Upcoming tour of Australia will be The Streets final one

The Streets' upcoming Australian tour is a must see for every fan and in fact every one. For this upcoming tour will be a bit of a swansong for the Brit-rapper Mike Skinner.

Once hailed the "voice of a generation for his tales about life in the suburbs", Skinner is preparing to put down the microphone after almost a decade. Sad, but true.

The fourth Streets album, 'Everything is Borrowed', was released last year, and Skinner plans to deliver the fifth and final album this year.

He has already written 10 songs for it, and says it feels like the end of a chapter.

"I just think it will be a very tidy five albums and they'll all make sense as one thing, and then I'll just go on and do something else. I've been doing this kind of formula now for - well it will be nine or 10 years by the time I'm done - and it's been constant. I'm always going to have a lot going on. I don't think it will be sad for me," Skinner said.

Until then, Skinner is planning on making the most of his remaining time as The Streets, turning his live shows over the next year into celebrations.

He had to cancel a US tour planned for late last year because it wasn't financially viable, but is looking forward to hitting Australia's shores in February for a string of shows, including the Playground Weekender festival in NSW.

"All I want to do is cover the costs really, and I'm just a little bit more popular in Australia so the gigs are a bit bigger and it kind of works out," he said.

"The shows are the best they've ever been, they're so crazy. At the moment it does feel like the end, and the shows are fantastic."

On the last album Skinner made a rule that he would not mention modern life, and the result is a collection of his most philosophical songs.

On his final effort, the London-based 'geezer' is changing tack again.

"It's a lot more train of thought, this one," he said.

"When that works, you end up with really quite inspired-sounding twists and turns that I think people really like. The other side of that coin is that you don't end up with those really simple songs that I've been known for in the past."

Given his appetite for experimentation, his next career move is sure to be interesting.

"I'd like to make a film next," Skinner said.

"I've been studying screen writing for the whole time I've been doing The Streets really.

"If you listen to (second album) A Grand Don't Come For Free, that is very much drawn from screenwriting more than songwriting really."

As long Mike Skinner is still producing magic in some form, fans will be happy.

Dates for The Streets 'farewell' tour:

5th Feb - The Forum, Sydney NSW
6th Feb - The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
9th Feb - HQ, Adelaide SA
10th Feb - Billboard, Melbourne VIC
13th Feb - Metro City, Perth WA

*The Streets will also be appearing at Playground Weekender
Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman’s Ferry
Friday 6, Saturday 7, Sunday 9 February

www.the-streets.co.uk

The Streets announce sideshows for Playground Weekender

Mike Skinner's The Streets will play a series of sideshows when he visits Australia again, this time for the Playground Weekender festival.

The February tour comes after the release of his fourth record 'Everything Is Borrowed', which certainly marks a departure from the straight UK Garage/Hip-hop sounds of his first two releases. The Mercury Prize winner and Brit Award nominee has been described as one of the most authentic voices of the British music scene for many many years. There's no doubt that Music Universe believes this is one of the finest british exports to come out this decade.

The tour starts in Brisbane on February 6, before winding around the country and wrapping up in Perth on February 13.

Tickets go on sale Friday 5th December.

5th Feb - The Forum, Sydney NSW
6th Feb - The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
9th Feb - HQ, Adelaide SA
10th Feb - Billboard, Melbourne VIC
13th Feb - Metro City, Perth WA

*The Streets will also be appearing at Playground Weekender

www.thestreets.co.uk

Playground Weekender 2009 lineup announced

Returning for its third year in 2009, the fabulous Playground Weekender is back once again.

Picture this - luxurious surrounds of Del Rio Riverside Resort on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, a three-day fiesta and a lineup to boogie too.

Anticipation has been steadily mounting for next year’s line-up, since the earlier announcement of The Streets headlining. So are you ready? Here’s the lineup for the 2009 Playground Weekender:

After nine years, the indomitable Primal Scream will finally return to Australia to headline the Weekender. They acclaimed the legend status with 1991 album 'Screamadelica' and have continued to build a formidable repertoire, culminating in this year’s album 'Beautiful Future'. Simply epic!

In August, California’s Cold War Kids left Splendour In The Grass with many more fans and they’ll be back to do it again at Playground. The band has just delivered an assured second album, 'Loyalty To Loyalty' and their live shows are not to be missed. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Toronto duo Crystal Castles will be bringing their messed-up electro and pop hooks to Playground. This will be an insane performance.

The goodness doesn’t stop there, though. Whomadewho are heading back to Playground after a standout set in 2007. The invite has also been extended to New Zealand collective Salmonella Dub, Melbourne’s Blue King Brown, Grafton Primary, Paper Scissors, Pomomofo, TZU and D.I.G (Directions in Groove). Then there are more DJs than you can point a needle at – among them Norman Jay, Ewan Pearson, Ashley Beedle and Tom 'friggin' Middleton. Phew. Wow. Thanks.

Ummmm......in addition to all the musical splendour and just in case you might get bored, Del Rio Resort boasts a 9-hole golf course for camping, swimming pool, beer garden, cinema and other creature comforts. Trust me, you won't want to leave.

And again, Playground Weekender first line-up:

Primal Scream
The Streets
Cold War Kids
Crystal Castles
Blue King Brown
Salmonella Dub
Soul II Soul Sound System
Grafton Primary
Nic Fanciulli
Ashley Beedle
Norman Jay
Whomadewho
TZU
D.I.G (Directions in Groove)
Ewan Pearson
Todd Terje
Tom Middleton
Jimpster
Paper Scissors
Mark De Clive-Lowe
Pomomofo
Wow
Russ Dewbury

Playground Weekender
Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman’s Ferry
Friday 6, Saturday 7, Sunday 9 February

www.playgroundweekender.com.au

The Streets set to play Playground Weekender 2009

Phew......it took a game of 'mercy' to try and squeeze this one out of the promoters.

Music Universe is happy they won the game and can now reveal that The Streets is the first headliner locked in for the one-and-only Playground Weekender.

After producing 3 albums already, there was talk that Mike Skinner of The Streets might be retiring, however listening to his fourth album 'Everything Is Borrowed', it seems he aint going anywhere soon. He is a lyrical master and puts on one of the best live shows going around. The Streets live band is also well-attuned to the Australian festival circuit, they've toured a number of times, so expect an antz-in-my-pants kind of party at Playground.

So what should one expect from Playground Weekender? Well, it is held at the picturesque Del Rio Resort on the Hawkesbury River, a true festival location. This year’s event hosted the likes of Maximo Park, Ian Brown, The Wombats and Kruder & Dorfmeister, so you can expect an equally mouth watering line-up in 2009.

Stay tuned to Music Universe for the first official line up announcement on Thursday 6 November.

Playground Weekender
Del Rio Riverside Resort, Wiseman’s Ferry, New South Wales
Fri 6, Sat 7 and Sun 8 Feb 2009

www.the-streets.co.uk
www.playgroundweekender.com.au

Muse collaborate with The Streets?

Muse have cleared up a heated debate, denying that a track that surfaced last night, which features a collaboration with the Streets, had any serious purpose.

In a statement on their official website, the band said: “The MP3 floating around on the message boards at the moment is a track we recorded with Mike Skinner a few months ago. "The track was the result of a late night jam session and something we did for a bit of a laugh featuring a blues riff we have been playing live recently upon which Skinner recorded some vocals. "It is not intended to be a serious release so we are happy for it to be leaked around unofficially. Hope you enjoy, Cheers. Matt, Dom & Chris.”

Despite what was previously thought, ‘Who Knows Who’, which only features vocals from Mike Skinner, won’t be featuring on the forthcoming Streets album, ‘Everything Is Borrowed’.

http://www.muse.mu/

The Streets release 'The Escapist' as new single

This week The Streets released their new single.

It's called 'The Escapist' and it's the first taste of their fourth album due mid-September.

It's taken Mike Skinner two and a half years to finish the record. He's blogged at his myspace that it'll have a peaceful, positive vibe compared to the last release and it's likely to be called 'Everything Is Borrowed'.

Mike also reckons the next Streets album will be the last and that it'll have a dark and futuristic sound, similar to the Lou Reed classic 'Berlin'.

www.the-streets.co.uk