Exclusive Tour Blog: Starters (Day 6 - 8 )

Last week, Ireland's Starters kicked off a UK and European tour with Rochester, New York natives Such Gold.

Throughout the tour, Starters will be writing exclusive updates from the tour especially for Alter The Press!

Bassist Ian Kelly has checked in with an update of events over the past three days.

February 22nd - Manchester
Slept loads. Life rules!. Koji, Ben, Ciaran and Foxy had to go to Manchester early to record some acoustic videos, so we split in to 2 groups because we had to hang back and wait for Nates guitar to be repaired. When the 1st van set off the rest of us headed into Leeds and walked around. Myself and Bentley went to an indoor market and it was so awesome! We walked around for ages checking it out.

After that we split for some food at Nandos and made our way to Manchester. The show was at the Retro Bar. Nice venue. The opening band were called Decades and they did a Panic! At The Disco cover. The show was pretty packed and everyone had a great time! Koji sang with Such Gold again and it ruled! After the show we split into 2 groups and half of us went to stay with the lovely Rosie Kerr. She had the best wireless password I have ever come across. She was still asleep when we left the next morning. Bye Rosie!

February 23rd - Glasgow
Scotland. The home of our friends Wolves At Heart. Today was the first time on this tour that we saw the sun. It was only for about 13 seconds but we saw it. The venue was really nice. Free wi-fi rules. The show was packed which ruled. Wolves at Heart killed it and the next band covered NOFX. Hell yes! Everyone else ruled. Glasgow is a good time. After the show we got bailed on a place to stay, so we had to stay in a Hostel. Really wish I didn't have to spend the extra money but it was nice to get a bed.

February 24th - Sunderland
As I'm sure you might know we were meant to play in Norwich. Some kid called Ollie Saunders booked shows for us in Bury and Norwich. Both of which he cancelled last minute. He told us the venue in Bury cancelled on him, so we rang the venue and that was not the case. We then booked the venue ourselves and that is why the show still happened. He then did the same thing in Norwich. He also said that he contacted us to try and make the show happen again but that just simply wasn't true.

A friend in Sunderland contacted us about doing a show in Sunderland instead. He said he wasn't sure if anyone would come out but we would get food and a place to stay. Job done. On the trip down from Glasgow we stopped at Hadrians wall and checked out the ruins of a Roman fort. It was cool. We pulled up to the venue and instantly decided to play acoustic. It was in like a really upmarket bar/restaurant. As we thought no one showed up. A friend of the promoter turned up with some band and while Ciaran was playing he walked up and said "can my friend play a few songs, he's dead good and has been on tele and all," we agreed to check it out. As soon as he started playing 'Fuck Her Gently' by Tenacious D I had to walk out. The funniest part was that he left right after he played. We seriously had such a great night though. We played lots of ridiculous covers like Teenage Dirtbag'. Great night.

25th - The Parish, Huddersfield*
26th - The Macbeth, London*
27th - Unit Club, Southampton* Note: Change of venue/location.
28th - Harris Hall, Andover*

March
1st - Innocent, Hengelo, Holland
2nd - Roots Club, Moenchengladbach
3rd - The Chillout, Hochst, Austria
4th - TBC, Regensberg
5th - TBC, Hannover
6th - TBC, High Wycombe (w/ Hostage Calm, Basement + Daylight)
7th - The White Rabbit Plymouth
8th - Soundhouse, Northampton
9th - Wagon and Horses, Birmingham
10th - TBC, Galway
11th - Pop Punk Still Lives #2 - The Pint, Dublin
*Denotes Koji as support

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