so, its a brand spanking new year and there's lots going on. im a tad busy here in wexford, so ill cut straight to the chase and tell ya of touring plans and the like in case you havent heard of them yet... deep breath... here we go...

EUROPE - all confirmed shows - all on sale now and tickets moving briskly... supports will be mostly local acts.

February
Tue 08 Belgium, Brussles, AB Club SOLD OUT
Wed 09 Holland, Amsterdam, Paradiso
http://www.paradiso.nl/
+31 (0)900 300 1250 OR http://www.ticketservice.nl/
ben christopher on at 8.30; frames on at 9.45
the wonderful bellx1 happen to be playing in the same building on the same night.

Thu 10 Germany, Frankfurt, Nachtleben frankfurt
http://www.batschkapp.de/

Fri 11 Germany, Munich, Atomic Café munich
http://www.atomic.de/

Sat 12 Czech Republic, Prague, Archa Theatre
http://www.ticketportal.cz/

Mon 14 Germany, Berlin, Postbahnhof berlin
http://www.karreraklub.de/

Tue 15 Germany, Hamburg, Knust hamburg
http://www.knusthamburg.de/

online for all GERMAN shows: ticketservice@karsten-jahnke.de
Tickethotline for all GERMAN shows: +49 (0) 40 413 2260

Thu 17 Denmark, Copenhagen, Loppen
www.billetnet.dk
+45 70 15 65 65

Fri 18 Norway, Oslo, The Garage
booking@garageoslo.no
http://www.garageoslo.no/default.asp?id=149

Sat 19 Sweden goethenburg sticky fingers
http://www.stickyfingers.nu/

AMERICA
all dates supported by mark geary. check local venues for tickets.

FEB AND MARCH...
SAT 2/26 PHILADELPHIA, PA North Star
SUN 2/27 WASHINGTON, DC Black Cat
TUE 3/1 NEW YORK, NY Bowery Ballroom
WED 3/2 BOSTON, MA Paradise
THU 3/3 MONTREAL, QC Le Tulipe
FRI 3/4 TORONTO, ON Opera House
SAT 3/5 CHICAGO, IL Metro
MON 3/7 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 400 Bar
THU 3/10 VANCOUVER, BC Richard on Richard's TBC
FRI 3/11 SEATTLE, WA Crocodile
SAT 3/12 PORTLAND, OR Aladdin Theater
MON 3/14 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Great American
TUE 3/15 LOS ANGLES, CA The Troubadour
FRI 3/18 AUSTIN, TX SXSW Antones

there will possibly be more to add in austin at the sxsw festival - more confirmations as they come in....

... then its down under to AUSTRALIA ... check local venues for tickets

MARCH
FRI 25 EAST COAST BLUES AND ROOTS FESTIVAL BYRON BAY
www.bluesfest.com.au
SAT 26 THE ZOO BRISBANE
WED 30 METRO THEATRE SYDNEY
THU 31 PRINCE OF WALES MELBOURNE

APRIL
FRI 01 FLY BY NIGHT PERTH

... then, they hot foot it over to GERMANY to play

SUNDAY 3RD APRIL - WDR FESTIVAL KOLN, GERMANY
frames first on and garbage headlining. this is a TV gig that is recorded that night and transmitted on the 10th april.

TUES 5TH APRIL - Le Glaz'art PARIS to be confirmed

ITALIAN GIGS X BOLOGNA, ROME, MILAN LIKELY TO BE PRE shep bush empire SHOW but ill confirm more details as i confirm the gigs...

LONDON
FRIDAY 22ND APRIL SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE LONDON *CONFIRMED*
tickets on sale now and moving VERY quickly...
box office 0870 771 2000 or online at www.wayahead.co.uk or www.gigsandtours.com
0871 2200 260

full details @ http://www.theframes.ie/v4/news/dates.php

ok... i reckon thats enough gigs to keep most people happy for a little while... sorry to those in asia, africa, south america and antartica cause they're 4 continents that we just cant squeeze in to this first quarter of the year...

OTHER NEWS THEN...
great to see everyone at the tsunami appeal gig that the lads played in the village last week. we were all proud, and so should you be, to hand over 23,000 euro to the various charities that benefited. thank you so much for coming along and supporting the clerys. they're a bit green, but they put on a great live show as im sure youll agree...

fyi, there's a site called european irish that lists all the irish bands on tour in europe for those of you away from home. said id pass on the link in case anyone finds it useful. they already have the frames gigs in europe listed at http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/irishbandsontour.htm and for the main music section go to http://www.europeanirish.com/Music/

the lads are currently in vienna as i type doing an FM4 austrian radio gig. if you want to you can listen here: Frames will play Arena Vienna at 22.20h on 22.1.05. Go to http://fm4.orf.at/station/189733 There will be a live stream there from 6pm to midnight Irish time, Frames will be on 9.20pm Irish time.

the album comes out in austria on the 24th jan which makes sense as we're doing the radio show... so, hope its a good one. i know that glen had to get up at a silly hour for him this morning to do a radio int at 9am CET... im sure he's back in bed now though, snoring and drooling like a mad thing...

meteor awards. the frames have been nominated in 2 categories this year: They are nominated in the Best Irish Album and Best Irish Band categories. the best band category is a public vote, so, if you feel the need to exercise your digits to vote, please do so by texting "VOTE BAND 5" to 53500 or online by visiting http://www.meteor.ie/

i must just say whilst i think of it, its been great going to london, manchester and glasgow this past few days. the gigs and the audiences have been spectacular and its left a very warm feeling in everyones stomach. we will be back for a more extensive tour of the uk when time allows, but thanks very much for the genuine warmth that was felt by the lads on this trip...

quick review link from america
http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3043

ALBUM RELEASE
the album, burn the maps, will be in shops across the globe from feb 7th. it is, as you know, already out in ireland and australia, but anti records do the full release as of the 7th. in england there is an online shop at http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/artist.php?artist=Frames and i do believe that it will be available on amazon.com and itunes too worldwide.

FAKE has a street date in the uk of the 21st feb too, for anyone looking to buy it. in europe and the rest of the world where they don't really 'do' singles, it will go to radio to promote the album.

SIDEWAYS DOWN in ireland, gets a release date of jan 28th. there is a new edit and mix of the tune from the album along with 2 tracks that have never been released before - 'me and my boyfriend' and 'how many times' - both beauts, but then im biased. if you really want a copy of it and dont live in ireland i suggest those good people at www.roadrecs.com might be able to sort you out.

the lads will play the tubridy tonight programme on the 29th jan in support of the single release. i believe that you might even hear a tired glen hansard on the ian dempsey show on fri 28th jan at around 8.15am... hopefully...

on feb 3rd the lads will be in the hmv shop in galway signing copies of the single and hopefully playing a few tunes. this is a wristband only event and i believe that hmv are running comps in galway on radio and through the shop to give them away. and, also, i know that they'll be giving them away on the 28th jan from 9am onwards out of the shop, strictly on a first come first served basis. i have 20 here too, but i have to think of a competition first... so, if you want to go, check local press/shop etc for details. i believe the signing will be around the 4pm mark.

one last thing - mr mark geary, a man with an acoustic gtr and a bunch of beautiful songs and a very good line in witty banter will be out on the road in feb in ireland in the following places. always a good night out...

Sat 12th Feb - Stables, Mullingar (tbc)
Sun 13th Feb - Empire, Belfast (seated)
Mon 14th Feb - Spirit Store, Dundalk
Wed 16th Feb - Whelans, Dublin
Thu 17th Feb - The Lobby, Cork
Fri 18th Feb - The Lobby, Cork
Sat 19th Feb - Roisin Dubh, Galway
Sun 20th Feb - Dolans (upstairs), Limerick
Wed 23rd Feb - Whelans, Dublin

so - there you have it. wishing you all a very happy new year. keep safe and keep rockin in the free world.
big hug
claire x

for the latest news, tour dates and info about the frames visit:
www.theframes.ie