NEW DEVICE, LETHARGY, MILLION $ RELOAD, THE TREATMENT To Join Forces For 'Powerage Tour'

Powerage Records, the joint venture record label founded by Classic Rock magazine and Plastic Head Music, has announced details of the inaugural Powerage live tour. Tagged the "Power Supply" tour, the event will consist of a four act bill playing a total of eleven U.K. shows next February/March. In a unique twist admission to all venues will be totally free.

The Powerage record label was formed to promote young British rock band — acts that Classic Rock has championed through the magazines pages but had found difficulty in securing a suitable label deal in an increasingly competitive market place.

Commented Classic Rock publisher Chris Ingham: "Our Powerage label venture has produced good results but we wanted to take that concept one stage further and what better way to do that than present these acts live on stage in front of a targeted audience."

Plastic Head's Steve Beatty had this to say: "Rock music is all about seeing your favourite bands live and the opportunity to present the cream of the Powerage roster was something that we all thought would be a great idea."

The concept came to fruition when TKO booking agent Dan DeVita agreed to invest time and effort into the concept by proposing that a tour featuring four new and developing acts would need an added twist... free entry.

Dan DeVita commented: "We're facing some tough realities in the business right now so expecting fans to pay to see four relatively unknown acts was always a big ask. We're hoping that the prospect of free admission will attract fans that are curious about the artists but might have directed their spare cash to other more high profile events."

Powerage A&R man Derek Oliver stated: "When Dan proposed the free ticket concept a light bulb went on inside my head. I remember going to see package tours in the '70s and early '80s where admission was free or kept to a minimum and those events were always well attended. I see no reason why this concept can't work today."

The four acts taking part in the tour are London-based high-energy mavericks NEW DEVICE, acclaimed Welsh riff meisters LETHARGY, low-slung Irish rockers MILLION $ RELOAD and stupendous young upstarts THE TREATMENT, Powerage's latest signing. Entry to every venue is free but on a first-come-first-served basis.

The dates are as follows:

Feb. 22 - Margate, Westcoast Bar
Feb. 23 - Grimsby, Yardbirds
Feb. 24 - London, Underworld
Feb. 25 - Poole, Chords
Feb. 26 - Manchester, Moho
Feb. 28 - Sheffield, Corporation Front Room
Mar. 01 - Newcastle, Trillians
Mar. 02 - Glasgow, Ivory Blacks
Mar. 03 - Wrexham, Central Station
Mar. 04 - Nuneaton, Queens Hall
Mar. 05 - Nottingham, Rock City Basement

All doors open at 7 p.m. except Manchester which is 6 p.m. and Nottingham at 8 p.m. Please note that the Glasgow show is an 18+ event