The Specials

23rd April Sheffield Academy

When the Beat came to Sheffield as part of their 30th anniversary tour it was hard to see how that gig could be topped, then along come The Specials. Its seems incredible that they were only together from 77-81 and despite various offshoot projects The Specials are now reforming for the first time to bring us such classics as 'Gangster' 'Message To You, Rudy' and the amazing 'Too Much Too Young'. Nearly all the original line up will be there from those early days when the band was formed in Coventry around the same time as the Love Music Hate Racism movement began. With the same goals this multi ethnic group of maestros produced some incredible skabeat with the ultimate 2 tone track 'Ghost Town' They'll be wearing their tonic suits, looking and sounding the biz, not one to miss.

Sean Bruce

Comsat Angels

Four Lads Who Shook the Wicker
Sensoria @ Sheffield Academy 26th April

In these post-punk revisionist times which we live in, you'd be forgiven for assuming the Comsats were the 80's most popular and successful band, if their legion of celebrity fans is to be believed. Most quoted must be Mark Kermode's comment, on reviewing the Ian Curtis biopic Control, stating that Comsat Angels were "the band that Joy Division should have been". The truth is really that they were generally ignored by the public, but had a hard core of fans who KNEW they were streets ahead of any other band making music at that time. They split about 15 years ago, but made three classic albums, from 1980 -82, for Polydor, who didn't understand what they were doing and so dropped them. They will only be playing songs from those albums tonight. You can expect to be rubbing shoulders with some big names from today's music scene, as so many claim to be heavily influenced by them. The Editors, U2 and Interpol all draw from their pioneering work, so a one-off(?) reunion in their home town will be a major event.

Chris Xenra

www.sensoria.org.uk