FLATFOOT 56 has entered the Billboard Heatseekers New Artist Chart at #2 for first week sales of their highly anticipated new album BLACK THORN. The album arrives as the third studio release from Chicago’s most celebrated Celtic-Punk outfit and marks their debut effort for new label home Old Shoe Records.
First week sales numbers for Black Thorn have also pushed the album into the Billboard Top 200 at #160, the Billboard Top Independent Current Albums Chart at #17, Top Alternative Rock Chart at #29, Top Rock Chart at #43, Top Current Albums Chart at #143 and Top Internet Sales Charts.
As 2010 marks the 10-year anniversary for FLATFOOT 56, the new album compacts the band’s celebrated history of eclectic and driving musical charge into thirteen tracks that highlight the pride of the working class and their Chicago roots. The release of BLACK THORN has sent a tidal wave of energy from FLATFOOT 56’s international mob following while being matched with positive critical acclaim:
ALTERNATIVE PRESS: “There are bagpipes and mandolin gilded to the hard-charging chassis, but these 10-year Chicago scene vets know how to play, and even better, pen suitably triumphant songs awash in resilient spirit.” (April 2010)
HM MAGAZINE: “Black Thorn jigs, pulses, sways, mesmerizes and kicks up the heels – sometimes all within the same song structure.” (March/April 2010)
PUNK ROCK REVIEW: “Black Thorn is filled to the rim with Celtic influenced, high intensity gang vocal laden, heavy hitting song after song…Each intricate musical piece of this band is perfectly combined.” (March 2010)
DYING SCENE: “It is no wonder that FLATFOOT 56 has risen above the rest and gained the notoriety they so rightfully deserve.” 5 out of 5 stars! (April 2010)
Last week, FLATFOOT 56 celebrated the arrival of their new album with a sold-out west coast album release party in Fullerton, California. This Saturday, April 10, the band will throw multiple hometown album release celebrations, including an acoustic performance and meet & greet at Record Breakers (2105 S State St, Chicago; 6:00PM), an album release party and performance at Reggie’s (2109 S State St, Chicago; 7:00PM) and ‘Black Thorn’ After Party at Reggie’s Music Joint (2105 S State St, Chicago; 11:00PM).
To continue their onslaught throughout 2010, FLATFOOT 56 has also announced a year full of tour dates, including the Vans Warped Tour this summer and special festival appearances across the globe, including Cornerstone, Spirit West Coast, SoulFest, Irish 2000 Festival and a slew of others. Complete upcoming tour dates include:
| Date | Venue Name | City | State |
| 4/10/10 | Record Breakers (CD RELEASE MEET & GREET) | Chicago | Illinois |
| 4/10/10 | Reggies Rock Club (‘BLACK THORN’ CD RELEASE CONCERT) | Chicago | Illinois |
| 4/10/10 | Reggies Music Joint (‘BLACK THORN’ AFTERPARTY) | Chicago | Illinois |
| 5/6/10 | Western Illinois University (Corbinstock 2010) | Macomb | Illinois |
| 5/7/10 | Knickerbockers | Lincoln | Nebraska |
| 5/8/10 | Gio’s Event Center (PRESENTED BY DIVE 95.9FM) | South Moorehead | Minnesota |
| 5/20/10 | Black Sheep Cafe | Springfield | Illinois |
| 5/21/10 | HeBrews Coffee & Music | Leo | Indiana |
| 5/22/10 | ONE HEART FEST at the BUS BARN | Terre Haute | Indiana |
| 6/2/10 | Studio Seven | Seattle | Washington |
| 6/29/10 | Cornerstone Festival | Marietta | Illinois |
| 7/1/10 | Cornerstone Festival 2010 | Bushnell | Illinois |
| 7/3/10 | Spirit West Coast – Monterey | Salinas | California |
| 7/11/10 | The Comcast Theater (WARPED TOUR) | Hartford | Connecticut |
| 7/13/10 | Comcast Center (WARPED TOUR) | Mansfield | Massachusetts |
| 7/14/10 | Darien Lake Performing Arts Center (WARPED TOUR) | Darien Center | New York |
| 7/15/10 | Toyota Pavilion (WARPED TOUR) | Scranton | Pennsylvania |
| 7/16/10 | The Susquehanna Bank Center (WARPED TOUR) | Camden | New Jersey |
| 7/17/10 | Nassau Coliseum (WARPED TOUR) | Uniondale | New York |
| 7/18/10 | Monmouth Park Racetrack (WARPED TOUR) | Oceanport | New Jersey |
| 7/20/10 | Merriweather Post Pavilion (WARPED TOUR) | Columbia | Maryland |
| 7/21/10 | Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) | Virginia Beach | Virginia |
| 7/22/10 | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) | Charlotte | North Carolina |
| 7/23/10 | Vinoy Park (WARPED TOUR) | St. Petersburg | Florida |
| 7/24/10 | Cruzan Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) | West Palm Beach | Florida |
| 7/25/10 | Firestone Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) | Orlando | Florida |
| 7/26/10 | Lakewood Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) | Atlanta | Georgia |
| 7/28/10 | Riverbend Music Center (WARPED TOUR) | Cincinnati | Ohio |
| 7/29/10 | Marcus Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) | Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
| 7/30/10 | Comerica Park (WARPED TOUR) | Detroit | Michigan |
| 7/31/10 | First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) | Tinley Park | Illinois |
| 8/1/10 | Canterbury Park (WARPED TOUR) | Shakopee | Minnesota |
| 8/2/10 | Sandstone Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) | Bonner Springs | Kansas |
| 8/7/10 | SoulFest 2010 | Gilford | New Hampshire |
| 8/13/10 | Cup O’ Joy | Green Bay | Wisconsin |
| 8/21/10 | Xnoizz Flevo Festival | Utrecht | Netherlands |
| 8/27/10 | Viper Room w/ THE BRIGGS | Wien | Austria |
| 8/27/10 | AJZ w/ THE BRIGGS | Chemnitz | Germany |
| 9/2/10 | Dynamo Jugendkulturhaus w/ THE BRIGGS | Zürich | Switzerland |
| 9/3/10 | Stoffel w/ THE BRIGGS | Widnau | Switzerland |
| 9/7/10 | Béi Chéz Heinz w/ THE BRIGGS | Hannover | Germany |
| 9/9/10 | Feierwerk w/ THE BRIGGS | Munich | Germany |
| 9/10/10 | Club Vaudeville w/ THE BRIGGS | Lindau | Germany |
| 9/11/10 | JUZ | Bad Hersfeld | Germany |
| 9/17/10 | IRISH 2000 FEST | Ballston Spa | New York |
| 9/18/10 | IRISH 2000 FEST | Ballston Spa | New York |
Black Thorn is in stores now from Old Shoe Records in the US, Stomp Records in Canada, I Hate People Records in Europe, and distributed by Big Mouth Japan in Japan.
www.flatfoot56.com
www.myspace.com/flatfoot56
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