Eating in Edinburgh

Top ten tours of 2009

There are certain things we at itchy always look forward to... going to nice restaurants, a spot of guilt-free shopping, drinks with mates and of course going to live gigs. Bearing this in mind we have been scanning music forums and ticket websites to see what there is to look forward to early in the year once all the Christmas festivities have been and gone.

gigs tours music ones to watch enland 2009

AC/DC
Ok so they may be getting on a bit but they are inarguably true rock legends. In fact they are so very rock 'n' roll that their original lead singer even died following a night of excessive alcohol consumption. Oft heralded as the pioneers of heavy metal AC/DC may be a bit closer to their bus pass than most of today's chart toppers, if you haven't heard of them just ask your dad, but sometimes there's a lot to be said for experience.

London O2 Arena, 14th and 16th April
Manchester Evening News Arena, 21st April
Birmingham NEC, 23rd April

Tickets: www.seetickets.com

Bat for Lashes
Known as much for her enviable style as her eclectic and original music, Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes is definitely someone we secretly wish we could be. Oozing irreverent cool from every pore BfL always manages to surprise and delight Itchy with her music. Some critics liken her to Bjork, others to Kate Bush, all we say is we like the way her enchanting lyrics transport us to dreamy other worlds like a drug-enduced haze.

Birmingham Town Hall, 12th April
Oxford The Regal, 13th April
Bristol Anson Rooms, 15th April
Brighton Corn Exchange, 16th April
London, Shepherds Bush Empire, 17th April

Tickets: www.seetickets.com

Bloc Party
East-end favourites Bloc Party are back with their first UK tour in over a year. They were heralded as a band to watch back in 2005 when NME championed their debut album Silent Alarm and have gone from strength to strength ever since. We at Itchy sometimes fear that these big city favourites have become worryingly commercial since 'The Prayer' was played to death on the radio in 2007, but its been a while and we think we're willing to give them another chance.

Glasgow Carling Academy, 25th and 26th January
Manchester Apollo, 28th and 29th January
Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 31st Jan and 1st February
London Olympia, 11th and12th April

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

bands tours events music ones to watch england 2009

Coldplay
Regardless of whether you find Chris Martin a sappy moaner or a modern day eco hero you'd find it hard to argue against the success of his band Coldplay. Songs such as Yellow and Trouble never struggle to get airplay and going to one of their sell-out gigs is like taking a step back in time as people start embracing their inner hippy and waving lighters high above their heads. Perfect for a soulful singalong.

Old Trafford Lancashire C.C.C, 12th Sept
Glasgow Hampden Park, 16th Sept
London Wembley Stadium, 18th and 19th Sept

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Elbow
They may be named after a rather knobbly and unattractive body part but that doesn't mean they should be overlooked. Winners of the Mercury prize, this quintet have been around the block a few times and know their craft well. It may have taken them a while to gain commercial success but they have it now and are being name checked by other record collection stalwarts like Blur, U2 and Snow Patrol.

Sheffield O2, 3rd March
Newcastle O2, 5th March
Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 6th March
Blackpool Empress Ballroom, 7th March
Llandudno Venue Cymru, 9th March
London Wembley Arena, 14th March

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Oasis
If you enjoy loud 90s Britpop then check out Oasis' new tour because the Gallagher brothers (yes those mouthy northerners who like to cause a fracas) are back. The infamous Manchurians will no doubt play a selection from their well-known back catalogue of hits, which include such memorable singalong tunes like Rock n Roll Star, Champagne Supernova and Lyla. But what we at Itchy are really interested in seeing is what mayhem the brothers will cause.

Manchester Heaton Park, 4th, 6th and 7th June
Sunderland Stadium of Light, 10th June
Cardiff Millennium Stadium, 12th June
Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium, 17th June
Slane Castle, 20th June
Coventry Ricoh Arena, 7th July
London Wembley Stadium, 9th, 11th and12th July
St Austell The Eden Project, 14th July

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

bands music gigs tours ones to watch england 2009

Take That
Originally formed in the 90s the fab five, now four, epitomised the phrase 'boyband'. Fresh-faced, but by no means innocent they seemed like the types you'd want to take home to meet your mother (provided they wiped their noses and zipped up their pants first.) The kings of comeback success Take That blasted back onto the music scene last year and now are gearing up for yet another tour. Yes they are cheesy and yes we know we are no longer youthful teenagers, but secretly we like the older and wiser TT.

Sunderland Stadium of Light, 5th and 6th June
Coventry Ricoh Arena, 8th, 9th and 10th June
Cardiff Millennium Stadium, 16th June
Glasgow Hampden Park, 19th, 20th and 21st June
Manchester Lancashire County Cricket Ground (Old Trafford), 23rd – 28th June
London Wembley Arena, 1st–5th July

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The Prodigy
Fronted by the green haired rave monster that is Keith Flint, the prodigy were a staple of early 90s rave culture. Electronic beats, breaks, rave, rock and hardcore dance, the Prodigy did it all. They may no longer have the crazy hair, or be as well known among the masses, but if you were part of the Jilted Generation then this is definitely one for you.

Cardiff C.I.A, 5th April
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, 6th April
Glasgow S.E.C.C, 7th April
Birmingham N.I.A, 9th April
Manchester Evening News Arena, 10th April
Nottingham Trent FM Arena, 11th April
Sheffield Sheffield Arena, 13th April
Brighton Centre, 14th April
London Wembley Arena, 16th and17th April

Tickets: www.seetickets.com

The Ting Tings with Ladyhawke
This is the kind of gig we like, a two for the price of one double header. Headlining is the male/female duo who stole the charts with 'That's not my name', earlier this year. Admittedly they have been overexposed of late and seem to have popped up everywhere like a bad smell that follows you home, but that doesn't mean they don't have some half catchy lyrics. Plus, they started off playing gigs at Salford's Islington Mill, a hub of artistic activity, and that gives them kudos in our books. Supporting them is Ladyhawke, the lady who helped to make lumberjack shirts cool again... enough said.

Glasgow O2 Academy, 25th Feb
Manchester Apollo, 26th Feb
Leeds O2 Academy, 1st March
Wolverhampton The Civic Hall, 2nd March
Portsmouth Guildhall, 3rd March
Swindon Oasis Centre, 5th March
London Brixton Academy, 6th March

Tickets: www.seetickets.com