End of an era

As those who saw our recent concerts in Germany and Belgium will know, The Magnets are at a major career turning point. Those concerts were the last under our faithful promoter of recent years, Olli Tillmann (who we have to thank for earning us the largest part of our living in the post EMI years). and were our last independent headlining shows, as we change tack towards a more theatrical medium.

We've been moving in this direction in our shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the last two years, with the aim of building a show that can support residencies of several weeks at theatres across the world. No more will will we race helterskelter around Europe, driving 500km a day, seeing a new hotel room every night, and playing for 1000 people here, and 50 there. Touring like that has been a wonderful experience, seeing wonderful places big and small, and so many great people. However, we've told the same stories in the van about 100 times and it's time to move on.

Staying in one place will enable us to develop a better sounding and looking Magnets experience, in which you'll hear some old favourite tunes, and many fantastic new numbers, set in some surprising new ways. The show will debut in Europe (most likely Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam) in March to May, following rehearsals in February and a last three week outing for our straight pop show at the Riverside Studios here in London in Jan/Feb.

See you there!

Award Winning Magnets!

The Magnets had a fantastic day out to Edinburgh last week to pick up the Forth Radio 'Pick of the Fringe Award' for our show at the Edinburgh Festival. We've sung at a few of these ceremonies around the UK, but this was the first time we've ever attended to pick up an award of our own. Our favourite camp comedian Craig Hill was on hand to present the plaque, impecibly dressed in pink suit and rainbow tie, and not for once in his usual kilt.

Despite spending most of the day on the train we made the most of the hospitality on offer (as ever) and even ended up jamming with Daniel Bedingfield. He later joined us on stage for a rendition of This Love, and we were all very impressed by both his enthusiasm for music and the sheer power of his singing voice. Other performers were Tony Christie singing Is This The Road to Amarillo, Simon from Blue, and that bloke from Savage Garden, while Lulu was also in attendance.

It was nice to bump into some old friends, including Jo Hart, our radio publicist from EMI days. However, it certainly made me think that it is much more pleasant to be attending to pick up an award for a show that we're very proud of, than to be attending in a doomed attempt to win airplay for a latest single.

Thanks again to all our friends at Forth Radio for the award, the hospitality and all your support both years we've attended the festival. We may well see you again next summer. Book us a table for next year!