Tyne and Wear Born and Bred fivesome Maximo Park return home to celebrate the launch of their new album Quicken The Heart, which has just been released, and to also spend some quality time in the beloved town they grew up in. The album, already hailed as their most accomplished, most fully skilled work to date, the band are justifiably proud of themselves and their new record and want their fans, friends and family to experience it firsthand. The excitement begins at 8pm, where to kick everything off the 68minute film Monument was shown. The majority was shot at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena where they played a sold out show in 2007 and the remainder was the band’s own commentary; this was the films first and last public screening ever. And if that wasn’t enough excitement, the select crowd of only 120 VIPs’ moved swiftly onto the dance floor to hear the band play a very special, extremely intimate live performance. Maximo Park played their whole new album front to back whilst engaging in lots of warm friendly chat with the audience. They also added in a few extra favourites at the end such as I Want You To Stay which was a hidden message from the crowd to the band, and not forgetting they showcased a comical cover of track Just Dance by Lady Gaga which the audience adored. This was a fine way indeed to kick-start what is sure to be an extraordinary new step in Maximo Park’s already dazzling career.

By Sophie Stratford