Indie poets, The Lathums sit pretty at the top of the UK Official Albums Chart at the first time of asking having grabbed the top spot with their debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be today (Fri 1 October 2021). It’s confirmed that the Wigan band have entered the chart at No.1, underlining their incredible rise from playing local pubs to national acclaim inside two years.
Having been touted by The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess on the back of a self-released single, playing his Tim Peaks stage at Kendal Calling in 2019 and gaining the support of other music figures including One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson and Chris Hawkins, The Lathums have built a remarkable, grassroots following that has only expanded over the course of the Covid 19 pandemic. Signing to Island Records in March 2020, The Lathums were forced off the road, but continued to release new music to raise fans’ hopes that better days would come.
The Lathums have been quick to recognise the support of their still-growing legion of loyal supporters, who are now enjoying the overdue opportunity to see the band live on their current UK Tour.
A band statement says: “It’s a very special day. We are at Number One and that’s an acheivement that’s going to be there, for everyone to see, forever. It’s overwhelming, but our journey has only just begun and for us and you, our fans, it’s a journey that we’re going on together.
“This is for our families who believed in us all the way from the start, for all our friends who have supported us along the way, and most importantly everyone who bought and listened to the album, without you our lifelong dream wouldn’t be possible. Guitar music is back where it belongs.”
The Lathums’ will play their first headline gig in London since performing at the 250-capacity Omeara in August at the 2,300-capacity O2 Forum Kentish Town next week (Thu 7 October 2021). A signifier of the pace of the progress they have made to date, they will also return to Manchester on Sat 16 October 2021 to play a 3,500-ticket sell-out at O2 Victoria Warehouse, having performed at the 300-capacity Night and Day Cafe on their last UK Tour in February 2020.
The band recently also confirmed a date at Blackpool Empress Ballroom, appearing at the legendary venue on Sat 9 April 2022. Remaining tickets for all forthcoming dates are available via www.seetickets.com
The Lathums are deep-thinking Alex Moore, casting a new outline of the modern frontman, alongside student of the Marr-esque jangle guitar, Scott Concepcion, rapid-fire, wise-cracking bassist, Johnny Cunliffe (aka: Bass Mon Jon) and steady, rhythmic, wise head, Ryan Durrans on drums. How Beautiful Life Can Be was produced by James Skelly and Chris Taylor at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool.
