The Bluetones 30th Anniversary of 'Expecting to Fly'

A concert marking the 30th anniversary of The Bluetones' debut album 'Expecting to Fly', performed at the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in London.

The Bluetones are an English indie rock band formed in Hounslow in the early 1990s, emerging from the Britpop scene of that decade. Their debut album, 'Expecting to Fly', was released in 1995 and produced the singles that brought the group wide attention, including 'Slight Return'and 'Bluetonic'. The band's guitar-led sound drew on the jangling melodies of 1960s British pop and the songwriting of the late 1990s indie scene.

This evening is built around the anniversary of that record, so the focus rests on its songs as originally written. The Bluetones have continued to tour and record in the years since, and the concert gives longtime listeners a chance to hear the album performed in full on a single night.

The O2 Shepherds Bush Empire is a long-established live music venue in west London, hosting concerts and shows throughout the year. The evening suits fans of Britpop and guitar pop who know the band's early catalogue, as well as anyone interested in how a landmark album of the 1990s sounds on stage today.