LLANGOLLEN, NORTH WALES

The Hand Hotel

RAISE YOUR HANDS

As any resident or visitor to North Wales will attest, there’s a seemingly endless supply of pubs and hotels called The Hand. Don’t ask us why. But on Saturday 23rd March there’ll be only one worth visiting.

This eagerly awaited date will see our first visit to the town ‘where Wales welcomes the World’ apparently. So don’t be late, as the World may not all fit in to this charming, riverside venue where parking is plentiful… and free!

We look forward to seeing you there, World.

LLANWYDDYN, LAKE VYRNWY

Llanwddyn Community Centre

SPRING FEVER

May 2024 sees us return to the lakeside idyll of Llanwddyn (well, the lake’s just up the road, but hey…).

A departure from our usual Christmas show round these parts, it’s likely to witness more clement weather than last time. When it snowed. And the World Cup was on the telly.

We can’t promise Last Christmas this time round (ahhh! You should’ve been there!). But we can assure you of enough rocking action to feed your spring fever. (Or is it a cold you’re supposed to feed… can never remember.)

Put the date in the diary. No football or ice crystals = no excuse. See ya there!

OSWESTRY, SHROPSHIRE

The Plough

FRANKIE SAYS…

After our successful debut last year at Oswestry’s rock haven, we’re coming back to do it all again. With a difference…

Some say we pull off Eighties tunes rather well. So dig out your finest new romantic gear and prepare for a journey back in time, to when big-fonted t-shirts were all the rage.

We’ll be prepping big time for this one, so any requests for toons released between 1st January 1980 and 31st December 1989 are welcome.

Now where’s that hairspray… ?

PRESTWICH, MANCHESTER

***REVIEW***

Carlton Club 

DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE

We came, we rocked, we conquered... in the face of an army of over a hundred Crisis fans. What a night.

If you can remember it, you weren't there. To be honest, it's all a bit of a blur for us. Although we do remember new lead guitarist Dr Bob blowing the socks off of everyone in his thrall.

Handily, there is video evidence, however. It's on our Facebook page if you want proof. Click below to see what you missed / forgot...

PRESTWICH, MANCHESTER

**REVIEW**

Carlton Club 

HATS OFF FOR THE HAT-TRICK

Back at the Carlton for the third time in 12 months, we were blessed with one of our best crowds of all-time, mate. And they were rewarded with a first run-out for the mighty Greg ‘The Force’ Forster on drums.

Not only that, the night was notable for the swansong of longstanding guitar great, Pete ‘Woody’ Wood, who delivered his usual array of knock-out solos as a parting gift. We will miss him greatly, as both a friend and significant, on-stage other.

With hooting and hollering from the start, and eager dancers pulling shapes from the get-go, things really kicked into overdrive in Set2, from floor-filler opener Town Called Malice through to final encore Gimme Some Lovin’.

Don’t Look Back In Anger and Don’t You (Forget About Me) worked their usual magic on the Manchester crowd, while sing-alongs I Predict A Riot, 2468 Motorway and 500 Miles had the entire room on its feet.

With uber guitar ledge Dr Bob already on board and setting his frets on fire in rehearsals, our very next gig will be back at The Carlton in February 2024.

We can hardly wait to play to our Prestwich friends again.

FORKFEST, POWYS

**REVIEW**

Fork Handles Farm Shop, Llangedwyn

DID YOU DIG IT?

An outdoor festival on August Bank Holiday weekend? Visions of a sweltering day under globally warmed skies…

Err… no. Instead it took the combined efforts of the wonderful Forkfest team, and eight bands rocking hard throughout the day to keep temperatures and spirits up, as the rain (mostly) stayed away, such that by early evening the atmosphere was positively balmy.

We came on in our favoured spot, second from top of the bill, and from the first chords of One Way Or Another the crowd was with us, dancing, singing and cheering.

Venus and Gimme Some Lovin’ had mad pogo-ing, All These Things had everyone declaring their soulfulness, and when we slowed things down briefly for Heroes, the strains of the Bowie classic echoed out across the borderland hills.

Speaking of Heroes, Forkfest marked the last appearance of drummer Ash. We wish him well.

OSWESTRY, SHROPSHIRE

**REVIEW**

The Plough

BACK IN TOWN

We’ve long been looking to establish ourselves on the Oswestry music scene, having played there once, pre-pandemic. Not least because of the many personal links with the town.

So, it was with enormous pleasure that we finally found ourselves on stage at The Plough. And judging by the positive reception, it was a long-overdue return.

After a few months re-tooling our setlist, several new songs got an outing, from the synth pop of Enola Gay to the heavy rock of Whole Lotta Rosie via our progged-up version of Video Killed The Radio Star. Not forgetting old faves such as Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Two Tribes and Town Called Malice.

One online review was our favourite: “Fucking Marvelous!”. Plough, we’ll be back!!

PRESTWICH, MANCHESTER 

**REVIEW**

Carlton Club

feat. very special guests, The Tripping Triplets

HASTA LA VISTA, BABY

They wanted us back, and back we came, kicking off with Town Called Malice  to fill the dance floor from the off. And things got even more heaving in set two, which featured new entries from Springsteen and The Proclaimers (yes, that one). Rumours of a return in the autumn are nothing if not confirmed. The 9th Sept to be precise. Details to appear above once ticket arrangements have been  finalised.

LLANWDDYN, LAKE VYRNWY

**REVIEW** 

Llanwddyn Community Centre

HARK NOW HEAR

The combined might of snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and the World Cup (with its inevitable, penalty-hinging conclusion) didn't prevent a good vocal crowd from descending on Llanwddyn to join us in firing the starting gun for Christmas.

Three years on from our 'So Here It Is Nearly Xmas' tour appearance , we returned with our Covid-interrupted 'It's Only Just Begun' follow-up sporting a few new numbers from the likes of Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Simple Minds,. And after a couple of hours of rocking around the virtual Christmas tree, throwing in a couple of curve balls from Wham! and Slade helped us see out the set with a festive, sing-a-long bang.

With the hall's heating in fine fettle, it all left us with a nice warm, yuletide glow, as rumours of an autumn return in 2023 started to circulate.

PRESTWICH, MANCHESTER

**REVIEW** 

Carlton Club

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

Wow! What a comeback... of Lazarus proportions. Our second appearance at Prestwich's Carlton Club saw us pack in four times as many punters as the time before (we can't remember the exact date). And my how they loved it.

Buoyed by more Bowie and Floyd, the baying throng even sucked a second encore out of us, as Don't You Forget About Me echoed late into the Mancunian air. And they won't. We've already been booked to return in February 2023.

WREXHAM FEAST

**REVIEW**  

Llwyn Isaf,

CHEERS AND BEERS

Thousands flocked to Wrexham Feast over the weekend of 25-26th September and The Crisis were honoured to close out the festival of food with a double set on the Sunday. It was our longest show since lockdown, giving us the chance to stretch out a bit, with the likes of Wish You Were Here, All These Things     and Gimme Some Lovin’     coming back into the set.

As the delicious smells of gourmet nosh washed over the crowd, we settled in for two hours of high-energy classic pop rock. One Way Or Another     (by Blondie, you One Direction fans), proved a perennial favourite while Rocks     went down such a storm that lead singer Howard had to leave the stage mid-song to receive a gift of a crate of craft beers from one happy fan. Cheers!