The South travel north

The Beautiful South are back, but not as we know it. Re-named as The South, the band make a welcome return to Glasgow with their Sweet Refrains tour.
By Gregor Hollerin
Published 21st Nov 2013, 12:47 BST

Ex-members of The Beautiful South Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler will be singing many of those hits including A Little Time, Don’t Marry Her, Rotterdam, Good as Gold, Perfect 10 and many more from the back catalogue.

This nine piece band will also be performing several songs from their wonderfully received debut album as The South, Sweet Refrains.

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Formed in 1988, The Beautiful South had a string of hit singles and their greatest hits album, Carry On Up The Charts, was one of the fastest-selling in UK history, entering at number one and staying there for weeks.

After 20 years, 10 studio albums, five greatest hits compilations, 34 chart singles, 15 million record sales worldwide and performing in front of millions of fans, when time was called on The Beautiful South in 2008, not everyone was ready to leave the 
party.

Dave and Ali, two of the three lead singers with the band, were having too much fun to get out the pipe and slippers, and so The South was formed.

Joining the duo were fellow mainstays from the original touring band: keyboard wizard Damon Butcher and the potent horn section of Gaz Birtles and Tony Robinson that brought so much to the live shows.

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This band has history and pedigree. Dave Hemingway’s musical career stretches back into the 80s. He became a founder member of The Beautiful South after the demise of The Housemartins, who had enjoyed a sustained purple patch and many hits before calling it a day in 1988.

Bassist Norman Cook went on to become superstar DJ Fat Boy Slim, and Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway proceeded to form the new band in December 1988.

Right from the off, The Beautiful South seemed to defy the normal logic associated with pop bands, not least for the fact that they stayed together for 20 years.

They produced many self-penned hits and had several number one albums — they scored their only number one single with the Dave Hemingway/Briana Corrigan duet A Little Time.

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A global success, members of The South have performed these songs in front of hordes of fans from Hull to Houston. They love the material and know what will keep the fans happy.

Still as beautiful as they ever were, The South continue the legacy with their own vibrantly singable and acerbically witty pop.

The Beautiful South come to Glasgow’s ABC tomorrow (Friday). For ticket info, please call 0844 477 
2000.

Related topics:Dave Hemingway