Blue Christmas
November 12, 2022Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little Saint Etienne and this year we have some special treats lined up for you.
As we were busy with ‘I’ve Been Trying To Tell You’ this time last year we decided not to issue a fanclub release, so to make up for it we have two for you this year plus another special that’ll be offered via our official ‘music shop’.
First is ‘The Character Of Saint Etienne’ a fanclub only vinyl album that gathers together 12 hot dishes and cold cuts from the relatively recent Saint Etienne era. Some of the recordings included here were one-off projects whilst others are gems that we ruthlessly tossed aside for reasons no one can quite remember. Limited to just 1,100 copies worldwide ‘The Character Of Saint Etienne’ is available in a transparent deep blue vinyl that perfectly matches its Mini Disc sleeve, but for purists like us there’s also a super limited black vinyl edition. Sorry, no CD version but all copies are supplied with a digital download card and every pre-order made from our merchandise shop here comes with an exclusive Chrimbo card personally signed by the three of us.
Next up is a vinyl edition of ‘Fairfax High’ the companion piece to 1998’s ‘Good Humor’ – on “wax” for the very first time. Many of you have been requesting this one so we’ve gone back to the original Sub Pop master tapes and replicated the 11 song bonus disc that came with initial CD copies of ‘Good Humor’ in North America. Once again Paul Kelly has done us proud with the artwork and the record is available in a blue, white and clear splatter vinyl plus a super limited black vinyl format.
These two are limited to just 1,100 copies each (750 coloured vinyl and 350 black vinyl) and only available to via our official ‘merchandise shop’ here from 6pm GMT on Thursday 17th November.
These are certain to sell out fast so please don’t delay in placing your orders. Each pre-order comes with a signed Christmas card and shipping commences from December 1st so we’re confident everyone will receive their records in time for Christmas. We are also offering bundles of both coloured vinyl or both black vinyl which offer a small saving.
As if all this wasn’t enough we felt that the splatter vinyl edition of ‘Fairfax High’ might get lonely so we’re issuing a matching splatter vinyl edition of ‘Good Humor’ as a companion piece, just in time for the album’s 25th anniversary. This features the original LP artwork and inner sleeve with a transparent green, dark green and white splatter vinyl. Pre-orders for this also commence on Thursday 17th November but two hours earlier at 4pm GMT from our other official ‘music shop’ here. Unfortunately these won’t ship until February 2023 but as a special bonus for everyone who pre-orders before December 13th we will include a free 10 track live CD in a specially designed card wallet entitled ‘Saint Etienne / Los Angeles ’99’. Ten songs recorded on the North American tour for ‘Good Humor’. Fun times indeed!
Thanks for taking the time to read this – turkeys may be in short supply, but we’re sure you’ll be pleased with this year’s Christmas offerings.
Lots of love,
Bob, Pete and Sarah xxx
We’ve Been Trying To Tell You……
July 26, 2021Summer’s here and the time is right to tell you a heck of a lot of news!
First up, we’ve made a new album called I’ve Been Trying To Tell You that will be released on September 10th. It was recorded at Pete’s Needham Sound studio and with Gurgles hero Gus Bousfield in Bradford. We’re very proud of it. People who have heard the record have used words like “reverie” and “dreamlike”. You may have heard snippets via Instagram and twitter.
Bob: “To me it’s about optimism, and the nineties, and how memory is an unreliable narrator. Pete and Gus have done a properly amazing production job. I think it sounds gorgeous.”
Sarah: “It’s the first sample driven album we’ve made since So Tough and it’s been a really refreshing experience, such fun! It’s both dreamy and atmospheric, late summer sounds.”
Pete: “We’ve really pulled apart and dived deep into the samples; the concept and each of our interpretations of it have made this a very special sounding album, we hope you think so too.”
One of our favourite photographers Alasdair McLellan has made a film to accompany the album as well as doing all the stills photography for the record itself. It’s beautiful – he’s an amazing director and you’ve probably seen some of his Marc Jacobs ads. The film will premiere at NFT1 on the Southbank on 3rd September. Tickets go on sale to BFI members on Tuesday 3rd August and the general public on the Thursday 5th August here. News of more screenings around the UK and internationally very soon.
The premiere will be accompanied by a whole weekend of The Films Of Saint Etienne – from Finisterre to Holderness and all points in between – on the Southbank between the 3rd and 5th of August. Most screenings will be accompanied by Q&As with us lot, and details of all seven films and a selection of shorts can be found here.
The album itself with be available on both black and limited clear vinyl editions as well as a single disc CD and a limited double disc CD/DVD edition which includes both the album and the film ….you can pre-order certain formats from our brand new, super streamlined music shop here.
We’re also thrilled that Rough Trade have made I’ve Been Trying To Tell You their album of the month for September and will offer an exclusive sky blue vinyl edition with a three track remix CD with mixes by Daniel Avery, Jane Weaver and Vince Clarke here.
There’s also talk of a Heavenly edition with free flexidisc – please check their bandcamp shop here for more details – and as if all that wasn’t enough…..
…..if you like your albums ‘super deluxe’ we will be bringing you news of a limited edition box set with signed prints, film poster, DVD, exclusive 10″ vinyl and 12″ album very soon.
Last but not least we’ll be taking this show on the road around the UK in November and we’d love to see you at one of the following dates…
November
18 Glasgow St Lukes
19 Sunderland to be announced
20 London Alexandra Palace Theatre
23 Bristol Trinity
24 Birmingham Institute
25 Saltaire Victoria Hall
26 Liverpool Grand Central Hall
27 Hove Old Market
See the events listings for full details and ticket links.
Lots of exciting news that we’ve been …..trying…..dying…. to tell you.
Lots of love
Bob, Pete and Sarah xxx
It’s (nearly) Christmas!!!!
November 22, 2019Due to popular demand and daffy prices on eBay, we are re-pressing the long deleted Japanese only THE MISADVENTURES OF SAINT ETIENNE on vinyl and you can pre-order your copy today at our shop by clicking here.
This first ever UK pressing will be on both black and white vinyl editions and strictly limited to 500 copies of each. As you know we like black vinyl but wanted to offer a coloured vinyl edition for those of you who have been requesting this. The album comes with a download card and the catalogue number, if you’re interested is FO013. It has been mastered by Guy Davie who has done his usual excellent job – we’re really happy with it and think you will be too.
PLUS! As we’re in the studio working on some new songs, we thought we’d record a couple of new Christmas numbers – ‘Thank You Very Much’ and ‘Tramway Song’. Anyone ordering a copy of MISADVENTURES (or spending £20 or more in our online shop) before Christmas will receive both songs on a CD housed inside a Christmas card (FO014) signed by all three of us. You can’t say fairer than that, can you?
The LP will be £24 plus postage and we will be shipping during the first week of December. All orders made before Christmas will include the Xmas card/CD – one card per album ordered.
Tiger Bay – The Boxset
April 29, 2019To mark its 25th anniversary, Saint Etienne announce details of a limited edition boxset of one of their most critically acclaimed albums Tiger Bay.
The lovingly put together box will be released on Heavenly Recordings on Friday 17th May 2019 but will be available to pre-order from the band’s webshop from Tuesday 30th April.
The boxset is sold via the band’s webshop at a reduced rate of £50 (plus P&P) and all those who pre-order by 6th May will receive a free copy of the 4 track Surrey North EP previously only available to those who attended the 2018 Christmas parties in Saltaire and Brighton.
The lavish set included a vinyl version of the original album cut at 45rpm over two discs housed in a beautiful gatefold sleeve, a 12 track vinyl compilation of rarities and demos Tiger Bay – Remains of The Day, a 28-page booklet featuring a wealth of unseen photographs and essay about the making of the album, a 12” x 24” reproduction of the original album poster, a reproduction Hug My Soul window sticker and a reproduction of the original press release and biography from 1994.
At the heart of the set is Tapestry, a 13 track CD album of previously unreleased ‘stripped-back’ versions and arrangements, taken from original master tapes produced and complied by Pete Wiggs.
Tiger Bay as it’s never been heard before and here’s a taster for you:
Tiger Bay – 25th anniversary UK shows
Following on from the band’s sold out performance at the Barbican Centre with the London Contemporary Orchestra in May, Saint Etienne will play four shows in October accompanied by a stripped back, 5 piece string section.
The dates are as follows and tickets are on sale now.
Wednesday 16th: Coventry – Warwick Arts Centre
Tickets – click here
Thursday 17th – Liverpool – Everyman
Tickets – click here
Friday 18th: Gateshead – Sage
Tickets – click here
Saturday 18th: Edinburgh – Queens Hall
Tickets – click here
Tiger Bay is regarded by many as their finest album. Released in 1994, it was a groundbreaking blend of electronica with traditional folk melodies, which included the singles Pale Movie, Like A Motorway and Hug My Soul. It was arranged and conducted by the late David Whitaker, who had worked with Serge Gainsbourg, Marianne Faithfull and Lee Hazlewood.
The Tiger Bay album will be followed by a set of hits and fan favourites also featuring orchestration.
Saint Etienne as you’ve never heard them before – not to be missed!!
Tiger Bay at The Barbican
January 31, 2019Tiger Bay at The Barbican
With the London Contemporary Orchestra
Wednesday 22nd May 2019 7.30pm
We’re really excited to announce news of this special show in London in May.
It’s the first time we’ve performed with a full orchestra and something we’ve wanted to do since releasing Tiger Bay 25 years ago.
Here’s what the Barbican are saying about it…..
“Saint Etienne’s Tiger Bay is regarded by many as their finest album. Released in 1994, it was a groundbreaking blend of electronica with traditional folk melodies, which included the singles Pale Movie, Like A Motorway and Hug My Soul. It was arranged and conducted by the late David Whitaker, who had worked with Serge Gainsbourg, Marianne Faithfull and Lee Hazlewood. The group have never performed the album with a full orchestra before, and this 25th anniversary show – to tie in with a box set re-issue – will be their only performance this year.”
Tickets go on sale to Barbican members from 10am on Thursday 31st January and to non members the following morning, Friday 1st February – click here for tickets.
Please be quick as we’re expecting this show to sell out.
More news on the Tiger Bay box set soon!!
Bob, Pete and Sarah xx
Good Humor 20th Anniversary – UK Shows
August 21, 2018This October Saint Etienne will play their only UK shows for 2018.
These take place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October in the grand foyer space at the British Library on the Euston Road, London NW1 – a short walk from Kings Cross station. Fresh from their US tour in September the 8 piece live band will perform the 1998 album Good Humor in it’s entirety followed by a set of hits, misses, fan favourites plus a new song or two.
Bob, Pete and Sarah will be joined by Lawrence from Go Kart Mozart who will be spinning a selection of his favourite discs before the band take the stage.
Running times are:
Saturday – doors 7.30pm – Saint Etienne on stage at 8.30pm-10.00pm – curfew at 10.30pm
Sunday – doors 7.00pm – Saint Etienne on stage at 8.00pm-9.30pm – curfew at 10.00pm
Tickets:
Saturday – SOLD OUT – sorry this show sold out in seconds flat
Sunday – a limited number available here.
Good Humor 20th Anniversary Tour – North America
August 2, 2018Saint Etienne celebrate 20 years of ‘Good Humor’
with U.S. and Canadian dates.
September 5th – 16th 2018
Bob, Pete and Sarah chat about the tour……
Sarah Cracknell “I’m so looking forwarded to touring Good Humor this Autumn with our fabulous live band! Drummer Mike, The amazing Bennett Brothers, Gerard Johnson and of course Debsey will really bring the album to life and add a certain je ne sais quoi!”
Pete Wiggs “We had such a great experience recording ‘Good Humor’ at Tambourine Studios, and immersing ourselves in Swedish culture (particularly the food/bars/records/pool/bizarre drinking games aspects of it). It’s an album that imho translates nicely to the live ‘arena’ so it will be very exciting and fun to tour it with our current line up of ‘crack’ musicians”.
Bob Stanley “My memories of making Good Humor are all good, and that’s not just looking back twenty years through rose-coloured glasses. Living in a flat in Malmo together for 6 weeks made it feel like we were the Monkees, and I think that spirit comes across on the album. It contained some of my favourite St Et songs, that wise owl Tore Johansson’s production was exceptional, and I was thrilled when it went down so well in the States”
The band will perform ‘Good Humor’ in it’s entirety followed by a set of hits, misses and fan favourites. There will be a new song or two plus some super exclusive items of (music related) merchandise available.
Tickets are on sale now and these are likely to be the last US/Canadian St Et shows for the foreseeable future….
5 Sept New York NY – Bowery Ballroom – TICKETS here
6 Sept Brooklyn NY – Warsaw – TICKETS here
7 Sept Washington DC – Union Stage – TICKETS here
9 Sept Boston MA – Brighton Music Hall – TICKETS here
10 Sept Montreal QC – Thèâtre Fairmont – TICKETS here
11 Sept Toronto ON CANADA – Mod Club – TICKETS here
13 Sept Chicago IL – Park West – TICKETS here
15 Sept San Francisco CA – The Chapel – TICKETS here
16 Sept Los Angeles CA – Fonda Theatre – TICKETS here
Note – there will be some super special items of exclusive merchandise available on these dates.
Tickets are selling fast so please be quick…
