IT’S been two years since The Charlatans’ euphoric homecoming gigs at Northwich Memorial Court.

North by Northwich featured four Charlatans shows at Memorial Court, along with a town takeover which included a long list of gigs, ‘audience with’ events, after parties, an exhibition and a vinyl record fair.

Tickets for The Charlatans gigs sold out in minutes, but now singer Tim Burgess is giving fans the chance to relive two of those shows at an upcoming album listening party.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian when North by Northwich was revealed, Tim said: "We played a tour at the end of [2017] and we rehearsed at Memorial Court.

"As soon as we walked in, I just thought ‘we should play here’. I’d never seen it from inside before, and as soon as I did it was like ‘wow, this place is amazing’.

"I think originally we were going to do like a spontaneous unannounced gig there and then after we rehearsed.

"But then we thought it would be better to do more preparation and do it properly and the more we got into it the more we realised that it should involve Northwich as a town."

Since lockdown began, the frontman has been hosting Tim's Twitter Listening Party, bringing musicians and fans together to listen to an album at the same time and share their thoughts and memories of the music.

Highlights so far have included Bonehead talking through the first two Oasis albums, drummer Dave Rowntree on Blur’s Parklife, and Pete Doherty on The Libertines’ Up the Bracket.

Tim first hosted a Twitter album party a decade ago to celebrate the anniversary of the band’s debut Some Friendly.

Since the restrictions put in place by Covid-19 kicked in, he’s broadened the idea out to include other bands and artists and the listening parties have been so successful he’s described hosting them as his full time job now.

The singer was scheduled to be touring his new solo album I Love the New Sky this month but shows have been postponed.

He’s still decided to release the album, due out on May 22, and is rescheduling live shows for October.

 

Fans of The Charlatans can get their live fix with the North by Northwich album parties at 8pm on Sunday, May 17 and Monday, May 18.

Find out more by following @TimBurgess on Twitter or visit timstwitterlisteningparty.com to find out what other albums are lined up for the coming weeks.