PRIME CIRCLE BREAK NEW GROUND WITH TWO HIGH-PROFILE INDIAN FESTIVAL DATES
FEBRUARY 2010:
Prime Circle is starting 2010 with two high-profile festival dates in India, proving once again that the five-piece is still more than capable of breaking barriers close to a decade since they first formed.
“We are very excited to be playing before such a big live audience,” says Prime Circle frontman Ross Learmonth of his band’s appearance on February 20th in Delhi and February 21st in Bangalore, where they will play the Rock 'N India festival alongside headliners Backstreet Boys and Richard Marx. The festival was inaugurated in 2008 and has seen the likes of Megadeth and Iron Maiden perform to a growing audience with Prime Circle being the main international rock drawcard this year.
“We’re also very proud to be part of the wave of bands who are representing rock music in India, which is still a young market for the genre,” Learmonth reveals. “Our tour to India last year showed us that there is a very appreciative audience for our music in the country and we’re are looking to build on that with these two dates.”
2009 saw Prime Circle play four dates in India in partnership with the Hard Rock Café as well as a performance at the Umang Festival in Mumbai – earning strong reviews and an Indian fanbase along the way. ‘All Or Nothing’ is released in the territory via EMI India.
The connection with India had been made earlier in the year when Prime Circle performed at the Indian Premier League’s closing event in May 2009, capturing the attention of a 12-million-strong global television audience, 10-million of which were in India alone.
The upcoming two festival dates were brokered by South Africa’s leading entertainment promoters, Big Concerts who had worked with India’s DNA Networks in securing the music acts used during the successful May 2009 sporting event. DNA Networks is the largest event and entertainment promoter in India.
Says Big Concerts’ Chief Operating Officer, John Langford, “DNA Networks were very impressed with Prime Circle’s performance at the finals of the IPL and the response from viewers in India was also very positive. They were very keen to get Prime Circle to India for these Rock 'N India dates and we’re pleased to have worked with the band’s management and label in getting it off the ground.”
For Langford, Prime Circle’s ability to play accessible rock that’s brought to life through memorable songs is what makes the group stand out. “I’ve seen the band play acoustic shows in a room of 20 people and in front of a stadium crowd and they pull both off very successfully. Big Concerts is not an agent by trade, but we are very proud to have been involved in setting these two dates up.”
Learmonth says he and the rest of the band - Dale Schnettler on drums, Dirk Bisschoff on lead guitar, Neil Breytenbach on keyboards and Marco Gomes on bass concur Ross – are keeping an open mind as they prepare for the two shows.
“We’ve learnt not to have a preconceived idea of why to expect and so are keeping things flexible,” the frontman says. “But I will say this: the fans in India can expect to rock out like never before when we hit that stage.”
In the meantime, South African fans will be able to see their favourite band in a new light when a documentary of Prime Circle’s 2009 Indian visit is made available later in 2010. The band is also working on new material for a studio album to follow-up their platinum-selling third release, ‘All Or Nothing’ which has delivered a brace of radio hits for the band.
For more details on Rock 'N India go to: http://www.rockinindia.com
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PRIME CIRCLE’S ALL OR NOTHING GOES PLATINUM
Hot on the heals of their hugely successful tour of India, South Africa’s premier rock band Prime Circle continue to celebrate with news that their third album and EMI debut All Or Nothing has just gone platinum
“We poured our hearts and souls into All or Nothing,” Lead singer Ross Learmonth says. “Having our South African fans confirm that what we believe is great, in buying the album, is testament enough to us that they’re enjoying what we do as much as we do.”
After nine years and three progressively strong albums behind them, the band comprising Learmonth on lead vocals and guitar, Dale Schnettler on drums, Dirk Bisschoff on lead guitar, Neil Breytenbach on keyboards and Marco Gomes on bass concur that their success is squarely attributed to their ever-growing and genuinely fanatical South African base.“
Never ones to suffer celebrity, Prime Circle has worked extremely hard in attaining impressive platinum sales. With a rigorous tour schedule that commenced with the 2008 release of All or Nothing, the band’s mission continues to be to take their music to as many people as time and distance will allow. “The hard work is paying off,” Dirk agrees. “Going platinum is a great pit stop for us to celebrate with our fans and it makes each of us only more passionate about taking what we do to the next level.”
“It’s the ultimate pat on the back,” Neil agrees with regards to their great sales success. “It was always on our agenda, but having another of our dreams realised rested squarely with the people who believe in us and celebrate the songs as much as we do – that’s what makes this landmark moment extraordinary!”
First came “Out of this Place” then “She Always Gets What She Wants”, but it was their third single “Consider Me” that has turned into a true anthem that the entire world can and is relating to on a multitude of levels. Just one week after Prime Circle returned from their groundbreaking Indian tour in late August, “Consider Me” went straight in at the top of the national chart there, followed one week later when South Africa responded, confirming the same much sought after accolade.
With a record label that supports the bands collective vision to captivate and entertain all who will hear has, between three monumental singles and equally compelling live performances Prime Circle has, in the words of Marco; “paid their school fees,” performed their final dress rehearsal and now, thanks to what their South African fans have afforded then, are ready to build on what is clearly a very solid foundation.
With still more singles to come from All or Nothing – never has an album title rung more true for a group humble, exceptionally hard working and truly gifted in the art of great musicianship.
Prime Circle is on the cusp of bigger things thanks to three equally compelling singles, platinum album sales and sold-out shows each time they step up to celebrate their place. “We do what we love,” Dale concludes, “and we intend capitalising on every drop of sweat and encore now, and well into the future.”
Rest assured the road ahead for Prime Circle is booked and confirmed to take modern rock to new heights – all you need to do is make sure you have front row seats as it happens.
For further information contact:
Franie Kotze @ Prime Circle Management @ franie@primecircle.co.za
Natasha Kok @ EMI Music on (011) 911 1518 or natashak@emimusic.co.za.
