MANCHESTER four-piece The Slow Readers Club are heading to the Arena this Friday (May 13) to support Britpop mavericks James. Quays News entertainment reporter Natalie Rees caught up with frontman Aaron Starkie recently…

The band, who have been compared to both The Killers and The National, will return to play a hometown gig on the ninth night of their UK support tour, which they have described as so far being “mind blowing”.

Aaron (Vocals/Keyboard), Kurtis (Vocals/Guitar), James (Bass) and David (Drums) have enjoyed a fantastic 2016 so far, selling out a series of headline shows from Manchester to Sheffield to Dublin.

Aaron said: “We are an unsigned band, who release our music independently so we are very proud of what we have achieved.”

The frontman’s reaction to his band being asked to join the legendary James on their ‘Girl At The End Of The World’ tour proves how much they are progressing and enjoying it.

“It was amazing. It was a proper hairs on the back of your neck moment. We have worked hard to get a break like this and it feels like a reward for years of building our following in small venues.”

Citing Bowie, The Smiths, Daft Punk and Radiohead as just some of their inspirations, The Slow Readers Club’s set is something for fans of a variety of genres to get their teeth into.

Their dark indie electro sound has also enjoyed praise from both BBC Radio 6 and Radio X, will play a slightly shorter set at the Manchester Arena, however Aaron admitted that it has been a “real pleasure” sharing the bill with their idols.

“James have been very complementary about our music which gives us real belief in what we are doing,” Aaron said.

Although the Arena set may be slightly shorter than on other dates, the band are determined to provide gig goers with a flavour of what they have to offer, from “stomping dance tunes to introspective ballads.”

Aaron confessed that the set closer ‘Know The Day Will Come’ is the tune the band most look forward to playing.

“It’s pretty dramatic and the band let loose on that one,” Aaron revealed.

So what’s being played on the tour bus? As the band have recently been compared to Depeche Mode, their records have been given a spin.

However, Aaron confessed, Daft Punk’s ‘Giorgio by Moroder’ gets them buzzing in the dressing room.

“We were introduced to the track by the sound guy at The Workmans Club Dublin and we’ve not stopped listening to it since,” Aaron admitted.

By Natalie Rees
@quaysnat

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