Altern-8

**Dance. Rave. Full-On Mask Hysteria.**

Manchester? Detroit? Forget it. For a brief time the sleepy market town of Stafford was the epicentre of UK dance music thanks to Altern 8. Formed in 1990, Altern 8, comprising Mark Archer and Chris Peat, were the right band at the right time with all the right noises and a joyous, eclectic mix of influences.

Decked out in chemical warfare suits and dust masks, these Vicks-smeared, air-horn honking maestros of rave hit number 3 in the UK singles chart with ‘Activ-8 (Come With Me)’ in 1991. They made the big-time- storming Top of the Pops and gracing hallowed pages of Smash Hits! With more hits and the Top 10 album Full-On Mask Hysteria, the unlikely Stafford lads jetted around the globe with the likes of Moby, capturing the imaginations of ravers everywhere.

Fast forward to 2025 and celebr8 35 years of the band when Archer, who still wears his famous luminous mask as the resurrected Altern8, plays Gateshead. It’s going to get emotional.

Presented by The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult