The Selecter Tickets

The Selecter Mark 35 Years of 2 Tone

From the 2 Tone ska revival of the late 1970s and early '80s, came The Selecter. One of the pioneers of this revolutionary movement, and also one of the most successful, The Selecter continue to wow audiences with their potent ska vibes and energetic style. Buy The Selecter tickets today to see this energy in action.

Schedule

The Selecter are embarking on an intensive tour, extending into next year, giving plenty of opportunity for people to get their hands on The Selecter tickets. The first of these dates is at Rock City in Nottingham, before the band travel the length and breadth of England, also visiting Scotland and Wales. The band will finish at the Skamouth weekender in Great Yarmouth in the spring, alongside the likes of Lee Scratch Perry and Dandy Livingstone.

Trivia

Lead singer and founding member Pauline Black is the daughter of a Nigerian Yoruba prince and worked as an NHS radiographer for five years before moving over to the music business. The multi-talented Black has also worked in radio and earned awards for her acting, having played the part of the great Billie Holliday in the theatre, and starring alongside legend Christopher Lee on the big screen.

Band

The Selecter were formed in Coventry in 1979. Coventry was the hub for 2 Tone records and the 2 Tone ska revival, with The Selecter playing a pivotal role in this movement that rocked the UK charts and club scene into the 1980's. The band enjoyed great success, spreading their own brand of big band, high-energy ska to the masses, before disbanding in 1982.

In 1991, the band was reformed by Pauline Black, who led the band through 15 years of extensive touring and a number of new albums, before the band again went their separate ways in 2006. Black took some time out to publish her memoirs, before gradually delving back into the music scene, eventually piecing The Selecter back together in 2010. The Selecter now exist as an eight-piece outfit, and having released two new albums since their reformation, still have a lot to offer the world of 2 Tone ska.

Breakthrough

The Selecter's big breakthrough came virtually as soon as they were formed due to the explosion of the 2 Tone Ska revival. The meteoric rise of the genre skyrocketed The Selecter and their fellow 2 Tone label-mates into the arms of a public happy to absorb the positive vibes in the advent of post-punk and new wave.

Hit Albums

The bands debut album, Too Much Pressure, released in 1980, was truly groundbreaking, achieving gold status in the UK and peaking at No. 5 in the album charts. The album remains fresh and energetic to this day and is a staple part of any ska collection. Two successful singles were released from Too Much Pressure and the title track itself was used in a very famous film of the time. Five of the songs on the album were cover versions, including the closing track, which is a ska take on the James Bond theme. Artwork for the album was done by artist, David Storey, who went on to win critical acclaim and produced artwork for bands such as Blondie.

Show Experience

Expect sharp suits and lots of happy, driving, energy, with plenty of people heading for the dance floor to soak up the big band ska vibes of The Selecter. Arms and legs can scarcely contain themselves under the spell of The Selecter's bold and bouncy beats. It's definitely a gig where you can go to let your hair down.