CityLife

Doherty finds liberty with Babyshambles

HE may have just been thrown out of one of the UKés hottest bands and found his personal problems pasted all over the tabloids more often than an Eastenders actor, but ex-Libertines singer Pete Doherty has lost none of his appetite for performing.

Because on Tuesday, July 20, he will be making his second appearance in Wigan this year with his long-standing side project, Babyshambles.

This time, Babyshambles are playing a tiny 250 capacity gig at the Beer Engine on Poolstock Lane, following on from their surprise gig at the Mill at the Pier in May.

Pete enjoyed the last jaunt so much he immediately asked promoter Dylan Harris for another low-key show. éDemand for the ill gig was so high that the initial plan was to do a follow up gig a couple of weeks later,é said Harris.

éHowever, the catalogue of events that happened to Pete in the few weeks following the gig meant it was impossible for him to perform.é

To recap, Doherty was admitted to the Priory rehab clinic twice, arrested on a weapons charge, sent to a clinic in a Thailand monastery and asked to leave the Libertines. And thatés just in the two months since his last Wigan show...

Mend

However, Harris says that Pete appears to be back on the mend and hopes to rejoin The Libertines in time for the release of their second album, due out at the end of August.

éI saw Pete last week and he was looking a million times better than the state he was in when he played the Mill gig,é he said. éHe admitted he has problems and is finally trying to face up to them.

"He is hoping these small low key gigs around the country will help ease him back into the touring routine and enable him to rejoin his Libertine band mates.é

"However, to see him at a more intimate venue will be special. Pete specifically asked to play a smaller venue this time so I thought Iéd pick something slightly off the beaten track.

"The Beer Engine used to host gigs regularly a few years ago but they have dropped off significantly with new gig venues cropping up in the town centre so I thought it would be good to get gig-goers back there again.é

Pete is expected to play a selection of solo acoustic tracks before being joined by the rest of Babyshambles to play a set based on demos he regularly posts as free downloads on his Babyshambles website, and which often progress into new Libertines songs.

Impressive support comes from punchy local garage rock outfit The Suzukis and London's White Sport, last seen collaborating with Jarvis Cocker on the excellent Complete Control single.

Babyshambles play Wigan's Beer Engine on Tuesday, July 20. Tickets are é12 - to book, call 0161 832 1111 or visit the website below.