Canadian heartbreak rockers ACRES OF LIONS are making a flying visit to London Town to play their first ever UK dates this week. And when we say 'flying visit' we sure aren't wrong - on March 24th they play the Nite Owl in London, Ontario, and three days later they step on the stage of the Buffalo Bar in London, Englandshire. They then play shows at the Bull & Gate on the 28th and Nambucca on the 29th and then, a jetlag-jiving 48 hours later, they will be back home playing in Toronto. And here is the full story here:

ACRES OF LIONS consist of Jeff Kalesnikoff (vocals, guitar), Tyson Yerex (keyboard, guitar), Dan Ball (bass) and Lewis Carter (drums). They are based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, coyly describe themselves as 'a pop-rock band' and have cannily just signed to fierce panda for the European release of their second album, 'Collections'.

'Collections' was launched in their homeland late last year, has just been released in Japan (on Bullion Records) and will come out on fierce panda later in the summer. It is a broken-heart-on-sleeve collection aha of taut-fitting tunes with driving guitars, delicate pianos and subtlely heroic choruses. Listeners of a certain age may hear flashes of collegiate rocksters like Buffalo Tom and The Lemonheads. Listeners of a slightly different rage may recall the emo years of the early noughties when The Get Up Kids and former panda stars Death Cab For Cutie made grown men creep. Music lovers with very little rage whatsoever may even feel some of that Snow Patrol emotion in the odd sorrowful climax.

Whatever your musical poison, rather generously ACRES OF LION have provided a handy entrance point to 'Collections'. It's called 'Reaction', its glowing pop stomp has been a staple of Canadian radio since the parent album's release and it has a rather excellent video lurking over at www.acresoflions.com/videos/ www.acresoflions.com/videos/ right now.

As well as a zinging future they have some cool history as well, do ACRES OF LIONS; their debut 'Working' album in 2009 set out their stealthily melodic stall; parts of the Lions' line-up has toured with Against Me!; last year they travelled the lengthy length of Canada in support of Ten Second Epic; and, fresh from an appearance at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, they play those aforementioned shows in London Town like this...

MARCH 27TH LONDON Highbury Buffalo Bar (Club Fandango BBC6 music birthday show w/ Driver Driver Faster) onstage 9.45pm
MARCH 28TH LONDON Kentish Town Bull & Gate (Club Killing Moon night) onstage 8.15pm
MARCH 29TH LONDON Holloway Nambucca

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