Swans have announced details of the acts that will be joining them at their biggest ever UK headline show at the Camden Roundhouse on May 21.
The band, whose recent acclaimed albums The Seer and To Be Kind have seen them find new audiences, will be joined by Jas Shaw of Simian Mobile Disco and Korean cellist Okkyung Lee for the London show. Lee will be joining the band throughout their European dates but Shaw’s performance will be a special one-off.
Shaw has long been a fan of Swans and professed himself to be delighted when Michael Gira asked him to join the band, where he will perform a set of all new music. Shaw said: “The plan is to do something pretty different from a regular SMD show. Although the music is still being written, I expect it to be pretty much beatless, leaning in an ambient/drone direction. Although there are some interesting things you can do with detuned drum machines…”
In advance of their UK dates the band will also reissue their debut album Filth. The 3CD edition will include the original album, Body To Body, the first Swans EP and live recordings from 1982, 1983 and 1984. The definitive edition will also come with a 16-page foldout booklet including rare photos from Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo and Swiss photographer Catherine Ceresole. Swans are touring across Europe this summer, with UK dates set for May – find all the dates below.
MAY
Wed 20 – Marble Factory, Bristol
Thu 21 – Roundhouse, London
Fri 22 – Sound City, Liverpool
Sat 23 – Art School, Glasgow
Sun 24 – Mandela Hall, Belfast
Mon 25 – Button Factory, Dublin
Wed 27 – Epic Studios, Norfolk
