We got to see Skin from Skunk Anansie at V Festival during the early afternoon where she surfed the crowd, we have a picture somewhere, and so we know what you are in for when the iconic band come to Concorde 2 on Tuesday. *Please note this event is sold out everywhere but on some rare occasions some returns may become available so try your luck and contact the venue box offices directly.

In 2001 the band broke up and brought to an end one of the most inspiring and respected bands of the late 1990s.  Having formed in 1994 the band quickly established themselves within the ‘Brit-pop movement that was happening at the time.  In a short space of time Skunk Anansie became a band to recon with, with 8 massive hit singles, three albums totalling over 4 million sales world wide, and the immortal brilliance of Skin’s hard but sweet personality, Skunk Anansie provided British music with a much need boost of femininity, political-ism, and musical brilliance.

The band now have a Best Of compilation titled ‘Smashes and Trashes’ on November 2nd.  In September they released the single ‘Because of You’.  ‘Slander’ and ‘Tear the Place Up’  have also been announced as news songs that are going to be featured on the Best Of album.

This is going to be a rare chance to see a band that help part-define a generation of music.  Their fully SOLD OUT UK tour suggests that people know this and is fast proving to becoming one of the best shows of 2009.

For those of you with tickets for Skunk Anansie’s Concorde 2 show in Brighton the doors open at 19.30-23.00.

What would you think a venue would have to do in order to maintain a Number 1 position for 21 years?  I wasn’t sure either till I went to Concrode 2 which is Brighton’s Number 1 Venue and it shows.  This is what they say:

Concorde 2 has been Brighton’s Number 1 Music Venue and Nightclub for 21 years, bringing you an electric atmosphere with innovative music and hosting some of the greatest bands in the world.

And at last nights Chase & Status I got to see why this is.  They venue seems to know what to put on and what people would be interesting in coming to see, the only issue is many of their shows sell out and last night was no different.  Their line up is diverse and that’s what people want, from world musicians like Tinariwen (who are playing on the 28th October) and Amadou & Mariam, both these guys played Glastonbury’s pryamid stage and blew us away.

And this is what Alexis Petridis of The Guardian had to say about Amadou & Mariam when they played Concorde 2 in Febuary this year:

The core elements are fabulous: Mariam’s voice, at its most vulnerable and affecting on Sabali; the cyclical riffs of Artistya and Magossa, sounding somehow inventive, fresh and oddly familiar at the same time. On Masiteladi, Amadou peels off spectacular guitar solos, fluid, gutsy and effortless. On stage, the duo are insouciantly cool: both blind, they stand virtually motionless, huddled together, while their tough, insanely funky music bounces off the walls. During romantic numbers, Mariam strokes the arm of her husband, whose between-song announcements are in French. The audience invariably respond with: “Yeeeeah!”…

Here is just a few of the highlights for October 2009, for more information and to buy tickets visit their website HERE :

2nd Tinchy Stryder (Sold Out) – 4th Marillion (Sold Out) -  6th Skunk Anansie (yeah sold out) – 7th Noah & the Whale - 9th Funeral For A Friend + Skream & Benga - 15th Adrian Edmondson - 17th Scratch Perverts - 22nd Little Boots (Sold Out).

Previous shows have been as diverse and genius as it comes from The Magic Numbers, The Wild Hearts, Natalie Imbruglia and Balzin’ Squad (who’s new single released a few months ago was actually quite good) to Sister Sledge, Elliot Minor, Florence and the Machine. During November 2009 some highlights we recommend will be Glastonbury act VV Brown (she was really awesome), Just Jack, and the newly reformed Brand New Heavies.

We are really excited about being part of what Concorde 2 have on offer over the new few months and we are going to be bringing you all the news, views, and reviews from Brighton’s No. 1 Venue (we might even get do an interview or two).