Erudite NewPop dreamers THE CROOKES are on the very cusp of playing the Kings Cross Scala, their biggest headline show thus far in London, as part of the fierce panda label's 19th birthday celebrations on Tuesday May 21st. Tickets on the door will be £10.00 so this is the last chance to nab £8.00 advance tickets from the usual outlets. The special guest support act for The Scala is their terrific NewPop cousins THE HEARTBREAKS, once again proving that less is Morecombe. We are thunderously thrilled to announce that fellow Sheffield progpop explorers HEY SHOLAY are also on the bill, and there is an aftershow party to toodle along to, too. The final details look like this:

fierce panda & Club Fandango present FIERCE PANDAS 19TH BIRTHDAY SLAMDOWN
The Acts: THE CROOKES (onstage 9.45pm - hour long set)
+ very special guests THE HEARTBREAKS (onstage 8.45pm - 45 minute set)
+ HEY SHOLAY (onstage 8.00pm - 30 minute set)
The Date: TUESDAY MAY 21ST 2013
The Place: LONDON SCALA
(275-277 Pentonville Road, Kings Cross, London N1 9NL. Tel 020 7833 2022)
Special £8.00 early bird tickets are available here: www.wegottickets.com/event/211316
Please note that this is a 16+ show

THE CROOKES have already toured the UK twice in 2013, once with Richard Hawley and then with Little Comets, as well as nipping over to Austin for SXSW. As befits their true Crookesaholic working spirit, they release a brand new single Bears Blood / Dance In Colour on May 27th. Rest assured that they have quite probably written and recorded the bulk of the follow-up to their current sophomore album 'Hold Fast' on any spare afternoons off, and while they toil and sweat gently whet your appetite for construction by checking the ace video for Bears Blood over at
www.thecrookes.com

THE HEARTBREAKS are welcomed back into the panda bosom with tonight's show rekindling memories of the excellent early days when they appeared on our 'Zip It Up' compilation EP and sneaked out 'I Didn't Think It Would Hurt To Think Of You' on sister label Giant Haystacks. One entire whirling album cycle later their key quote is this: "Having had a number one hit in Japan with their single 'Delay, Delay' from the album 'Funtimes', the band are close to completing the recording of their second album, with producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Nine Black Alps). It's fucking amazing." www.theheartbreaks.net

HEY SHOLAY toured with The Crookes last year on the promotional trail for their cosmically-titled ((o)) album. Next up comes a wee EP release on the panda on June 3rd and their songtitling instincts are no less mind-bogglesome, judging by the fact that one of the new tracks is called If That Big Old Fat Yellow Thing In The Sky Was To Burn Out I Would Grab You By The Hand And Float Off Into Orbit (A Song For Robert Wyatt). Skywatchers might be unsurprised to hear that it sounds like Flaming Lips mainlining Pink Floyd with Jeff Lynne toodling the vibes.
www.heysholay.com

As if all of that wasn't enough to contend with the official aftershow party will take place at Surya (on Pentonville Road up towards the Lexington) where The Crookes and The Heartbreaks will be DJ'ing from 11.00pm-2.00am. Everyone is invited. Especially you there with the shy smile.

fierce panda themselves are delighted to throw themselves back into the Scala's arms: previous panda anniversary hoedowns have seen The Walkmen and Goldheart Assembly thrill our birthdaying senses at this venue with the likes of Hatcham Social, The Molotovs and indeed The Crookes themselves in support. And so the furry wheels keep turning...