Squeeze
50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR + SPECIAL GUEST BADLY DRAWN BOY
The Forum
MENUSqueeze are one of rock's vital institutions, a band who carved out a distinctive place in the pop firmament with their vibrantly melodic, perceptive songs. Those songs were written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the composers who have remained at the heart of Squeeze since its inception. 70s and 80s Hits such as ‘Up the Junction’, ‘Cool for Cats’, ‘Another Nail in My Heart’, ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Tempted’ led critics to label Difford and Tilbrook the "next Lennon and McCartney", an assessment that wasn't proven to be hyperbole.
With Difford and Tilbrook joined by bassist Owen Biddle, guitarist Melvin Duffy, percussionist Steve Smith, keyboardist Stephen Large and drummer Simon Hanson - the sound and spirit of Squeeze remains vital and vibrant for its fiftieth year.
Joining Squeeze on their 50th anniversary festivities is one of the UK’s most treasured songwriters Damon Gough aka Badly Drawn Boy, who also recently celebrated a musical milestone, 25 years of releasing music. From his still-towering, Mercury Prize winning debut The Hour Of Bewilderbeast in 2000 to the enthralling soundtrack to Nick Hornby adaptation About A Boy (from 2002); Badly Drawn Boy’s beautiful and eclectic discography spans over nine albums including Have You Fed The Fish? (also 2002) Born In The U.K. (2006) and his most recent album Banana Skin Shoes in 2020. His set will feature a career-spanning set of hits and fan favourites.
After many years of fundraising and awareness activities with Squeeze and as a solo artist, Glenn Tilbrook, recently accepted an invitation to become an Ambassador for the anti-poverty charity, the Trussell Trust. Squeeze have confirmed that they will once again be supporting the charity, which provides emergency food and support to people who cannot afford the essentials, while campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Right now, millions of people across the country are experiencing hunger and have no option but to turn to a food bank for support. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network gave out a record 1.5 million emergency food parcels between April and September 2023. This will be the busiest winter ever at food banks, who are already stretched to breaking point and urgently need food donations to continue to be there for people who need them right now.
We are inviting attendees on the tour to bring along food donations to the shows, where there will be collection points across the venue each night. There will also be collection buckets for any cash donations. All donations will be distributed to people in crisis across the 1,300 food bank centres in the Trussell Trust network.
You can donate food at our shows or, if you want to make a difference right now, make a donation this winter to your local food bank. Visit www.trusselltrust.org/donate-food to find out how to make a donation to your local food bank and the items they most need this winter.
Squeeze thank you in advance for your generosity and look forward to seeing you at the shows.