Arab Strap are...

• Aidan Moffatt - vocals, keyboards
• Malcolm Middleton - guitar

Formed around the nucleus of singer Aidan Moffat and guitarist Malcolm Middleton in 1995, Arab Strap are troubadours telling the tale as they live it. Along with Mogwai and The Delgados, they helped to make independent label Chemikal Underground into one of the most revered in the UK, before jumping ship for a brief major label flirtation.

However, it wasn't long until they arrived back at Chemikal Underground, where they've continued to make their unique and engaging brand of narrated tales of 20-something despair. The duo have released the following albums; The Week Never Starts Round Here (1996), Philophobia (1998), Elephant Shoe and the live album Mad For Sadness (both 1999), The Red Thread (2001) and Monday Night At The Hug And Pint (2003).

Releases

• The Last Romance - album, out 17/10/2005 on Chemikal Underground. 1 review (read/post)
• The Shy Retirer - ep, out 15/09/2003 on Chemikal Underground. (post review)
• Monday At the Hug & Pint - album, out 21/04/2003 on Chemikal Underground. 1 review (read/post)
• Rocket, take your turn - single, out 04/12/2000 on Chemikal Underground. 1 review (read/post)
• The Red Thread - album on Chemikal Underground. 1 review (read/post)

Past events

• Mon 04 Dec at Glasgow King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. (post review)
• Sun 03 Dec at Glasgow King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. (post review)
• Sat 02 Dec at Aberdeen Tunnels. (post review)
• Fri 01 Dec at Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire. (post review)
• Wed 29 Nov at Manchester Academy 3 (formerly Hop & Grape). (post review)
• Wed 08 Nov at London King's Cross Scala. 1 review (read/post)
• Sun 05 Nov at Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms. (post review)
• Sat 04 Nov at Cambridge Junction 2 The Shed. (post review)
• Fri 03 Nov at Norwich Arts Centre. (post review)
• Wed 01 Nov at Nottingham The Rescue Rooms. (post review)
• Sun 27 Nov at Glasgow King Tut's Wah Wah Hut. (post review)
• Fri 25 Nov at Edinburgh Cabaret Voltaire. (post review)
• Thu 24 Nov at Aberdeen Tunnels. (post review)
• Wed 23 Nov at Newcastle upon Tyne University. (post review)
• Tue 22 Nov at Leicester Charlotte. (post review)
• Mon 21 Nov at Birmingham Academy Bar. (post review)
• Sun 20 Nov at Liverpool Carling Academy 2. (post review)
• Sat 19 Nov at Southampton University SU. (post review)
• Thu 17 Nov at London Highbury Garage. (post review)
• Wed 16 Nov at London Highbury Garage. (post review)
• Tue 15 Nov at Colchester Arts Centre. (post review)
• Sun 13 Nov at Exeter Cavern. (post review)
• Sat 12 Nov at Cardiff Barfly Club. (post review)
• Fri 11 Nov at Bristol Anson Rooms & Ar2 (Bristol University). (post review)
• Thu 10 Nov at Cambridge Academy @ ARU Students Union. (post review)
• Tue 08 Nov at Northampton Soundhaus. (post review)
• Mon 07 Nov at Norwich Arts Centre. (post review)
• Sun 06 Nov at Nottingham Bodega Social Club. (post review)
• Sat 05 Nov at Sheffield Leadmill. (post review)
• Fri 04 Nov at Manchester Night and Day Cafe. (post review)
• Tue 30 Sep at Manchester Academy 3 (formerly Hop & Grape). 1 review (read/post)
• Thu 10 May at London Shepherds Bush Empire. 1 review (read/post)

News

• 24/05/2007: The Weekly DiScussion: 'selling out' to sell stuff on the telly...
• 05/01/2007: Writers and Musicians of Scotland unite for huge project
• 26/09/2006: De Rosa support Arab Strap, announce John Peel Day show...
• 08/09/2006: Arab Strap: final tour dates announced
• 07/09/2006: Arab Strap split after ten years
• 15/07/2006: Islands: "Jamie Oliver is amazing"; Dour 2006 just gets hotter
• 11/04/2006: Arab Strapped for cash
• 30/03/2006: Arab Strap support act attacked in Seattle
• 01/03/2006: Triptych line up announced
• 09/11/2005: Arab Strap get ready to Spill in Cardiff

Features

• 10/04/2008: Label Profile #16: Chemikal Underground
• 06/07/2007: The Reading Report part 2
• 14/11/2006: Arab Strap's London bow: a fan's recount
• 12/10/2002: Implode.Exploit. Repeat

Links

• Arab Strap - official site
• Chemikal Underground - label website...buy records and find out more about the band!

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