upfront
WHAT A RIOT
IN late 2004 and early 2005 it was almost impossible to avoid the Kaiser Chiefs. They burst onto the scene with their debut single Oh My God, invoking a sound of summer festival fun, catchy hooks and cheeky lyrics. Quickly followed up by Everyday I Love You Less And Less and I Predict A Riot, their massive first album Employment was a tantalising taste of what was to come from these five Leeds boys. Any notion of the “difficult second album” was quickly dispelled with 2007’s much darker Yours Truly, Angry Mob – a record that provided them with their first, and to date only, number one hit in Ruby. By now the Kaiser Chiefs had well and truly established themselves as the UK’s leading festival band through relentless gigging. An opening spot for Muse through Europe, two sold-out shows at London’s Earl’s Court and a victorious homecoming at Leeds’ Elland Road Stadium to 40,000 were just some of the highlights. After two more cracking albums, Off With Their Heads and The Future Is Medieval, a stack of Brit Awards, Coachella, Glastonbury, countless other European festivals and a blistering Who cover at the Olympics closing ceremony, the Kaiser Chiefs return to Wales. The band themselves see 2013 as a new dawn; with a new drummer, some big shows in the works and their fifth studio album around the corner. Of that record, lead singer Ricky Wilson describes it as their “first record for the second time”, an exciting prospect for fans of a band that have already proved themselves early in their career. Always ones to put on a great live show, be sure to catch them as they hit Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Tues 10 Sept. Promising a set that will surely be packed full of hits and maybe even the odd new tune, when the Kaiser Chiefs hit town you’d better be prepared for a party. I Predict A Riot? Hopefully not, but certainly a great gig. STEVEN GIDDEY
Kaiser Chiefs, Tues 10 Sept, Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Tickets: £12.50-£25. Info: 01970 622822 www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk
THE ELVIES 2013
CAN it really be that time again when Elvis fans from all over the world descend on Porthcawl to celebrate all that pertains to Presley? The answer: very nearly. Hold your horses Elvis enthusiasts ? celebrations don’t kick off until Fri 27 Sept, although that electricity may well be in the air already, the calm before the sequinned storm. This year is the 10th anniversary of the world’s most Elvis-packed weekend, meaning it’s a big one folks. While it’s sad that the king himself can’t be there (unless you believe the rumours) with the world’s most famed Elvis tribute acts appearing and performing this really is the next best thing. Events kick off with the first heat of the Best Festival Elvis competition on Friday afternoon, followed later that evening by The Three Kings Show. Bringing gifts of their very own the show features three of the world’s leading Elvis tribute acts, including last year’s winner Ben Thompson. There’s no chance to rest as Saturday night brings The Elvies, the world’s leading award show for Elvis tribute artists. This is certain to separate the impersonators from the true artists as few would be more able to properly judge the talent than Charles Stone, Elvis’s tour producer for the last seven years of his life. Contestants will need to sing from the heart, shimmy from the hips and curl a \ ]?[?XZ?H HYY\? ?????H?\?]?]Y\???YH ?[?[???[?^H]?[?[??????[?? H???[ ??? ?][?[ [?] ?\?^K\[??H[? H??H?H?[?Y?\? \???X[??H???H[?\??][?[[ ?\? ?X?]H\?\??\?\??\??[?]?Y X[ X??] ??[??H \??\?Y??XX?]?[??]Y? \?[?\? ??[? ? ????? ?Z\??H?T X??]?Z[??[? ?H ?]?\?H]?[? HY?\?\\?Y\?\? ?[\?[?[?]Y?\?[?[\Y?H ?X?\ [? \?\??]?[???Y^K?[? ?? [?x?&[?H ?X]YZ?HH?[??H?[????H?[???][?H?X]]Y?[?[ ? ?X\?YH ?? ?X?X^H???H]?ZZH?X?\ [???]\?H?\?H[?] ???[? ???H ?YZ?[?H YX\?[??Y?[ ?\?\? ? ?[??H?] \?\ ?T?VHS?S?H??]?[ ?\??\?]?[ ??]? ???H ??T?[? ?H?\ ?X??] ?0??p??NK?L ???L?H?T ?[??? ???[ ?Y\???Z?V?? N??