Emerging bands including Villanelle, Florentenes and Die Twice are set to hit the road for ‘Punchbag Uni: The University Tour’ – check out all the details below.
- READ MORE: Gene Gallagher’s Villanelle are ready to launch with “a genuine passion to bring back rock music”
Live Nation and FAE Group have partnered to launch the 15-date run that, in partnership with universities and grassroots venues, aims to counter the recent trend of electronic, DJ-heavy music dominating student nightlife, thereby giving bands fewer opportunities to break through.
Kicking off tonight (September 24) in Exeter, the initiative “represents a reinvestment in the future of live music and grassroots venues, putting live shows back at the heart of university culture”, per a press release.
Tickets for the trek – which makes stops in universities across Leeds, London, Sheffield and more – will be exclusively available via a verified student platform in another bid to support student unions and venues. You can check out a full list of dates below, and find more ticketing information here.
The ‘Punchbag Uni: The University Tour’ dates are:
September
24 – University of Exeter, Exeter Cavern
25 – University of Falmouth, AMATA Arts Centre
October
2 – BIMM University Brighton, Green Door Store
5 – University of the Arts London, The Social
7 – University of Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
8 – University of Cambridge, Mash
12 – University of Oxford, The Jericho Tavern
13 – Queen’s University Belfast, Oh Yeah Centre
14 – Trinity College Dublin, The Workman’s Club
15 – University of Sheffield, Sidney and Matilda
17 – University of Manchester, Night & Day
20 – University of York, The Fulford Arms
21 – University of Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
22 – University of Newcastle, Zerox
23 – University of Edinburgh, The Mash House
25 – University of Glasgow, Queen Margaret Union
The tour brings together the next wave of rising artists, with the Gene Gallagher fronted Villanelle on the line-up alongside instrumentalist and songwriter Bino Bames, Manchester rock four-piece Florentenes and new wave band Die Twice.
Speaking about the upcoming tour, Gallagher said the band were “excited to be playing the grassroot venues,” because “this is where it all starts.”
It echoes comments the band made while speaking exclusively to NME recently about new single ‘Hinge‘ and their time on the live circuit, which has so far seen them sell-out a UK headline tour on word-of-mouth alone and support Gene’s dad Liam on his ‘Definitely Maybe’ 30th anniversary tour in 2024.
“It was a genuine passion and drive to bring back rock music again,” guitarist Ben Taylor told NME of what brought them together initally. “Bands have been in the culture lately, but it was indie rock for a long time. Then it plateaued into an almost ‘pop’ band-y culture. We wanted to bring something back.”
As for the ‘Punchbag’ tour, Bames added that for him, it was “about proving that young artists can bring something fresh and fearless to the stage, this tour is about connecting with people our age and showing them the future of live music belongs to us.”
Florentenes’ vocalist Will Smith added that taking the tour on the road felt like a real statement. “It shows that live music is alive and kicking on campus,” he said. “Universities have always been a breeding ground for new sounds and new energy, and we’re proud to be part of that tradition. For us, it’s not just about playing gigs; it’s about reminding people that bands are back and live music is worth supporting.”
Olly Bayton, frontman of Die Twice, went on to add: “I think the concept of the Uni Tour is what’s been missing for a long time for young people. Love of music, sweat, dancing and real-life connection is what we and our generation craves, so it’s great we get to be part of it!”
