PICTURES: The Specials @ Glastonbury 2009

Here are the pictures of The Specials from Glastonbury 2009, taken while I was in the crowds enjoying their memorable performance on the Pyramid Stage. The Specials were the one band I really wanted to see at Glastonbury Festival and so getting as far front as I could meant I could enjoy it even more. I took a few videos and pictures yet still wanted to make sure I sung along and danced without spoiling it for anyone.

The Specials played:

'Do The Dog'
'Gangsters'
'It's Up To You'
'Rat Race'
'Monkey Man'
'Blank Expression'
'Too Hot'
'Doesn't Make It Alright'
'Concrete Jungle'
'Friday Night Saturday Morning'
'Man At C&A'
'A Message To You Rudy'
'Do Nothing'
'Hey Little Rich Girl'
'Nite Klub'
'Little Bitch'
'Too Much Too Young'
'You're Wondering Now'
'Ghost Town'

Watch some videos of The Specials: HERE

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VIDEOS: The Specials @ Glastonbury 2009

Here are the collection of videos with The Specials at Glastonbury, recorded while I was in the thick of the crowds at the Pyramid stage. While the sound quality might not be perfect, they capture the feelings pretty well and made my Glastonbury Festival complete.


The Specials - A Message To You Rudy - Glastonbury 2009


The Specials - Blank Expression @ Glastonbury 2009


The Specials - Monkey Man @ Glastonbury 2009


The Specials - Doesn't Make It Alright @ Glastonbury 2009


The Specials - Hey Little Rich Girl - Glastonbury 2009


The Specials - It's Up to You - Glastonbury 2009



* view more pictures of The Specials from the Glastonbury 2009 Flickr set
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The Specials Announce New Tour Dates

The Specials have announced a new and final batch of gigs to wind up their 30th Anniversary Tour. The SKA band sold out all their dates earlier this year as Terry Hall and co took to the stage again in the most warmly received re-union of the year. The Coventry Two-Tone group have enjoyed rave reviews and were clearly enjoying their time together on stage.

Tickets for the November dates go on sale 9am Friday June 12 and will feature places like Margate, Southend and London Hammersmith Apollo.

The Specials Tour Dates:

1 November CARDIFF Arena 02920 224488
2 November BRIDLINGTON Spa 01262 678258
4 November BLACKPOOL Empress Ballroom 0871 2200 260
5 November PLYMOUTH Pavilion 0845 1461460
7 November MARGATE Winter Gardens 01843 292 795
9 November WOLVERHAMPTON Civic 0870 320 7000
12 November EDINBURGH Corn Exchange 08444 999 990
18 November SOUTHEND Cliffs Pavilion 01702 351135
19 November BRIGHTON Centre 0844 847 1515
21 November NOTTINGHAM Rock City 08713 100000
22 November NOTTINGHAM Rock City 08713 100000
24 November LONDON Hammersmith Apollo 08448 444748
25 November LONDON Hammersmith Apollo 08448 444748






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The Specials Bring Carnival To Coventry

The Specials returned to Coventry and turned the Ricoh Arena into one big carnival as 8,000 partied the night away to the sounds of SKA. An army of pork pie hats and two tone clothing bounced up and down to every tune belted out by The Specials in what has been described as 'one of the best gigs ever' by those who attended this historic homecoming by Coventry's most famous band.

Thirty years ago many in the audience would have been among those who would have been part of stage invasions or sporting a skin head haircut, but time had changed their appearance - the hair was now gone but not by choice! This time around the crowds were respectful and no invasions were needed, chants of 'rude boy' ecohed around the Jaguar Hall after each song as a carnival atmosphere filled the venue. Outside the rain poured down in Coventry and many inside may have been victims of the economic downturn but tonight everyone was able to forget their problems and indulge in teenage memories with The Specials taking centre stage.

The Specials delivered a memorable gig, proving Terry Hall and co had lost none of their magic even after decades apart. Lynval Golding told the adoring crowds, "It's good to be back home in Coventry", to which he received rapturous cheers. Coventry was glad their hero's had returned home - after all this was the city of two-tone, rich in cultural and musical history. Classic songs such as 'Blank Expression', 'Friday Night, Saturday Morning' and 'Doesn't Make It Alright' had everyone joining in - both dancing and singing in a carnival atmosphere. The Ripps provided apt support with a blend of SKA infused, socially aware music.

Check the videos from The Specials Coventry Ricoh gig below:

The Specials - Doesn't Make It Alright (Coventry Ricoh)

The Specials - Too Much Too Young / Skinhead Moonstomp (Coventry Ricoh)

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The Specials Interview

The Specials: Lynval Golding, Terry Hall and John Bradbury

*Picture: Martin Godwin *Source: Guardian

The Specials are in a buoyant mood ahead of their 30th Anniversary Tour as

Alexis Petridis from The Guardian found out when he met up with Terry Hall, guitarist Lynval Golding and drummer John Bradbury and interviewed them about life in The Specials back then and since reforming last year.

John Bradbury summed up his feelings by saying, "I've never had so much fun as I've been having since the Specials reformed." A feeling backed up by Terry Hall, "We haven't changed that much, we still take the piss out of each other." Lynval Golding said "Being in the Specials is wonderful." Adding further proof the lads are enjoying time together ahead of their sell-out tour, which starts on April 22nd in Newcastle.

The Guardian interview discusses the demise of The Specials back in 1981 at the Top of the Pops dressing room and their relationship with Jerry Dammers but John Bradbury remained upbeat saying;

"I've got to admit, this time around I feel a lot more at ease with the other people in the band, but I thought the first time around was absolutely brilliant, needless to say, a lot of people look for the downside more than the fun side, in terms of journalism. A lot of the good side never got discussed."

To read the full interview: The Guardian