’80s hitmakers Fairground Attraction have reunited after 35 years for a 14-date UK tour and a brand new studio album out now. Most people will remember the band’s debut single ‘Perfect’ which went to Number One across the globe and, in 1988, won Best Single at The Brit Awards. To whet our appetites for their new album they have shared ‘What’s Wrong with the World?’ as written by the band’s guitarist Mark Nevin. who penned ‘Perfect’ and sang with the universally admired vocals of Eddi Reader. In a similar upbeat Country-pop vein as their huge hit, they sing “What’s wrong with the world?” There is no band quite like Fairground Attraction. Their use of the guitarrón (a large, Mexican acoustic bass), played by Simon Edwards, gives the bed of their records a warmth and character that combines with drummer Roy Dodds, Nevin and Reader to create a charming acoustic antidote to all that is modern and digital. When they arrived on the scene all those years ago, their unique sound was described by many as a “breath of fresh air” and it is just as true today.
The band’s meteoric rise to the top of the charts was as surprising as it was welcome, not least for the members themselves, who struggled with having their lives turned upside down and, unfortunately, the whole thing was over too soon, leaving a legacy of just four singles and one double-platinum album, The First of a Million Kisses.
Fairground Attraction were never expecting, or trying, to be ‘pop stars’ and they weren’t prepared for the pressure and demands of being thrust into that position. Like a Morris Minor mistakenly entered into Formula One, it was only a matter of time before the gaskets blew, and blow they did, leaving the four members bewildered about what to do next.
Eddi went on to enjoy a long and successful solo career, making 10 critically acclaimed solo albums, most notably, The Songs of Robert Burns, her interpretation of the poems of Scotland’s national bard, which gained her honorary degrees from five universities, as well as an MBE for outstanding contributions to the Arts.
Mark, as well as making seven solo albums, has collaborated with various artists, including Morrissey and Kirsty MacColl; He even had one of his songs recorded by David Bowie.
Simon and Roy have been in demand, both together as a rhythm section and individually, working with a wide and varied selection of top artists.
During the past three decades, a lot of water has passed under a lot of bridges and when the estranged members of Fairground Attraction finally re-opened communication last year, they realised there was a lot more that united them than divided them. Soon afterwards, in an impromptu moment, Eddi joined Mark on stage at one of his solo shows to sing the Fairground Attraction favourite ‘Allelujia’ and suddenly, the door was open for more.
And here it is, featuring a cover shot of a perplexed chess player, competing with himself in a mirror to resonate with the song’s tagline: “You can change the mirror, but not the reflection.” Fairground Attraction are back older and wiser, coming “face to face with imperfection.” This is the perfect song at just the right moment. A song that answers the question: “What’s wrong with the world?” with another question: “Maybe it’s me?”
‘What’s Wrong With The World?’ is the first single from a brand new album due for release later this year
“I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be back together, making music again,” reflects Mark, “I think we had all given up hope that it would ever happen a long time ago. It is almost spooky, as though we are ghosts, who have come back to life, but something happens between us when we play together; time evaporates and it could all have been yesterday.”
Fans will also have the chance to see the band live this autumn, with their first UK tour since they split in 1990. They will play dates across the UK and Ireland, including the Royal Festival Hall in London and Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow.
Tickets on sale 10am 28th March, with pre-sales on the 27th March. https://linktr.ee/fairground_attraction
Tour Dates
SEPTEMBER
28th: The Civic at The Halls – Wolverhampton
29th: Opera House – Manchester
OCTOBER
2nd: York – Barbican
3rd: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music – Gateshead
4th: Royal Concert Hall – Nottingham
5th: Royal Festival Hall – London
7th: Corn Exchange – Cambridge
8th: Dome – Brighton
10th: New Theatre – Oxford
11th: Beacon – Bristol
14th: Concert Hall – Perth
16th: Music Hall – Aberdeen
17th: Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow
18th: Usher Hall – Edinburgh
