The Flower Kings return to UK

The Flower Kings return to the UK this week when they appear at London's O2 Academy Islington on May 8 and Leamington Spa's Assemble on May 9.

Daniel Gildenlow, who was due to support, has had to bow out sure to illness – but Roine Stolt and co are joined by SImon Collins’ Sound Of Contact instead.

The Flower Kings are touring latest album Desolation Rose, which was released last year. Stolt recently said of the work: “The epic theme is a logical step in a time where perpetual war, famine, environmental threats and religious conflicts dominate the media and our minds. This is a time to wake up. You may struggle to get into the music or the lyrics – but trust me when I say that you’ll be rewarded.”

Guitarist Hesse Froberg last year admitted he had doubts over the album’s direction, saying: “It was Roine’s idea to bring a couple of ideas, themes, riffs or whatever and start from almost nothing. I was the one who was sceptical about it. ‘What if it won’t take off?’

“I got very enthusiastic after a couple of days. In my opinion it really took off.”

A small number of tickets for the London and Leamington Spa shows remain on sale.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.