Horace Panter and The Specials Announce New Album, Tour
The remaining members of The Specials have announced they’re working on a new album called Encore. It will be their first new release in 20 years and the first to features vocalist Terry Hall since 1981. It also reunites the band with Lynval Golding and bassist Horace Panter, who helped spread the news on Twitter.
“Can finally talk about our new album after a few months in the studio,” he tweeted. “It was probably the best recording experience in my musical career… tight, focussed, fun!”
Panter joins members Terry Hall and Lynval Golding on the album, which will feature eight new songs plus two covers. The package also includes a second disc with “The Best of The Specials Live.”
Speaking of live music, the Specials also announced European tour dates for the spring that will celebrate their 40th anniversary. They’ll start off in Germany before making their way back to the UK for a long string of dates.
The Specials, Encore Tracklist:
- Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys
- B.L.M.
- Vote For Me
- The Lunatics
- Breaking Point
- Blam Blam Fever
- 10 Commandments
- Embarrassed By You
- The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)
- We Sell Hope
The Specials 40th Anniversary Tour Dates:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 29 | Cologne, DE | E Werk |
| Mar 30 | Brussels, BE | Ancienne Belgique |
| Apr 2 | Hamburg, DE | Grosse Freiheit |
| Apr 3 | Berlin, DE | Columbiahalle |
| Apr 5 | Amsterdam, NL | Paradiso |
| Apr 8 | Paris, FR | La Cigale |
| Apr 11 | Dublin, IE | Olympia Theatre |
| Apr 15 | Bournemouth, UK | O2 Academy |
| Apr 16 | Portsmouth, UK | Guildhall |
| Apr 17 | Brighton, UK | Dome |
| Apr 19 | Plymouth, UK | Pavilions |
| Apr 20 | Exeter, UK | Great Hall |
| Apr 21 | Cardiff, UK | Uni Great Hall |
| Apr 23 | Blackburn, UK | King George’S HALL |
| Apr 24 | Leicester, UK | De Montfort HALL |
| Apr 26 | Birmingham, UK | O2 Academy |
| Apr 27 | Liverpool, UK | Olympia |
| Apr 28 | Manchester, UK | Academy |
| Apr 30 | Leeds, UK | O2 Academy |
| May 1 | Carlisle, UK | Sands Centre |
| May 2 | Glasgow, UK | Barrowland |
| May 4 | Newcastle, UK | O2 Academy |
| May 5 | Middlesbrough, UK | Town Hall |
| May 6 | Scarborough, UK | Spa Grand Hall |
| May 8 | Scunthorpe, UK | the Baths Hall |
| May 9 | York, UK | Barbican |
| May 10 | Sheffield, UK | O2 Academy |
| May 12 | Cambridge, UK | Corn Exchange |
| May 13 | Southend, UK | Cliff Pavilion |
| May 14 | Margate, UK | Winter Gardens |
| May 16 | London, UK | O2 Academy Brixton |
