The Alarm have a special release planned on Record Store Day (Sept. 26). "Celtic Folklore Live," is a new vinyl album that features 10 previously unreleased recordings (from the band's Celtic Folklore Tour 1988), that effectively turns The Alarm’s live album "Electric Folklore Live" into a double album.
Thirty years ago, as Mike Peters undertook a creative songwriting journey through the heart of his home country – Wales – the Berlin Wall would fall and Europe and indeed, the rest of the world, would plunge into a period of enormous and seismic change. Caught in the middle of this political maelstrom, Mike Peters with his band The Alarm would record the albums ‘Eye of The Hurricane’ (1987), Electric Folklore (1988), and ‘Change’ (1989) each of which would, in their own way, capture the essence of these most turbulent times.
"I have always thought of these three albums as an Alarm trilogy", says Mike. "A lot happened to the band and the world, during the writing and recording sessions from 1987-1990. As one decade bled into another, the themes of response and resolve to contend with uncertain times are running through the core of each and every album. Played together, these songs tell their own story and, with the tumultuous times Europe and the World can expect to face in the coming months and years, are still as relevant today as when they were first written."
To coincide with an expected tour this summer, Mike Peters and The Alarm will release the new album entitled "Stream (Hurricane of Change)" on June 12 which is an autobiographical that Peters lived with The Alarm from 1986-1990.
The double album release features 39 pieces of new recorded music, all joined together by a Peters spoken word essay, adding a new narrative into original Alarm songs "Rain In The Summertime," "Rescue Me," "One Step Closer To Home," "Sold Me Down The River" and "A New South Wales." There’s also such new recordings as "Irish Sea" and "Ballad of Randolph Turpin."
Throughout the expected U.S. tour, Peters will honor The Alarm’s late ‘80s trilogy of albums, "Eye Of The Hurricane," "Electric Folklore" and "Change" and it will feature acoustic readings of "Rain In The Summertime" (1987 – international Top 20 hit which was recently covered by both The Killers and also by Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan at The Alarm’s Cleveland show last year) and "Sold Me Down The River" (1989 – a US No.1 Rock Song), alongside "Rescue Me." "Strength" and "Spirit of ’ 76" as captured on the 1988 live album "Electric Folklore Live."
The recent "Hurricane of Change" Tour of the UK in late 2019, featured 18 sell out concerts. This one-man Alarm show includes elements of traditional theater.
Stream (Hurricane of Change) will be performed solo with a first set dedicated to "Eye Of The Hurricane," followed by a second performance of "Change" and a third encore set based on songs from The Alarm’s live recording "Electric Folklore." The encore will also feature a request section, that will be based on Alarm songs written and performed between 1981-1990 (The timeline of "Hurricane of Change"). Everyone attending the event is encouraged to bring a sheet of paper with their song request written on it, that can be held up during the third set in order to potentially have their request met by Mike Peters.
Summer tour dates TBA.
Expected July dates are not “Hurricane Of Change” shows. These shows will be greatest hits performances:
July 9 - Solana Beach, Ca - Belly Up
July 11 - Riverside, CA - The Concert Lounge
July 12 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
July 17 - Honolulu, HI - Blue Note
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