WIGAN’S upcoming indie popsters The Lathums, who reached no.14 in the UK Album Chart in July with their yellow-vinyl compilation The Memories We Make, have decided to give something back to the town where they grew up.
With hometown football club Wigan Athletic entering the troubled waters of administration – those glory days of beating the goliath of Manchester City to the 2013 FA Cup suddenly seeming a long time ago – they’ve decided to record their version of serpentine northern soul all-time classic “The Snake” in a bid to raise funds for the proposed community buyout.
And here’s the catch: their version of the slithery groover is being pressed to vinyl in an edition of one only. Yes, you read that right. One.
In order to be in with a chance to get anywhere the solitary 7″, you must purchase a raffle ticket for the Wigan Athletic Football Club buyout fund.
The eventual owner of the solitary record will have the opportunity to hear it forever, but all other fans will have to make do with stolen moments leaked by the band on social media to support the fundraising push.
A future release in any format has been ruled out entirely.
Lathums singer-songwriter Alex Moore says: “My life isn’t football at all, but I understand how important for my hometown it is to have Wigan Athletic survive.
“It’s not the fan’s fault, nor that of staff who face a loss of wages or worse, that so many bad decisions are made about who owns and runs football clubs.
“Like music, football makes memories for generations of people, their lives intertwined by the game. Even non-football fans must know how important it is.”
There’s a short video at the end explaining the band’s support for the Latics – and you can hear snatches of their version!
To be in with a chance of winning the one-off copy of The Lathums’ The Snake visit the band’s website, here. Raffle tickets cost £5 each; the draw will be made on Monday, November 9th.
Originally released in 1968 by Al Wilson, “The Snake” gained legendary status on the floors of the Wigan Casino and was chosen by the band as being synonymous with their hometown.
Tickets for the band’s first UK headlining tour are flying out, with dates now fully booked – be quick if you’re in Scotland or Ireland! Dates are as follows:
Thursday, April 22nd, Hull, Social, SOLD OUT
Friday, April 23rd, Manchester, O2 Ritz, SOLD OUT
Saturday April 24th, Stoke, Sugarmill, SOLD OUT
Thursday, April 29th, Glasgow, Garage, SOLD OUT
Friday, April 30th, Sheffield, University Foundry, SOLD OUT
Saturday, May 1st, Newcastle, Riverside, SOLD OUT
Tuesday, May 4th, Nottingham, Rescue Rooms, SOLD OUT
Wednesday, May 5th, Birmingham, O2 Institute 2, SOLD OUT
Friday, May 7th, Leicester, O2 Academy 2, SOLD OUT
Saturday, May 8th, Leeds, Beckett Students Union, SOLD OUT
Sunday, May 9th, Cardiff, Globe, SOLD OUT
Tuesday, May 11th, Oxford, O2 Academy 2, SOLD OUT
Wednesday, May 12th, London, Electric Ballroom, SOLD OUT
Tuesday, June 1st, Edinburgh, Liquid Room, SOLD OUT
Thursday, June 3rd, Dunfermline, PJ Molly’s, SOLD OUT
Friday, June 4th, Dundee, Fat Sam’s
Saturday, June 5th, Aberdeen, The Lemon Tree
Tuesday, June 8th, Belfast, Limelight 2
Thursday, June 10th, Dublin, The Academy
Friday, June 11th, Galway, The Róisín Dubh
Saturday, June 12th, Limerick, Dolan’s Warehouse
The Lathums have also confirmed a run of rescheduled support dates with Blossoms and Paul Weller. For more on the tours, visit the band’s website.
Follow The Lathums on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.
