Earlier this year SQUID took part in an extraordinary live to vinyl recording challenge. In one take, the band recorded two songs for a two track EP entitled NEAR THE WESTWAY, live and direct to vinyl at Metropolis Studios, and Steve Lamacq from BBC 6 Music was there to listen and play it out on his show. A limited run of the EP was first available as part of Record Store Day which, not surprisingly, sold out immediately. SQUID can now announce a further run of NEAR THE WESTWAY is now available via Warp Records here:
https://squid.warp.net/release/239374-squid-near-the-westway
https://bleep.com/release/238460-squid-near-the-westway
Arthur Leadbetter from SQUID said ahead of the session: “We’d been busying ourselves away on some scores, arranging orchestral versions of two of our favourites from Bright Green Field. The process was the same as ever, starting off with no clue of what we’re doing, stumbling along together and putting our ideas into the music until it starts to take shape.”
NEAR THE WESTWAY sees SQUID reimagine 2010 and DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER from their acclaimed debut album BRIGHT GREEN FIELD which came out in May and is probably the weirdest album to reach #4 in official UK Album Chart in a long time – testament to the avid fan base they have been building over recent years with their incendiary live shows and high-octane releases. For this recording, the band brought in additional horns and string players to develop arrangements which have become heavily influenced by legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich. The results confirm what we already knew about SQUID – that they are one of the most exciting bands in the UK and far beyond.
After the most electrifying and soul-enriching festival performances at Latitude and Standon Calling in July, SQUID will be headlining a UK and Irish tour later this year. Full dates as follows:
AUGUST
Tue 31 LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
SEPTEMBER
Tue 07 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
Wed 08 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
Thu 09 BRISTOL Marble Factory
Fri 10 MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Thu 23 LONDON Printworks
Fri 24 BIRMINGHAM Crossing
Sat 25 NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Mon 27 NEWCASTLE University
Tue 28 GLASGOW SWG3
Wed 29 BELFAST Empire
Thu 30 DUBLIN Button Factory
OCTOBER
Sun 03 CARDIFF Tramshed
Mon 04 SOUTHAMPTON The 1865
Tue 05 EXETER Phoenix