Poster for the Ignorant Tour 2020

STEVE IGNORANT IS heading out on tour next year to perform a set of Crass songs, back by a full band.

Back in November 2007, Ignorant attracted some controversy when he put together a band to present a live version of The Feeding of the 5000 at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire with a backing band of guest musicians. In 2010, Ignorant attracted both criticism and enthusiastic support when he announced plans for an international tour, which would take songs from across the Crass catalogue out on the road.

That tour concluded in 2011, with Ignorant declaring that The Last Supper performance in London on 19 November (at which he was joined on stage by Penny Rimbaud and Eve Libertine) would be the last time that he would play Crass songs on a stage.

Since then, whilst performing with Slice of Life and Paranoid Visions, Ignorant has continued to weave selected Crass songs into the live set – in a semi-acoustic way with Slice of Life and in full-on punk rock style with Paranoid Visions (such as at the Rebellion festival in 2017).

This latest news about Ignorant’s plans in relation to the Crass canon does not appear to have attracted much in the way of critical reaction, and it appears that there’s a great deal of interest in acquiring tickets for the shows, which are now available to purchase online. Confirmed dates so far are:

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Friday 3 April 2020

Newcastle University Students Union, Newcastle
Saturday 4 April 2020

The 100 Club, London
Friday 17 April 2020 [buy tickets direct from the 100 Club]

Concorde 2, Brighton
Saturday 18 April 2020

Club Academy, Manchester
Friday 24 April 2020

Scotland Calling Festival, O2 Academy, Glasgow
Saturday 25 April 2020

The 100 Club listing provides more details about the upcoming tour, and reports that further dates will be forthcoming:

Steve will be starting his Tour in April 2020 in the UK and will then take it to the continent and the rest of the world. He’ll be performing Crass songs 1977-1984 with some Ignorant classics with his band.

It also confirms the line-up for these tour dates as:

  • Steve Ignorant (vocals)
  • Carol Hodge (vocals) [Slice of Life]
  • Pete Wilson (lead guitar) [Slice of Life]
  • Pete Rawlinson (bass guitar) [Slice of Life]
  • Jay Bagnall (drums) [Paranoid Visions]

Shot in 2011, the short video below sees Ignorant reflecting on the upcoming final show of The Last Supper tour.