In scenes reminiscent of the kind of hysteria that greeted the announcement of the last tour of the same name, The Upper 5th are delighted to announce and confirm a series of gigs around the UK that will be used to promote their recently released debut CD, “Take the Fifth”.

The 2009 “Take the Fifth Tour” kicked off at the Mods Mayday 2009, held in Birmingham across the weekend of 1-3 May at the Sound Bar, where they played a storming set to a packed crowd.

An ep has also been released to support Mods Mayday 2009, to which The Upper 5th have contributed “OK, all right & that’s all” from their catalogue, and according to reports stocks have all but sold out, such is the demand.

The second gig of the tour saw The Upper 5th return to the Sound Bar in Birmingham as the main act on Saturday 13th June, supported by two local bands. This is followed the next weekend by the Run to the Races weekend in Cheltenham on Saturday 20th June at Cheltenham Rugby Club.

This is followed by the Run to the Scrum 3 Scooter rally for the second year running, which is being held on the weekend of 24-25 July at Burntwood RFC.

In August the band will make a welcome return to London to play In the City on 8th August at the Fiddlers Elbow in Camden Town.

Then September sees the band play the Small Faces Convention at the O2 Academy in Islington on 20th September, for which The Upper 5th are promising something extra special for their fans.

The Upper 5th’s engine room consists of hardened souls and seasoned journeyman. Vocalist and guitarist Mark “Syd” McGounden, (formerly of Makin’ Time), Mick Couch on bass/vocals, Andy Axberg on Hammond Organ/Piano and completing the pack Kevin “Toppo” Topping on drums, a foursome true to each other.

At the same time their debut offering, “Take the Fifth, continues to sell well through www.ebay.co.uk and iTunes, gathering rave reviews in Scootering and Shindig magazines. Music Website Mojophenia referred to us as, “Beat music for sweaty basement clubs, sharp tailored shirts and the knowing jokers. The shakers and makers of fuzzy R&B/Garage with a souled up hammond gives the first chord change a license to stop your vital organs at twenty paces. The Upper Fifth are indeed the genuine article.”

Tracks from the CD have also recently been aired on the British Breakfast programme on Radio Virginia in the USA, and on Spencer Leigh’s programme on BBC Radio Merseyside.

For the latest news on The Upper 5th visit: www.myspace.com/theupper5th

OK, all right & that’s all for now.

Andy Scott, Manager, The Upper 5th.