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Fat Friday 24th Sep 2010 featuring: Usher, My Chemical Romance, Michael Ball, James Blunt, Rumer and more Usher

Posted: 13 years ago

Tickets go on sale Friday 24th September at 9AM unless otherwise specified. All prices + booking fees. For ticket availability, click on the images, below.

Usher

Proving that one album release just isn't enough for one year, Usher wheels out a companion mini-set/EP called "Versus". Both that and the "Raymond v Raymond" long-players have boosted the Usher coffers somewhat, especially after the single "OMG" has blazed its little trail everywhere. The hot news is - Usher is back in the UK in 2011, with dates starting in Manchester on Jan 26th to Belfast on 6th Feb. Ticket prices are around the £40-£45 mark.

My Chemical Romance

With a proven fanbase bordering on hysterical, the three MCR dates so far announced (as per our article) are sure to fly out. One date at Hammersmith doesn't look enough to me, but that one (on 23rd Oct) and the others in Manchester and Edinburgh are all that is due so far. Don't miss out! Tickets are around £25.

Michael Ball

The country's foremost crooner and showman has lined up an extensive regional UK tour next year in support of his new album "Heroes", a tribute set to the songwriters and singers who have sound-tracked his career (probably no Deftones or Buju Banton then). Stretching from Edinburgh, through Glasgow, Sheffield, Ipswich and beyond, Ball will make one stop at the Royal Albert Hall on 21st June before concluding in Plymouth on 24th June. Tickets cost approx £35.

James Blunt

Armed with songs rather than weapons these days, the Blunster commands an eager audience and intense hatred in equal measure. You can't deny it though - the boy can write easy-going pop that you can swallow between meals (though whether it stays down is another matter). Joking aside, his tour starts in Feb in Glasgow on the 17th, continuing on to London, Plymouth and Portsmouth (plus many others) where the tour ends on the 4th. Tickets are £27.50 upwards.

Rumer

This lady is rapidly garnering the sort of attention often reserved for established stars. Without so much as a sniff from Cowell and his dusty cronies, Rumer has done it the 'real' way - sung from an early-age and got talent-spotted by a label-boss. If you haven't 'heard a Rumer' yet, do - because she's worth it [Check her performance last night on Later Live.. with Jools Holland: www.bit.ly/cLD5nO - Ed]. It looks like a Festive-tour (minus the roasting chestnuts and Santa-hats, one hopes) is on the cards - you can buy tickets for new Manchester and London dates from Friday, priced £17.50.

Roky Erickson

It's 'legend corner' again, starring two leading-lights from the world of 60s/70s rock. We begin with Roky, a man who founded the ground-breaking 13th Floor Elevators in 1965 and went on to crack off several solo albums, including his first for 14 years - 2010's "True Love Cast Out All Evil". He tours in December, calling at Birmingham, London and Manchester (so far) - expect to pay £27.50.

Peter Frampton

He 'loved your way' and he asked to 'show me the way' back in the 70s and is still going strong - here's another UK jaunt, this time in support of his recent "Thank You Mr Churchill" album, released in April). So far, four dates have been confirmed for March, priced around £27.50.

Laura Marling

In November, acclaimed singer Laura Marling will wield her brand of impressionistic songwriting around the UK, beginning with Sheffield on 20th November, ending in Cardiff on 1st March. Check our article for full details - prices are £15-£17.50. Tickets are on sale from Thursday.

All Time Low

Fresh from their major slot on the 2010 Kerrang Relentless Tour at the beginning of the year, All Time Low from Maryland will bring their kooky (see what I did there?) brand of power-punk-emocore (I have just made that up, but you get the idea) rock 'n' roll to most of the nation in support of their forthcoming live CD/DVD called amusingly "Straight To DVD". March 2011 is the time to remember, £15 is the average price to pay.

Les Miserables

Don't forget that the 25th anniversary O2 concert of Les Miserables takes place on 3rd October and just about every national Vue cinema will be screening it in tandem with the 7pm performance. Our article lists every darned one of them, plus the link to book your £15 ticket in advance. No kidding, this will sell fast.

Ghost the Musical

The second adaptation of a major film to star the late Patrick Swayze after the global success of 'Dirty Dancing' is the Oscar-winning blockbuster 'Ghost', making its World premiere in Manchester next year, before moving to the West End's Piccadilly Theatre in June. The musical will feature new music by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, as well as (of course) the Righteous Brothers' 'Unchained Melody' and will be directed by multi-award-winner Matthew Warchus. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 9AM priced from £25 - £65.

Also on sale this Friday

Billy Bragg

Lots of very interesting one-off on-sales and tour-leg additions go on sale this very day including a return to the East End for Billy Bragg at the Troxy, a brace of Christy Moore concerts in Scotland, a very special London date for Ireland's treasured rock-band The Frames, another May gig for Loudon Wainwright, this time in Glasgow, sheer and utter ball-breaking doom and destruction by the impressively fearsome Kataklysm, who play one London date only as part of the (ahem) Neckbreakers Ball 2011 (on sale at midday), a further Brixton date for US gloomsters Interpol and I'm sure the first of many Festive gatherings for the man who kept C&A afloat for so long in the 80s, Daniel O'Donnell.

Happy clicking!

Paul Pledger