Archive Tickets

Dig Into Archive's Music

Trip hop band Archive put out a serious performance, with their own unique fusion of avant-garde, progressive rock and hypnotically ambient electronica. A large and diverse cast of players and an atmosphere to match their musical prowess creates an electrifying, unmissable show.

Schedule

Archive will be embarking on an ambitious and extensive tour of Europe in the upcoming year, to follow the release of a new album, playing in countries such as Germany, Poland, Holland, Italy, and the Czech Republic. The band has only announced one UK date so far, at London's Shepherds Bush Empire in the spring. These shows are sure to sell out fast, so grab your Archive tickets now.

Trivia

Throughout their multi-decade existence, Archive have taken Europe by storm, while remaining virtually underground in their native UK. They have topped the charts in countries such as France and Greece.

Bass guitarist Jonathan Noyce played with progressive rock legend Jethro Tull for 12 years, from 1995 until 2007, travelling the globe with the band and recording numerous live and studio albums. Drummer Steve "Smiley" Barnard played with the late punk icon Joe Strummer before his death in 2002.

Band

Archive were originally formed in 1993, by Darius Keeler and Rosko John. Soon after, synth player Danny Griffiths was added to the mix. Together, this trio invented the original, dark, electronic Archive sound. It soon became evident that vocals were needed to compliment the compositions, and in 1994 the first of a string of lead vocalists joined the band. A contract with Island Records followed.

Archive's earlier work was more in the trip hop vein. The band has since moved into a more diverse style, incorporating more experimental and progressive themes into their music, creating a truly original sound that takes a modern stance somewhere between Kraftwerk and Krautrock.

Breakthrough

Archive's debut album Londinium drew huge praise from progressive rock legend Peter Gabriel. But it was not really until the early 2000s that the band achieved widespread success in Europe, with the release of a highly-successful trio of recordings, You All Look The Same To Me in 2002, Noise in 2004, and the soundtrack to the French film Michel Vaillant. It was during this period that Archive's trip hop sound veered more toward progressive rock themes, mainly due to the arrival of songwriter Craig Walker.

Hit Albums

Archive have released a plethora of recordings in their more than two decades of existence, including 10 full albums, almost as many live albums, and a number of EPs, compilations and demos. Their early work was well received in music circles, but it wasn't until the new Millennium that the dynamic style of music for which Archive are now known, was born.

Released in 2002, You All Look The Same To Me was Archives' third album. Under the influence and vocal expertise of Craig Walker, the band shifted to a more progressive and even psychedelic gear.

The following year saw Archive provide the entire soundtrack for the film Michel Vaillant. This was a confident leap for the band, and the atmospheric music this project produced, blended thoughtful ballads with layered soundscapes, not dissimilar to Massive Attack.

The more intense and moody offering Noise was released in 2004. Seeming to encompass virtually all human emotions, this powerful musical work was greeted with much praise from fans and critics alike. With the departure of Walker, following Noise, Archive has continued to create music much in the same vein. The 2014 album Axiom is a darkly intense experience.

Live Experience

An Archive show is a brooding and atmospheric place. Thought-provoking, awe-inspiring, and often uplifting, Archive's music summons a wide spectrum of emotions. Combined with imaginative use of lighting and other stage effects, the band assaults all of the senses. Providing an inventive mix of electronica and experimental, progressive rock, an Archive gig is a one-of-a-kind experience.