CHVRCHES’ 2016 festival schedule continues to grow with their latest destination being Thrival Festival in Pittsburgh this September. This annual two-day music festival takes place at Carrie Furnaces in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from September 23-24, 2016.

Early bird 2-day passes are on sale now. More event information including ticketing can be found via the festival’s website.

CHVRCHES lead singer Lauren Mayberry and Glasgow crime writer Denise Mina joined staff and volunteers to kick off a fundraiser today in celebration of Glasgow Rape Crisis Centre’s 40th anniversary. Funds are being raised to cut waiting lists and increase drop-in sessions to help victims of sexual abuse receive the support they need.

Demand for such services have doubled over the past year with over 11,000 calls, emails, instant messages and texts for support last year. To meet this demand the fundraiser is seeking to raise £50,000.

At the kickoff event Mayberry said, “In situations like this, so many women and girls feel they don't have anyone to turn to or anyone who could even begin to understand their experience. The statistics on unreported rape and assault speak for themselves. Organizations like Glasgow Rape Crisis provide essential support and advice when it is really needed. I am proud to support Glasgow Rape Crisis and incredibly valuable work they do.” Listen to a short interview below with Lauren about this important cause and what is means to her.

To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/rapecrisiscentre

Billboard’s Chris Payne recently caught up with Lauren Mayberry, Martin Doherty and Iain Cook from CHVRCHES for a chat on the Alt In Our Stars podcast while at sea on the Parahoy cruise with Paramore.

A fun interview touching on topics including CHVRCHES’ shows and experiences while on Parahoy, their diverse and supportive fan base, dealing with internet trolls, ideas for new band merchandise, collaborating with Hayley Williams of Paramore, amusing fan observations and more!

Check out the podcast below and let us know what your favorite parts are.

CHVRCHES will host a special workshop in London on Wednesday, March 30th with students as part of the Albert Sessions initiative prior to their main stage debut at Royal Albert Hall the following evening.

CHVRCHES have an exciting session planned for attending students from the London area. Per the Royal Albert Hall, “the band will work with students on creating live music through electronics. They will explore instrumentation, structure, mix, effects and sampling techniques and lead vocalist Lauren Mayberry will talk about lyrics, top line syncopation and melody.”

Further event information can be found at www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/education/albert-sessions-chvrches-workshop

CHVRCHES will return to France for Rock en Seine this August! This annual three-day music festival takes place at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud just outside Paris from August 26-28, 2016. CHVRCHES are scheduled to perform on Sunday, August 28th.

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, March 24th at 10 AM via the festival’s website.

CHVRCHES will return to Pukkelpop Festival this August to the delight of those in Belgium. Sadly, last year they had to cut their set short due to technical issues. Although they don’t like to relive it Lauren Mayberry’s a cappella rendition of “The Mother We Share” was such a beautiful moment with everyone in ear shot singing right along with her. Ready to give fans a full show they return to Pukkelpop on Thursday, August 18th.

This annual music festival in Kiewit-Hasselt, Belgium runs from August 17-20, 2016. Tickets go on sale via the festival’s website at 1 PM on Wednesday, March 23rd.

If you’re headed to see CHVRCHES’ homecoming show in Glasgow on April 2nd then don’t miss the just announced after show! CHVRCHES along with The Twilight Sad and TYCI will be DJing at SWG3 in Glasgow from 10 PM to 2 AM. All proceeds go to Glasgow Women’s Aid.

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

From the first note to the last beat CHVRCHES put on a whirlwind of a show this past Sunday, March 13th, their first of two sold-out shows at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry’s silhouette with raised fist cast upon a beaming white light led the charge from the start with a lively version of “Never Ending Circles” to kick off the show flanked by band mates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty working their setup of samplers and synthesizers. Feeding off the energy of the crowd all three members enthusiastically gave back everything they had through “We Sink”, “Keep You On My Side” and “Make Them Gold” to round out the opening set of songs.

Following the openers the band took a quick break to converse with the crowd mentioning Chicago may very well be their most played city which Doherty loosely referred to on Twitter earlier in the day as their second home. The Chicago crowd responded with their thunderous approval. Delightful and funny, Mayberry chatted up the crowd several times throughout the show with entertaining banter about pun skills, a dream about being Justin Bieber’s emotional rock and a dislike for a certain presidential candidate named Trump.

Set to a backdrop of striking visuals from their lighting crew at Okulus, thumping bass, synthesizer bliss and magnificent vocals the trio from Glasgow, Scotland traded songs from both their 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe and their 2015 sophomore release Every Open Eye. Fist pumping, head banging, jumping and twirling about the stage Mayberry’s new found confidence on stage was fun to watch and truly inspiring. Her newly added V-drums for this tour are quite epic as well as she smashes her way through several songs that nicely incorporate them into the show.

Doherty also took his turn on lead vocals with the highly anticipated live debut of “High Enough To Carry You Over” much to the delight of the crowd followed by fan favorite dance fest “Under The Tide”.


Powerful hit singles “Recover”, “Leave A Trace” and a banger of a performance of “Clearest Blue” concluded the main set. With the crowd ready for more the band reemerged for an encore featuring a beautiful rendition of “Afterglow” followed by their sing along anthem “The Mother We Share” to close out the show.

Blazing through a mix of songs from both albums fans were left in a state or euphoria clamoring for more. Based on all the smiles we saw exciting the venue and into the night we assume many returned for their second sold-out show the following night also at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago.

We also had the honor of shooting the first few songs from this show. Take a look above at our album of wonderful photos captured by Kari Terzino Photography for Lauren Mayberry Fans.

Setlist

Never Ending Circles

We Sink

Keep You On My Side

Make Them Gold

Empty Threat

Tether

Playing Dead

Science/Visions

Gun

Bury It

High Enough To Carry You Over (live debut)

Under The Tide

Recover

Leave A Trace

Clearest Blue

Encore

Afterglow

The Mother We Share

CHVRCHES are the cover story for this week’s NME issue (March 11, 2016) titled, “A year on the road with CHVRCHES”. A great look behind the scenes of tour life with CHVRCHES as they traveled the corners of the world including North America, Europe, Australia and Asia in support of their sophomore album Every Open Eye. Included are some fantastic photos by tour photographer Rachael Wright to document their time on the road.

For those in the UK pick up a free copy this week at these locations. Download a digital copy and order print editions (coming soon) at http://www.nme.com/magazine/issue/a-year-on-the-road-with-chvrches

CHVRCHES will return to the Czech Republic this July for the music festival Rock for People. This annual music festival in Festival Park Hradec Králové is scheduled for July 3rd-5th. Get your dancing shows ready for this summer.

Tickets are available now via the festival’s website.