South African music giants, The Parlotones, are launching their new CD, Antiques & Artefacts, with a national tour of The Barnyard Theatres in April and May. Two years since the release of their last album, Stand Like Giants, this award-winning outfit will release their new album that will consist of a collection of tracks, compiled over a period of time at Belville Studios in Cape Town. With the band’s usual welcoming energy and style, Antiques & Artefacts will now take this quartet of friends on an altogether new journey. This is their first release, on their own, without any assistance from a label, and the album will be available exclusively at The Barnyard Theatres for the duration of the tour. During their career, The Parlotones have released seven full length studio albums, headlined the 20000-seater Coca-Cola Dome in their hometown, performed to an audience of a billion at the 2010 World Cup kick-off concert, and were handpicked by Coldplay to open the British band's stadium shows in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In 2011, The Parlotones staged an original rock theatre production, Dragonflies & Astronauts, which was broadcast live around the world in 3D via DIRECTV and in 2D on Facebook. They have toured extensively across Southern Africa, Europe, UK, America and have had a few visits to Japan, South America and Australia. Ever since these four school friends formed the band in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort in the late 90’s, they have always aspired not only to have fun making music, but also to give back to their community, and have been involved in a vast array of charitable events. The Parlotones consists of Kahn Morbee on lead vocals and guitar; Glenn Hodgson on bass, keyboard and vocals; Paul Hodgson on lead guitar and keyboard; and Neil Pauw on drums. They have been called Indie, Rock, Pop and Alternative. Take your pick. Besides newly released material from Antiques & Artefacts, Barnyard patrons can also expect to hear the hit songs that made the band famous, including Beautiful, Push Me To The Floor, Giant Mistake, I’m Only Human, Disappear Without A Trace, and Baby Be Mine in their show at the venues. The Barnyard Theatres have established themselves as hugely popular live-music venues with many of South Africa’s top bands and performers. Part of the appeal of The Barnyard Theatres for live music is they offer intimate venues with great sound and lighting. They also offer a laid-back environment where patrons are able to enjoy food and drinks before and during the show seated at tables and counters. Audience members can also meet the band in the bar after the show to buy paraphernalia (including the new CD exclusively) and get autographs. Tickets are R200 per person, and the list of show dates at The Barnyard Theatres throughout the country are as follows – 21 April Cresta (Randburg, Johannesurg) 22 April Parkview (Pretoria East) 24 April Emperor’s Palace (East Rand, Johannesburg) 25 April Rivonia (Sunninghill, Johannesburg) 10 May Willowbridge (Tyger Valley, Cape Town) 20 May Emperor’s Palace (East Rand, Johannesburg) 21 May Rivonia (Sunninghill, Johannesburg) 22 May Parkview (Pretoria East) 23 May Cresta (Randburg, Johannesurg) 28 & 29 May Gateway (Umhlanga, Durban) For more information on The Parlotones visit www.theparlotones.co.za, and for show information and bookings visit The Barnyards on www.barnyardtheatres.co.za.