The Dears

2024 marks the 20th year since the worldwide release of No Cities Left, the sophomore album from Montreal’s The Dears. Music journalist Stuart Berman calls No Cities Left “the greatest and grandest work from a band for whom ‘epic’ seems too cheap a descriptor,” a seminal album that refines the band’s notorious unhinged onstage catharsis with their lushly-arranged studio sophistication.

This 20th Anniversary No Cities Left show is fronted by founding members Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak, backed by a rock band and accompanied by an ensemble of strings, brass, and winds. As arranged by Lightburn, No Cities Left combines textures and layers of electronic and classical instruments, interspersed with leads from baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute, cello and trumpet between soaring vocals and ripping guitar solos.

In reviewing No Cities Left, NME described The Dears as “a six-piece orchestral rock treat from Montreal, Canada, led by the enigmatic Murray Lightburn and sounding like Marvin Gaye fronting The Smiths while the London Philharmonic Orchestra has a stab at the Burt Bacharach songbook, \[who\] are probably the best new band in the world right now.”

Formed in 1995, The Dears released their first, ultra lo-fi album, End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story, in 2000. The orchestral, dark pop sound and dramatic live shows cemented The Dears at the foundation of the then-emerging Canadian indie-rock renaissance. Their live show was described as “the sonic equivalent of seeing the face of god.” In 2001 and 2002, they released two separate concept EPs Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique and Protest, respectively. In 2003 they released their second full-length album No Cities Left in Canada, and a string of highly anticipated shows at SXSW ‘04 prompted the international release of No Cities Left with Bella Union. Gang of Losers came in 2006, was well received by the press, and was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize. In 2008 the group partnered with Los Angeles-based indie label Dangerbird Records to release Missiles, followed by Degeneration Street (2011), Times Infinity Volume One (2015) and Times Infinity Volume Two (2017).

The Dears have toured the world over, including performances on Letterman (twofold), Jimmy Kimmel, Jonathan Ross and at Glastonbury, T in the Park, Wireless, Montreal Jazz Fest, Siren Festival, Coachella, Austin City Limits, V Fest, Reading and Leeds, Les Inrocks (France), Montreux Jazz Fest, Istanbul Jazz Fest, Pop Montreal, CMW, NXNE and countless appearances at SXSW. They have shared stages with Spiritualized, Broken Social Scene, Daniel Lanois, Rufus Wainwright, Zemfira, Bloc Party, Keane, Morrissey, The Tragically Hip, Metric and Death From Above, to name a few.

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Stage times are posted at 11am on the day of the show on our website.

All tickets to shows at Islington Assembly Hall are subject to a Venue Levy of £1 + VAT. As a Grade II listed building, this levy will be reinvested into Islington Assembly Hall and its services, meaning the customer experience can continue to be enhanced.

Accessible and carer ticketing information: https://support.dice.fm/article/179-accessibilty-tickets-for-islington-assembly-hall

This is a 16+ event. You may be asked to prove your age and if you’re unable to show valid ID, you may be refused entry. Valid ID includes passports, driving licences, 16+ Zip Oyster photocards and CitizenCards. Photocopies will not be accepted.

The Dears

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