Mike Peters of legendary Welsh band The Alarm returns to New York City for three nights this month at the Gramercy Theater, June 23-24. These dates following a recent reschedule of May dates.
Part of the original heydey of MTV, Mike has been leading The Alarm for more than 40 years, having continued to make his music independently, without compromise, to present day. The Alarm made their name in the mid-80s, signed to I.R.S. at the same time as REM.
Mike Peters’ new album Forwards will be released on June 2, and features songs written while Mike was holed up in the hospital dealing with a dual leukemia relapse and a case of pneumonia. Writing the new songs – as well as performing them, as they emerged, for hospital staff – reframed his outlook and pulled through, as did his wife, Jules, who was confronted with a breast cancer diagnosis during the same time.
The BBC has done a pair of documentaries about the couple and their big struggle, and maintain their generous spirits, Mike and Jules have renovated a Welsh chapel into a free-of-charge respite for folks undergoing treatment for cancer.
The shows at the Gramercy are a satellite edition of The Gathering, an event that Mike organizes every year in Wales. Mike started The Gathering in 1992 as a way of making sure that The Alarm connected with fans – in Wales – every year despite whatever else he might be doing.
Many US fans traveled to the UK for these events, however, the NYC version of The Gathering was instated as an annual institution of its own as well so as to keep fans from having to make that expensive, arduous journey. The Gathering celebrated 30 years in 2022, and has been held in NYC for over two decades.
The Alarm’s love affair with NYC dates back to their gig with U2 at Pier 84 in 1983. Soon after, they sold out The Ritz on their own and have maintained a really strong relationship with the city even since.
Additionally, a fan from New York (who now runs The Alarm’s Facebook page) traveled to Wales to visit Mike’s home in the winter of 1984. Mike’s mother was floored that someone from NY would travel all the way to Wales to seek out her son that she invited the (then) young lady for Christmas dinner. Stories like this are what make The Gathering a recurring NYC event.
Tickets are available here.
This comprehensive playlist kicks off with the three new singles released in the run up to Forwards, singles “Next,” “Whatever” and the title track, “Forwards.”
Watch the live video for “Warriors” below.
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