t feel quite right, though. Then, someone said to me: “Other bands have released music in similar ways but there has been nothing like the Hit Parade.” And they were right! A 7” single a month seems, somehow, very ‘Wedding Present’. So, inspired by that little idea from three decades ago, we’ve embarked on this new project, ‘24 Songs’.

“Even though The Wedding Present have never been known for taking the easy route, the idea of recording 24 tracks and releasing them in this way could seem daunting to any band. However, I’ve been utterly inspired by the music that has been written since Jon and Melanie joined the group. The thought of celebrating this exciting new line-up with an exciting new series has motivated us all… and I suppose we also didn’t want any of these songs to be hidden away in the middle of an album!”

A compilation album of all the recordings from the series is being planned for May 2023. The ‘24 Songs’ series also continues the band’s association with photographer Jessica McMillan, who has created stunning images and films as a visual accompaniment to the recordings. Fans can hear and subscribe to the ‘24 Songs’ series here: https://linktr.ee/24songs

Performing new material from the project, plus hits and classics from their extensive repertoire, The Wedding Present will present their ‘24 Songs’ live show at the Manchester 02 Ritz on Saturday 20th May 2023. Speaking about the gig, Gedge adds:

“We’ve enjoyed the whole process of ‘24 Songs’ – the pressure of creating twenty-four tracks and watching the collection slowly come together. It also allowed me to reminisce about another monthly 7” challenge that we took on thirty years ago! The reaction from fans has been incredible, so it only felt right that we bring this labour of love to life in the form of a concert.”

The Wedding Present will also be joined in Manchester by very special guests, the Miki Berenyi Trio. Formed by singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Lush vocalist Miki Berenyi, the band began when she began playing some Lush songs with fellow musicians KJ ‘Moose’ McKillop and Oliver Cherer at book events for her memoir. “We enjoyed it so much that we’ve decided to extend our set,” says Miki. “Expect new songs and old, and a tone of guitar pedals which we may or may not gaze at.”

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TICKETS
Tickets for the event are priced at: £25.00 Advance STBF

Tickets are available as follows:

General Sale
https://www.seetickets.com/event/the-wedding-present/o2-ritz/2403074

Ages: 8+ (Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult at all times)

Doors 7.00pm / Curfew 11.00pm

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The Wedding Present have had eighteen UK Top 40 hit singles… not bad for a band that has, from its inception, stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. That was back in 1985 when David Lewis Gedge boarded a National Express coach in London with 500 records packed into a pair of his mother’s suitcases. In this fashion, the debut single GO OUT AND GET ‘EM BOY! was collected from the pressing plant, delivered to the distribution company, and The Wedding Present was born. That pioneering spirit has been at the core of the band’s philosophy ever since. From GEORGE BEST (“an unmitigated delight” [NME]), the first full-length release on their own Reception Records onwards, the band has charted an appealing, if often eccentric, course of its very own.

THE WEDDING PRESENT – ‘24 SONGS’ LIVE @ MANCHESTER O2 RITZ, 20 MAY 2023
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS: MIKI BERENYI TRIO