Barenaked Ladies head back to the UK in September and here’s what you can expect…

1. Smaller audiences, bigger atmospheres

BNL’s shows in the UK are largely general admission, meaning there’s always an excitable queue and a palpable anticipation leading up to doors time. Once fans are packed inside the venues, you can expect a rousing atmosphere and our full attention (support acts included). Well, maybe except for a trip or two to the bar. Especially up north. Oh how they like a beverage up north. 😉🍺

With BNL hitting cities they’ve not played for years (in some cases, decades – the last stop in Liverpool was 2004, for instance), the crowds will be sure to give the band a rapturous reception to ensure they don’t leave it so long next time…

2. The Ladies are on 🔥 🔥

Having wrapped up the #LSOE2016 tour at the end of July, the band will have had a good month of R&R before hitting British shores. Over the summer, BNL entertained over 200,000 adoring fans across the States – with many long-time fans commenting that the band are in the best form ever. They bring their good vibes over to the UK for the 7 dates.

@barenakedladies age like fine wine! Show 90 better than 89, 89 better than 88…2nd better than 1st. Thnx for sharing your amazing talents!

— Robin Smith (@SmithFamilyBNL) July 16, 2016

3. You might hear stuff you haven’t heard for years…

Since honing their live act as a four-piece, BNL have notably resisted rotating their setlist as much as in previous years; understandable for a band determined to rework and refine a polished, practiced set in their new iteration. However, this summer fans were treated to rarities such as “Beautiful” and “Peterborough and the Kawarthas”; as well as the reemergence of fan favourites such as “Hello City” and “Testing 1,2,3”. Expect to hear some forgotten gems in Blighty – oh and if you have a VIP ticket, get your requests in!

@getbarenaked CT Setlist. Peterborough featured CT Meteorologist Bob Maxon doing Ty’s weather forecast. pic.twitter.com/cFOpw5DEqo

— Jeph McRae (@kingjeff) June 26, 2016

Example #LSOE2016 setlist

4. Boothby is supporting!

A UK tour wouldn’t feel quite right without this troublemaker around. Mr Boothby Graffoe is a superb musician, comedian and storyteller – and will kick-off the shows this September with his inimitable style of laid-back musical musings. He has some serious dirt on the Ladies, too, as this is his sixth time as opening act for the band in the UK – having only missed one tour over here in 12 years. They keep asking him back not only because he’s brilliant, but because he KNOWS STUFF. 😉

Look out for members of BNL gatecrashing his set, and the possibility of some scarily accurate Yoko Ono impressions…

More of this totally normal behaviour in September then… @barenakedladies @boobygraffoe 😆🇬🇧 #BNLUK pic.twitter.com/QHdZvP6R08

— Get Barenaked! (@getbarenaked) July 26, 2016

5. BNL love the UK, and the UK loves BNL

Lugging a huge amount of gear over to our shores isn’t the cheapest thing to do – it’s fair to say the band don’t tour here for a money-spinner. The reason BNL have been coming back to the UK for over 25 years is because, simply, they love it. Different audiences, more intimate shows, and a fresh challenge all keep the band on their toes, which brings out the best in their live act.

Tyler told Get Barenaked:

What we always keep in mind when we come here – the ‘raison d’être’ for coming to the UK – is the fans.

The audience over here, I find they’re quite literate and educated in terms of music. So if we’re shite, they’ll let us know. If we’re doing a great show, then they’ll really encourage that and support it.

I feel like it’s a bit of a challenge for us to deliver over here – and sometimes that’s idiomatic – the jokes, are they going to work? Do they translate?

All in all, the band’s jaunt to the UK is gonna be a hoot – and you can follow every step of the way with Get Barenaked.

Friday 2nd September – Glasgow O2 ABC
Saturday 3rd September – Bingley Live Festival
Sunday 4th September – Bournemouth O2 Academy
Tuesday 6th September – Cardiff Tramshed
Wednesday 7th September – Liverpool O2 Academy
Thursday 8th September – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Friday 9th September – London Roundhouse

Don’t forget that you can join this Facebook group for all things BNLUK. Get Barenaked will be using the hashtag #BNLUK2016 across the tour on Twitter.

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