Maxïmo Park

In the organizer's words:

Maxïmo Park celebrate 20 years of "A Certain Trigger" with five shows in Germany in March

Presented by event., egoFM and curt

It is rightly regarded as one of the most outstanding debut albums of the 2000s - if not ever: with "A Certain Trigger", Maxïmo Park shook up the British music scene like hardly any other band. The mix of unadulterated punk attitude, irresistible pop melodies, the distinctive accent and, above all, a lot of energy made the album an instant classic. Now the album is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The story begins in sleepy Newcastle at the turn of the millennium: Guitarist Duncan Lloyd came together with drummer Tom English, bassist Archis Tiku and keyboardist Lukas Wooller to form the band and found the perfect namesake in Máximo Gómez Park in Miami. What was still missing? A charismatic frontman - which they finally discovered in Paul Smith, who won them over in a small bar with his version of a Stevie Wonder song. After a self-released 7-inch vinyl, they quickly attracted the attention of Warp Records, a label otherwise known for electronic music. Their debut album "A Certain Trigger" was released in 2005 and immediately entered the top 15 of the British charts, reaching platinum status and selling over half a million copies to date. Singles such as "Apply Some Pressure" and "Graffiti" are still anthems of the golden indie disco era of the noughties.
The well-read outsiders had finally arrived on the British indie pop scene - and followed it up in 2007 with "Our Earthly Pleasures". With "Quicken the Heart" (2009) and "The National Health" (2012), Maxïmo Park played their way back into the Top 15 and finally into the hearts of their fans. In 2014, they opened the next chapter in their band's history with "Too Much Information". Their lyrics were always introspective, sometimes political, sometimes poetic and always characterized by the everyday lives of ordinary people and the melancholy view of life in an often bleak hometown. After the political upheavals of 2016, the band became even more outspoken: with "Risk to Exist", they made an open, political statement in 2017.
After bassist Archis Tiku and keyboardist Lukas Wooller left the band for personal reasons, the band continued as a trio. Paul Smith's experiences as a father led the band to the thoughtful, very personal albums "Nature Always Wins" (2021) and "Stream of Life" (2014), without losing their unmistakable, charming British pop sound. Now the time has come: "A Certain Trigger" is 20 years old and it's time to celebrate! At the end of October, the legendary album will be released as a reissue with rarities and B-sides. The big anniversary tour will then follow in spring 2026: special guests will be Art Brut, whose new wave sound is a perfect fit for the indie revival of the 2000s. The anniversary will also be celebrated in Germany: Five dates are on the schedule - with songs from "A Certain Trigger", plus the greatest hits and fan favorites from two decades of the band's history.