Leeds legends ¡Forward, Russia! announce massive 20th anniversary reunion shows - date and tickets
Titans of the mid-2000s scene, Leeds legends ¡Forward, Russia! are getting back together to celebrate the 20th anniversary and play their debut work in full
One of the most distinctive and ambitious forces of the mid-2000s UK indie scene has announced a surprise return.
Leeds four-piece ¡Forward, Russia! will reunite in 2027 for an exclusive anniversary tour, performing their critically acclaimed 2006 breakthrough record in full.
The quartet - consisting of Tom Woodhead, Whiskas, Rob Canning, and Katie Nicholls - will anchor the exclusive winter run with two massive homecoming headline dates at the iconic Brudenell Social Club, alongside flagship appearances in London and Glasgow.
To coincide with the milestone anniversary, a special 20th-anniversary edition of Give Me A Wall will be officially released on limited-edition clear 12” vinyl on October 2 through Launchpad+ and EMI North, marking the first time the long-out-of-print album has been available on vinyl since its initial run on local independent label Dance To The Radio, which was originally founded by ¡FR! guitarist Whiskas in 2005.
The reissue will feature a new lyric sheet and sleeve notes from BBC 6 Music broadcaster and long-time champion Steve Lamacq.
The band has also announced a new CD and streaming rarities compilation titled A Fearless Guide to Communication, a fresh run of their classic exclamation merchandise, and a comprehensive new online archive where fans are encouraged to reconnect and submit their own photographs and gig memories from the era.
Reflecting on the milestone, vocalist Tom Woodhead said: “Between July 2005 and the end of 2006 ¡Forward, Russia! played 268 gigs. In amongst the motorways, feedback and fatigue, we somehow carved out the time to record and release Give Me a Wall. When you’re adhering to that kind of schedule, there isn’t much space for reflection, but twenty years later, I think we’ve finally gained some perspective and can appreciate it for the youthful and uninhibited document it is.
“My hope is that these upcoming shows will be every bit as intense as they were back in the day, for both band and audience.”
Guitarist Whiskas also shared a candid reflection regarding the band's moniker in light of modern world events: “It’s amazing to be able to celebrate such an exciting time in our lives, and hopefully share that with the people that made it so much fun 20 years ago.
“We can’t, however, not mention that in that period of time, our name currently makes me deeply uncomfortable. It was seemingly relatively meaningless 20 years ago, and I worry that someone affected by world events may see our name and be negatively affected by that. We’ve talked about it and aren’t sure how to address it, so for now I just want to mention this discomfort, and we’ll continue to think about the best way to approach this.”
When are ¡Forward, Russia! performing in Leeds?
¡Forward, Russia! are set to perform two massive homecoming anniversary shows in Leeds on February 19 and February 20.
When can I get tickets to see ¡Forward, Russia! in Leeds?
No dates have yet been confirmed when tickets will be available currently.
However, tickets will be made available through the band's official online channels, as well as directly via the Brudenell Social Club box office.
You will need to keep an eye on those platforms for the official on-sale time currently.