So please let people know to get down early in order to catch the full set. Note no support bands for this one. More news as we get it.

Of course, since Ginger doesn’t really do ‘time off’, and given that a change is as good as a rest, he’s heading out on tour instead for a thirteen night Rock’n'Roll Christmas party.

Starting in Swansea tonight, Ginger and Friends take in the Hard Rock Hell festival tomorrow before a flying visit to Finland. The band then hits a UK venue near you in the build-up to a two night stay in London for the long sold out Islington Birthday show on December 17th, and a final blow out at the Relentless Garage the night after.

The friends joining Ginger this time around are ‘Random’ Jon Poole, Rich Jones and Denzil for the Hard Rock Hell and Helsinki shows. And meeting them at the airport when they get back will be Chris Catalyst and Victoria Liedtke who will join them for the rest of the tour.

The boys (and girl!) will be performing a fully electrified set, and will be playing a variety of material including many rarely played Wildhearts songs – plus a healthy serving of tracks from Ginger’s solo releases.

The full list of dates, along with ticket links is as follows:

• Thu 01st Dec – Swansea, Sin City (Tickets)
• Fri 02nd Dec – Hard Rock Hell (Tickets)
• Sat 03rd Dec – Helsinki, On The Rocks (Tickets)
• Wed 07th Dec – Manchester, Moho Live (Tickets)
• Thu 08th Dec – Glasgow, Garage (Tickets)
• Fri 09th Dec – Newcastle, Academy (Tickets)
• Sat 10th Dec – Leeds, Cockpit (Tickets)
• Sun 11th Dec – Southampton, Talking Heads (Tickets)
• Mon 12th Dec – Norwich, Waterfront (Tickets)
• Tue 13th Dec – Bristol, Fleece (Tickets)
• Thu 15th Dec – Wolverhampton, Wulfrun (Tickets)
• Sat 17th Dec – London, Islington Academy (Birthday Show) SOLD OUT
• Sun 18th Dec – London, Relentless Garage (Tickets)

Support on all dates is Hawkeyes and Exit_International, except Swansea (supported by Exit_International only) and Helsinki (supported by Stalingrad Cowgirls). Note there will be no support acts at the birthday gig to allow more time for Ginger.

Tickets for the UK shows (excluding Hard Rock Hell) are priced £12.50 (£15 in London).

Ginger & Friends will be heading around the country during December, blowing the roof off a venue near you, and gathering steam in readiness for the long sold-out finale in London on Ginger’s Birthday.

• Wed 07th Dec – Manchester, MoHo Live
• Thu 08th Dec – Glasgow, Garage
• Fri 09th Dec – Newcastle, O2 Academy
• Sat 10th Dec – Leeds, Cockpit
• Sun 11th Dec – Southampton, Talking Heads
• Tue 13th Dec – Bristol, Fleece
• Wed 14th Dec – Buckley, Tivoli
• Thu 15th Dec – Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
• Sat 17th Dec – London, O2 Academy Islington – SOLD OUT
• Sun 18th Dec – London, Relentless Garage

All dates feature the fantastic special guests Hawk Eyes and Exit_International, so make sure to be there early to catch them.

Tickets are available now from the usual places – See the gig pages for links – and event pages are up on Ginger’s Facebook, so let us know if you’re coming.

Having sold out two years in a row at The Relentless Garage, this year’s event will be at the O2 Academy Islington for the first time.

Previous guests who have joined Ginger on stage include Paul Cook (Sex Pistols), Chris McCormack (3 Colours Red), Nathan Connolly (Snow Patrol), Olga (Toy Dolls), Ray Mcveigh (The Professionals), Tom Spencer (Yo Yo’s), Rich Jones (Black Halos) Conny Bloom (Electric Boys), Willie Dowling (Honeycrack) Alex Kane (Antiproduct) and many, many more.

Who will be at this years event? You’ll have to be there to find out.

Warning: Last years event sold out 3 months in advance!

Tickets are on sale now from TicketWeb.

• London – Eureka Machines
• Sheffield – The Glitterati + Silverjet
• Manchester – Laika Dog + Eureka Machines
• Glasgow – Baby Chaos + Sluts of Trust
• Newcastle – Supercharger + Eureka Machines
• Wolverhampton – Wolfsbane + Very Special Performance
• Southampton – OAF + Ginger & Hot Steve Acoustic

So it’s well worth getting down there early and catching them all!

Beginning on Friday night with a sold out birthday celebration, he then moves around the country helping to bring some festive cheer to a town (fairly) near you, and dragging some fantastic guests along for the ride – stay tuned for a full list shortly.

Congratulations to everyone who managed to get tickets for Ginger’s Birthday gig, and commiserations to those who will miss out because the show has now sold out.

Preparations are already well under way, and It’s looking to be pretty special. No clues though: you’ll just have to wait and see what’s planned.

See you all there!

The last birthday show sold out within weeks – and for good reason. This is a one of a kind show.

Indeed, this one’s nearly sold out now too. So if you don’t want to miss out, get in quick and grab your tickets from Ticketweb.

There will be no support at this show, instead Ginger (and friends) will play from the start. The show will start around 8pm so it is recommended that people start cramming in before then, doors are set to open at 7pm. So try not to stay at the pub too late or you’ll miss the fun.

Talking of pubs, the fine folk from the Ginger / Wildhearts forum will be meeting at the Famous Cock Tavern, just over the road from the venue – the more the merrier.

First things first, go buy the new Devin Townsend album, Addicted. Absolutely the best stuff he’s released since the awe inspiring City by SYL. You will absolutely not regret this purchase.

Oh, Antiproduct are leaving the sunny confines of LA to return to the rainy little winterland we call the U of K to appear as special guests at The Wildhearts’ Xmas shows. Given that The Loyalties are opening up this evening should effortlessly rank alongside any Xmas special we have ever put together.

And, while on the subject of the Xmas gigs the thorny issue of Chutzpah Jnr. The decision to make this available exclusively to people attending the Xmas shows is not a decision that has been made by me or, to my knowledge any member of the band. I’m sure this is a slight error and that the CD will be available at shows after Xmas. All I can personally say on the subject is that I hope the CD will NOT be on sale outside of the concert environment, dictating that you make some online friends and have them buy a copy for you. Who knows, actual friendships may subsequently blossom ensuring you all have international destinations for your future holidays? Having said this, we have management and a record label that make these decisions for us, so for all I know (and let’s face it I’ve been known to be wrong as frequently as any air breathing humanoid) you might soon be able to download it without any further effort or social value whatsoever. Yay.

Speaking of gigs, the birthday show sold out in a rapid and amazing blast of  excitement, at least for me. It’s a pretty proud old(ish) fart who knows that you are so keen to help me celebrate in style. So proud, in fact, that I have invited pretty much everyone to the party. Expect to see a veritable rainbow of familiar faces and musical masterchefs cluttering up the tiny stage at London’s Relentless Garage. I’d also like to take this opportunity to point out that we’d like you to familiarise yourself with this tune:

We hope to present a live version of this song at some point in the evening and your participation in the chorus would be greatly appreciated. We also hope to have a twitter address set up for live twittering during the evening. So whether you’re in the actual venue or a billion miles away on a nearby planet, or even somewhere in between, you can make your presence known.

We will NOT, it must be heavily stated, be streaming the show live or recording the event in any shape or format. Filming will also be strictly dissuaded. This is a private party after all. All I can say, in my meekest defence, is that I hope to have more than one birthday next year, failing that I suggest you get tickets even quicker next time. We may even make tickets for next years show available at some random point mid-next year, to give some of you the chance to arrange travel arrangements and organise a spot of Xmas shopping. For the rest of you dotted around the world, outside of practical range of this event, I can only offer, as some mild condolence, how the rest of us all feel at not being able to spend New Years in New York, Summer in Saigon and Easter in Egypt. Let’s face it, only God can be everywhere (and, between you and me, even She’s confirmed on the bill for the birthday bash).

I’ve been writing a lot lately. Right now I’ve been happy to write for other artists but it’s got my creative sword quite fiercely sharpened on this welcome stone of demand. Expect at least two albums next year to feature my strong involvement. A bold statement? You betcha. And if it doesn’t happen then I assure you that it won’t be through lack of trying. I’m itching to create like the monstrous creative force I intend to be next year, and I suspect this level of energy will be enough to make this happen. That and your positivity.

I am also pitching for my own radio show through which I hope to educate and entertain with a veritable barrage of unfamiliar delights chosen specifically to stroke the imagination and coddle the mind. Pray with me that it comes off and I know we can achieve this. Sharing my vast love of music is part of the vital service I hope to dedicate myself to in 2010.

There are a few other things that might or might not be happening, none of which I will jinx by announcing here at this point. Instead I’ll exercise a little more respect for the health boosting effects of good news and keep you all waiting.

Still, you know me. As soon as it’s safe to announce I’ll be laying it on y’all. As a bringer of good tidings I find much comfort.

Have a brilliant Xmas, and if I don’t speak to you beforehand keep your powder dry and your intentions brilliant.

Gx