Fonts ready for capital carnage in the summer
Lanarkshire lads the Lafontaines are set for a summer to remember after snagging a top support slot.
The group, who play a mixture of rap, rock and pop, will be opening for chart-topping singer Rag N’ Bone Man, when the Human hitmaker plays at Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh on August 14. And frontman Kerr Okan can’t wait for the band, who released second album Common Problem last year, to get onstage. He said: “We’re absolutely buzzing to be playing at Princes Street Gardens with Rag ‘n’ Bone Man! Performing in front of 6000 people during the Fringe, in the heart of the city will be a brilliant experience.
“It’ll also be a great cherry on top of what’s looking like a fantastic festival season plus we’re heading out on our own UK and Europe headline tour in September and October - see y’all then!”
The news comes after a terrific 2017 for the group, who all hail from Motherwell, Hamilton and Wishaw.
They headlined and sold out the legendary Barrowland for the first time, toured the UK to support Common Problem and played at big festivals like TRNSMT.
This year has also seen singer John Gerard step away from the band to pursue other interests.
Kerr added: “There’s no scandal to speak of and John’s still one of our best mates - it’s just due to work commitments that he can no longer be a part of the band. And that’s sound.
The rapper admitted last year that making Different Problem had been a struggle at points.
“After we did Class (their first album) I didn’t write anything for a year and a half,” he explained.
“We were on tour quite a bit, so time was an issue, and then I actually fell out of love with making music. I was scunnered with creating things, and then what happened was that Joe (Cross) from the Courteeners got in touch and asked if we’d be interested in doing a song with him producing.
“I sat down and wrote Release The Hounds, and it went well. Once I started writing again I was spoiled for choice.”
Now they’re looking forward to their Summer Sessions bow, joining a bill that will see the likes of Kasabian, Paloma Faith and Brian Wilson headline Edinburgh gigs, with Kings of Leon and Kendrick Lamar topping the bill in Glasgow.
Geoff Ellis of promoters DF Concerts said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Summer Sessions to Edinburgh.”