Head First is the fifth concert tour from British band Goldfrapp in support of their fifth studio album, Head First, released in March 2010.

Development The tour was announced in early February 2010, with the release of their new album by their record company Mute. The band announced dates in Europe, Australia and North America, where they played the famous Hollywood Bowl. Mute announced that the band would play festivals throughout summer 2010, then embark on their tour. Before the festivals, however, they were due to play their American dates as stated here officially: "Goldfrapp will take Head First to select US cities this summer - following the massive acclaim for both the Supernature and Seventh Tree tours and festival appearances around the world, Goldfrapp have underlined their reputation as one of the most transcendent and inventive live bands around."

Dates for the United Kingdom were announced on the band's website on 12 July 2010.

Show Goldfrapp open with "Voicething" as the band come on stage, with smoke billowing out of the stage. Alison then appears and launches into "Crystalline Green", with a green light show playing around her. Each song from this point uses the lights, with different colours. The background of the stage is a massive Space Doughnut.

Band The band consists of 5 members (including Alison Goldfrapp). These are:

Charlie Jones - bass guitar Daisy Palmer - drums, backing vocals Angie Pollock - keyboards, backing vocals Davide Rossi - keyboards, guitar, violin, backing vocals

Set list

Voicething (Intro) Crystalline Green Train I Wanna Life A&E You Never Know Head First Number 1 Believer Shiny & Warm Alive Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Utopia Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Main order of songs - Order has changed in some cases.

Voicething (intro) Crystalline Green I Wanna Life A&E You Never Know Head First Number 1 Dreaming Believer Alive Shiny & Warm Train Ride A White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Utopia Black Cherry Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Additional notes: "Dreaming" was added and "You Never Know" was removed from the set list in Washington. "You Never Know" was re-added in New York. "Utopia" was removed from the set list in Mexico. "Hunt" was added for the Norwich concert.

Main order of songs - order has changed in some cases.

Voicething (intro) Crystalline Green You Never Know Dreaming I Wanna Life Head First Number 1 Alive Believer Shiny & Warm Train Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Black Cherry Little Bird Lovely Head Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Additional notes:

"Hunt" was added for the Norwich concert. "Rocket" was removed in Bristol.

Voicething Utopia You Never Know Head First Dreaming Number 1 Believer Alive Shiny and Warm Train Ride a White Horse (extended) Ooh La La Rocket Strict Machine (We are glitter)

Critical reception

Concerts Reviews for the tour have all been positive. Spinner, talking of the Hollywood Bowl appearance, said, "Golfrapp made her way through 12 songs backed by a tight four-piece band. If the band was daunted at all by the huge stage of the Bowl, they never showed it, opening with a version of 'Crystalline Green' that won the crowd over from the outset. The group really hit its stride halfway through the set, as two songs from the new 'Head First' album -- the pop-laden 'Believer' and 'Alive' -- had fans dancing in the Bowl aisles.".

The Washington Post review was also very positive, stating, "Goldfrapp has built up quite a cult. The performance was sold out and a few devout fans even showed up wearing blonde wigs. Over an hour and a half set Goldfrapp changed costumes--musical and otherwise--a few times, putting a digital spin on pretty much every genre that has ever aspired to fabulousness--including glam-rock, disco, and a few Bond-theme-worthy ballads. It was a familiar sound with a futuristic finish."

The Entertainment Weekly review of the New York gig's headline was "Goldfrapp at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom....It's Finally Lovely 2 C U" also stated, "'Voicething' was a brilliant opener, launching right into the thumping 'Crystalline Green' from 2003′s Black Cherry. Alison, in full sparkle mode, started stomping around right away and quickly lost herself in a dizzying feast of outstretched arms and those ethereal wails we know and love."

Australian magazine TheVine's review was positive, with the reviewer stating "she has an amazing range that puts her in the same league as Kate Bush." They also stated, "Goldfrapp will take you on a journey through the darkened slums, the seedy clubs, the flamboyant nightspots and the palatial high rises."

On the start of their UK tour, reviews have been positive. ThisisBristol proclaimed, "In a pop world almost devoid of eccentricity and risk-taking, thank God for Alison Goldfrapp." Giving them 7/10, they also stated "Much copied, never bettered, Goldfrapp's disco weirdness is still a treat."

Festival reviews The Big Issue gave a positive review: "Alison Goldfrapp has to win some kind of prize for most stylish lady of the weekend. TBI feels rude for being so covered in mud in her presence, as she sways in a sparkly black poncho (billowed by a strategically placed fan...). The incredibly visual set is punctuated by hit after hit ('Number One', 'White Horse', 'Train'), all led by Goldfrapp's sensual, ethereal vocals and underwritten by undulating synths and retro basslines. "Scotland, you’re gorgeous", she says. No, Alison. You are."

The Scotsman commented, "Goldfrapp brought their usual artfully choreographed flamboyance and glamour to another full-on irresistible performance."

Tour dates Date City Country Venue7 June 2010OxfordEnglandO2 Academy Oxford8 June 2010Leamington SpaThe Assembly11 June 2010MoscowRussiaB1 Maximum21 June 2010Washington, D.C.United States9:30 Club23 June 2010New York CityHammerstein Ballroom26 June 2010OaklandFox Oakland Theatre27 June 2010Los AngelesHollywood Bowl29 June 2010Mexico CityMexicoJosé Cuervo Salón9 July 2010PunchestownIrelandPunchestown Racecourse11 July 2010BaladoScotlandT in the Park15 July 2010CabedeloPortugalMarés Vivas Festival17 July 2010BenicàssimSpainFestival Internacional de Benicàssim Heineken18 July 2010FerropolisGermanyMelt! Festival22 July 2010LondonEnglandiTunes Festival29 July 2010SydneyAustraliaLuna Park30 July 2010BrisbaneThe Tivoli1 August 2010WoodfordSplendour in the Grass3 August 2010MelbournePalace Theatre14 August 2010AvenchesSwitzerlandRock Oz'Arènes16 August 2010LuxembourgLuxembourgDen Atelier18 August 2010AmsterdamNetherlandsParadiso21 August 2010ChelmsfordEnglandV Festival22 August 2010Stafford28 August 2010LondonL.E.D. Festival22 September 2010LisbonPortugalColiseu dos Recreios24 September 2010BarcelonaSpainBAM (Barcelona Acció Cultural)25 September 2010MadridLa Riviera27 September 2010CologneGermanyEssigfabrik28 September 2010LilleFranceL'Aeronef30 September 2010HamburgGermanyDocks2 October 2010BerlinAstra Kulturhaus4 October 2010MunichMuffathalle5 October 2010ZürichSwitzerlandX-TRA Hotel7 October 2010MilanItalyMagazzini Generali8 October 2010LjubljanaSloveniaKino Siska Centre12 October 2010PragueCzech RepublicSasazu Club13 October 2010ViennaAustriaGasometer15 October 2010WarsawPolandFree Form Festival17 October 2010CopenhagenDenmarkVega Concert Hall18 October 2010OsloNorwayRockefeller Music Hall8 November 2010NorwichEnglandUEA9 November 2010BristolO2 Academy Bristol11 November 2010LondonHammersmith Apollo13 November 2010BrightonBrighton Dome14 November 2010BirminghamO2 Academy Birmingham16 November 2010LeedsO2 Academy Leeds17 November 2010ManchesterManchester Academy19 November 2010GlasgowScotlandO2 Academy Glasgow20 November 2010NewcastleEnglandO2 Academy Newcastle22 November 2010ParisFranceTheatre Le Trianon23 November 2010BrusselsBelgiumAncienne Belgique25 November 2010DroghedaIrelandTLT Theatre*26 November 2010DublinOlympia Theatre27 November 2010

A free show as part of the Heineken Green Spheres, a free music series in Ireland

Sold-out shows The show on 26 November in Dublin sold out, and due to high demand a second date was immediately announced.

References