Anathema plan The Optimist playback session

By Scott Munro
( Prog )
published

Anathema announce one-off playback event in London for their new album The Optimist followed by Q&A session with Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh

Anathema
Anathema (Image credit: Caroline Traitler)

Anathema have announced a one-off event in London which will see their new album The Optimist played through a KEF 5.1 system.

The session will take place at the city’s Courtyard Threatre in Shoreditch on June 5 – just a few days before the album’s release on June 9.

After listening to the album, the band’s Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh will hold a question and answer session, allowing fans to quiz them about the follow-up to 2014’s Distant Satellites.

Vincent Cavanagh says: “We’re really looking forward to this. Listening to the album on a high end 5.1 audio system is a new experience even for us.

“The night isn’t just a preview of The Optimist but it’s also a chance for people to gain a unique insight into what this album is all about. There’s a lot to take in, especially with all the artwork and visual side of the story. It’ll be cool to hang out and meet everyone.”

Tickets are limited to just 90 and are available from Eventbrite.

The Cavanagh brothers, along with drummer John Douglas, singer Lee Douglas, bassist Jamie Cavanagh and keyboardist Daniel Cardos recorded The Optimist over the winter with producer Tony Doogan, with Vincent previously reporting that Doogan’s influence on the album was invaluable.

He said: “He suggested that we record as a live band, which we hadn’t done for years. Having played a few tunes on the last tour, we were ready for that.

“Tony wanted to capture that energy you can only get with everyone facing each other – it makes a big difference. He was a superb guy to work with and I learned a lot making this record.”

Anathema will head out on tour following the London event, with live shows planned throughout the year.

Anathema The Optimist tracklist

  1. 32.63N 117.14W
  2. Leaving It Behind
  3. Endless Ways
  4. The Optimist
  5. San Francisco
  6. Springfield
  7. Ghosts
  8. Can’t Let Go
  9. Close Your Eyes
  10. Wildfires
  11. Back To The Start

Anathema 2017 tour dates

Jun 08: Moscow Yotaspace, Russia
Jun 09: St Petersburg ClubZal, Russia
Jun 11: Download Fetival, UK
Jun 16: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 23: Nijmegen Doornroosje, Netherlands
Jun 24: Valkenburg Midsummer Prog Festival, Netherlands
Jul 01: Barcelona Be Prog My Friend Festival, Spain
Jul 02: Athens Rock Wave Festival, Greece
Aug 03: Monterrey Café Iguana, Mexico
Aug 04: Guadalajara C3 Stage, Mexico
Aug 05: Mexico City El Plaza Condesa, Mexico
Aug 07: Bogota Teatro Ecci, Columbia
Aug 09: Santiago Teatro Cariola, Chile
Aug 11: Buenos Aires Groove, Argentina
Aug 12: Sao Paolo Carioca Cluba, Brazil
Sep 23: Belfast Limelight 2, UK
Sep 24: Dublin Academy, Ireland
Oct 02: Reims La Cartonnerie, France
Oct 03: Rennes L’Etage, France
Oct 04: Paris Bataclan, France
Oct 05: Lille L’Aeronef, France
Oct 06: Tilburg 013, Netherlands
Oct 07: Strasbourg La Laiterie, France
Oct 08: La Rochelle La Sirene, France
Oct 10: Bordeauz Rock School Barbery, France
Oct 11: Toulouse Le Metronum, France
Oct 14: Nimes Paloma, France
Oct 15: Lyon Le Radiant, France
Oct 16: Milan Alcatraz, Italy
Oct 18: Pratteln Z7, Switzerland
Oct 19: Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn, Germany
Oct 20: Munich Backstage, Germany
Oct 21: Vienna Simm City, Austria
Oct 22: Ljubljana Kino Siska, Slovenia
Oct 24: Bucharest Arenele Romane, Romania
Oct 25: Sofia Orpheus Studio, Bulgaria
Oct 27: Budapest Durer Kert, Hungary
Oct 28: Prague Lucerna Music Bar, Czech Republic
Oct 29: Frankfurst Batschkapp, Germany
Oct 31: Berlin Astra, Germany
Nov 01: Hamburg Uebel & Gefahrlich, Germany
Nov 02: Copenhagen Amager Bio, Denmark
Nov 03: Malmo Kulturbolaget, Sweden
Nov 05: Oslo Rockefeller, Norway
Nov 06: Stockholm Kagelbanan, Sweden
Nov 08: Tampere Klubi, Finland
Nov 09: Helsinki The Circus, Finland
Nov 10: Talinn Rock Cafe, Estonia
Nov 12: Warsaw Progresja Music Zone, Poland
Nov 13: Gdansk Stary Manez, Poland
Nov 14: Poznan MTP2, Poland
Nov 15: Erfurt HSD, Germany
Nov 16: Cologne Live Music Hall, Germany
Nov 18: Luxembourg Kulturfabrik, Luxembourg

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Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.