LIFE continue their rapid upward trajectory with the announcement of ‘The Moon Factory’ presented by Hull arts organisation Back to Ours. On 20 August, the band invite the world to tune in for a full production live show that will see the group occupy a new world, a world in which they create and inhabit behind closed doors.
This will be LIFE’s first live performance since they had to abandon their trip to SXSW in March and board the last plane home from New York after New Colossus. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak the band have had to cancel their UK & European tours, however, this up-close and personal performance is the first chance to see them play live since their arena tour with Kaiser Chiefs. The show will incorporate an interactive Q&A with the band as well as the world premiere of their community art piece ‘LIFE INSIDE’.
About the project, LIFE said: “We invite you to our factory. To our isolation bunker, our socially distanced wonderland. This is LIFE. This is LIVE like you’ve never seen us before. Watch us dance intimately in the palm of your hand. See us explode into your living room. Come join us. This is essential travel. This is The Moon Factory!”
‘LIFE INSIDE’ is a project pioneered and facilitated by the band. It puts voices of young people from their community at the forefront of the current global pandemic. The art piece will be incorporated within this unique live show and continues LIFE’s drive to support and empower young people and their community following on from the publication of their collaborative Zine SWITCHING ON.
‘The Moon Factory’ has been commissioned by Hull’s Back to Ours and will be captured on 4 HD cameras by Josh Moore, who directed music videos for five singles that were play-listed on BBC 6 Music, all from the band’s recent album ‘A picture of Good Health’.
‘The Moon Factory’ will be streamed live across multiple timezones with LIFE performing three, unique live sets all of which will finish with a Q&A and a screening of LIFE INSIDE.
LIFE invite you inside their world.
Speaking about the event, Louise Yates the Back to Ours Director, had this to say: “LIFE supported our first Back to Ours gig at North Point with Carl Barat for our February half-term festival in 2017. They were incredible. They were heading off to America pretty much straight after, so it’s a pleasure to have them back on the virtual Back to Ours sofa three years later. It’s not going to be your average gig, so prepare yourself for an exciting, innovative experience with a red hot band, and snap those tickets up while you can.’’
Tickets are £8 and available now via DICE. Tickets bought on DICE also include the option to donate to the Justice for Christopher Alder fund. Christopher was a Hull hero who was unlawfully killed whilst in police custody.
Tickets for the performances are also available along with a number of unique, Moon Factory merch bundles via the band’s own website here.
Ticket holders will have access to the live stream for 72 hours after purchase.
1st Performance: UK & Europe 20:30 BST 21:30 CET
2nd Performance: North America 17:30 PDT / 20:30 EST
3rd Performance: Australia / NZ / Asia 20:30 AEDT
2019 was an incendiary year for the band, which saw them release their critically acclaimed and awards ceremony nominated second album ‘A Picture Of Good Health’. The album has received high praise from a number of major publications as well as featuring in end of year lists from the likes of the Guardian, Dork and more.
LIFE’s post album single Switching On was, again playlisted, by BBC Radio 6 as well as being remixed by UK top 10, Mercury Prize nominated Bristol band IDLES who called it “an intimating, industrial new beast.”’
Prior to lockdown LIFE made a big impact touring America and France and appeared on French national TV alongside Primal Scream and IDLES for Jenny Beth’s new TV show ECHOES
LIFE have recently rescheduled their UK/EU tour dates for the Autumn of this year.
Produced by Luke Smith (Foals) and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer (Parquet Courts), LIFE’s ‘A Picture Of Good Health‘ album sees the band home in on a bigger and more focused sound whilst also channelling the lyrical content inwards. Whereas the band’s debut album ‘Popular Music’ was broadly political, the new album takes a more personal approach with beguilingly honest and brave lyrics that are bold in both sound and feeling, whilst also retaining the core DNA of their previous material.
Speaking about the album Mez goes on to say “A Picture of Good Health is not a collage of work but rather a snapshot of time; our time and the time of those around us. It’s political, but in a personal way. It’s a body of work that explores and examines the band’s inner selves through a precise period; a period that has brought pain, loneliness, blood, guts, single parenthood, depression and the need for survival and love. It is the sense and need for belonging that is the resounding end note!”
‘A Picture Of Good Health’ track listing
1. Good Health
2. Moral Fibre
3. Bum Hour
4. Hollow Thing
5. Excites Me
6. Never Love Again
7. Half Pint Fatherhood
8. Grown Up
9. Niceties
10. Thoughts
11. It’s A Con
12. Don’t Give Up Yet
13. New Rose in Love
‘A Picture Of Good Health’ is out now via band’s own label ‘Afghan Moon’ & [PIAS].
Order the album here
