Maximo Park tickets on sale Friday, January 27

TICKETS for alternative North-East pop experts Maximo Park will tickets for a Saturday, May 6, appearances at Newcastle O2 Academy, go on sale at 9am on Friday, January 27, from maximopark.com

The tour follows the April 21 release of the band's new album Risk To Exist. Bringing together their trademark hook-laden melodies and sense of urgency with off-kilter rock, soulful grooves and pop sensibilities, the tracks rage against the dire state of world affairs in 2016 and crumbling political systems.

Frontman Paul Smith says: "The album is, ultimately, about empathy. Some songs are simple messages of solidarity and others are fuelled by anger at the elitist, established order of British society. There's a questioning of power throughout and a feeling that there must be a different way of structuring our society in order to alleviate inequality. Musically, the songs reflect more soulful and groove-based influences, allowing more space in the arrangements than ever before. The central idea is to align great pop melodies with songs that reflect the state of the nation.”

The album, released by Daylighting, was co-produced by Tom Schick (Wilco, Beck, White Denim) and Maximo Park. The band decamped to Wilco’s studio, The Loft, in Chicago, in Autumn last year. Recorded live, this represents another bold step for the band after 2014’s Top Ten release Too Much Information. The band have also enlisted Mimi Parker from US band Low for the record, and his voice lends its inimitable warmth to five album tracks, including the title track.

Maximo Park are Paul Smith (vocals), Duncan Lloyd (guitar), Lukas Wooller (keyboards) and Tom English (drums).

Viv Hardwick