We are delighted to have been announced as the special guests of Ride for their 30th anniversary acoustic show at St George's Church in Brighton on November 29th. 

We had the pleasure of playing with Ride earlier in the year at St Paul's in Worthing, and it was a great night - and fascinating to hear the Ride back catalogue performed unplugged.

This will be our last show of the year and it'll be a lovely way to sign off 2018 in a beautiful venue at what promises to be a very special night.

Buy tickets here and join the Facebook event 

You can buy our album here. Vinyl edition of 'We Are Millionaires' is coming out on December 11th, details to follow. 

'We Are Millionaires' Album of The Year 2017 roundup

As 2017 packs away it's belongings to make the journey into our memories, we have been delighted to discover that our album 'We Are Millionaires', released in the Summer has been included in a whole host of 'best of' end of year lists.

Guttingly, we were pipped to the post to the top spot by our very good friends Fujiya & Miyagi, with our #2 placing in Brighton Music Blog 

"Accomplished and powerful. The band describe their songs as being miserable, which you can’t deny, but there’s also a majesty to them too. Most of all though, they make it look effortlessly easy, which everyone knows is the really tricky bit. " 

We also got the silver medal from Say It With Garage Flowers who placed it at #2 together with one of our favourite descriptions of the album:  

"Like its predecessor, it’s full of deadpan humour and dry wit. With influences including John Barry, The Velvet Underground and Lee Hazlewood, and lyrical nods to movies The Third Man and The Birds, it’s like a soundtrack to an imaginary, downbeat, British, black and white kitchen sink-drama-meets spy-film – part Hancock, part Hitchcock – but this time around, there’s even some optimism"

We're #4 in the fabulously named Indie for Bunnies , #6 in Jesus MBA, #8 in Penny Black,  #15 in Platten Vor Gericht, #21 in Mitoca Discos Dual, #26 in Don’t Be Real Be Post Modern ("minor key, acoustic introspection done so beautifully it’s as if they’re singing to one another in the dustlight of a pub back room") and #53 best UK album (hmmm...not sure if that's a compliment or not) over at Cowboys & Indies who also had our bromantic track 'Let's Get Lost Together' in at  #33 in their Festive 50

Thanks to all who supported us - the journey doesn't end here with the album as we plan to promote further in 2018 , starting with a series of UK dates at the end of January.

29th Jan OXFORD, The Bullingdon
Facebook / Tickets

30th Jan WOLVERHAMPTON, Newhampton Arts Centre Facebook  / Tickets

31st Jan HEBDEN BRIDGE , Trades Club
Tickets

1st Feb GUISBOROUGH , Sitting Room
Tickets

3rd Feb COVENTRY Big Comfy Bookshop
Facebook  / Tickets

You can buy the album here

UK dates Jan/Feb 2018

Dusting off the winter blues, we're off playing some more live dates in the UK in January & February.

29th Jan OXFORD, The Bullingdon
Facebook / Tickets

30th Jan WOLVERHAMPTON, Newhampton Arts Centre Facebook  / Tickets

31st Jan HEBDEN BRIDGE , Trades Club
Tickets

1st Feb GUISBOROUGH , Sitting Room
Tickets

3rd Feb COVENTRY Big Comfy Bookshop
Facebook  / Tickets

'We Are Millionaires' will be released on vinyl in March with more live dates to follow.



Photo by Rob Kelly

We Are Millionaires album released 21st July

The new Pete Fij / Terry Bickers album 'We Are Millionaires' is released on July 21st on Broadcast, to some great reviews.

"Minor key, acoustic introspection (Hawley, Lloyd Cole-ish) done so beautifully it’s as if they’re singing to one another in the dustlight of a pub back room"| MOJO

"Unfailingly lovely late night reflections stalk the same territory as the third VU album, Richard Hawley, The Lilac Time, and ballad mode JAMC" UNCUT

"A sweetly gloomy affair. When opener Let’s Get Lost Together hails the duo’s chemistry with a hangdog gleam, it’s an uplifting reminder that it really is never too late to get your band together. " Q

The album on CD / download can be ordered here (we benefit the most if you order direct, though you can also get it from your local record shop, or from other online stores)

Pete & Terry are playing a series of dates

Sat 22nd July, WORTHING St Pauls
Tickets / Facebook

Tue 29th Aug, GUILDFORD The Star
Tickets / Facebook

Wed 30th Aug, BRIGHTON Rialto Theatre
Tickets / Facebook
** SOLD OUT **

Thur 31st Aug, LONDON Aces & Eights (Tufnell Park)
** SOLD OUT **

Fri 1st Sept, LONDON Aces & Eights
Tickets / Facebook
** SOLD OUT **

Autumn dates include:

Weds 25th October, CARDIFF, Gwdihw

Thurs 26th October, BEDFORD, Esquires

with further UK shows to be announced

Bickers & Fij UK Live Dates

Pete & Terry are playing a series of dates to celebrate the release of their second album 'We Are Millionaires' (released on 21st July on Broadcast)

Sat 22nd July, WORTHING St Pauls
Tickets / Facebook

Tue 29th Aug, GUILDFORD The Star
Tickets / Facebook

Wed 30th Aug, BRIGHTON Rialto Theatre
Tickets / Facebook

Thur 31st Aug, LONDON Aces & Eights (Tufnell Park)
** SOLD OUT **

Fri 1st Sept, LONDON Aces & Eights
Tickets / Facebook

Further UK dates will be announced in the Autumn

Kickstarter thanks

We are delighted to announce that our Kickstarter campaign for the new album ended with a fantastic £10,772 pledged.

Thankyou to all who have helped.

"I want to say sincere thanks to all those who have contributed to our album fund. I am extremely grateful for your generosity. If you bought an album as part of your pledge I hope that you get many hours of enjoyment listening to it." - Terry

 

"Wow, wow, and triple wow. I was initially wary about doing a Kickstarter thing, but there's a genuine connection with those who support us which means such a lot. I feel slightly humbled by people's generosity and kind words. A lot of love went into this album & it means an awful lot to me - I hope it will to you too" - Pete

The new album 'WE ARE MILLIONAIRES' is released in July

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers announce new album and Kickstarter Campaign

We're proud to announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of the new Pete Fij / Terry Bickers album 'We Are Millionaires', recorded at Church Road studios with 'Broken Heart Surgery' producer Julian Tardo.

Still drenched in melancholy, though this time with just a little pinch of hope, the album is due for release on 10th July 2017 on CD, vinyl & download.

To help fund it, there is a Kickstarter Campaign which aside the usual fare of CDs / vinyl / badges etc includes the opportunity to buy Terry Bickers' signed guitar strap, have a Skype chat with Pete, a Christmas card sent from the melancholy duo or have a song written and recorded by Pete & Terry all about you!

The Kickstarter campaign runs until Tuesday 16th May. Details can be found here.

Pete & Terry also now have a Twitter account as well as their Facebook Page

Details of UK live dates to follow

Bickers & Fij turn DJs

Pete & Terry take a break from recording their follow up album to 'Broken Heart Surgery' to DJ a night in Worthing at Coast on Saturday July 9th.

Mr Fij's club 'Never Stop' will feature a rare DJ set from Mr Bickers as the 2 play their favourite tracks from the 1980's, bookended by the very best of post-punk / new wave from the late 70's and the cream of early 90's indie/alternative.

You can join the Facebook event here or cut straight to the quick and buy tickets here from wegottickets.

Bickers & Fij November shows

"Remember, remember the 7th & 8th of November"

The Bickers & The Fij are off for a couple of dates in November as a kind of Bonfire Night weekend shindig.

First stop is Saturday 7th November at The Locomotive in Swindon where our they will be lighting the fuse, and then  standing a safe way away from a series of songs both old and new from the forthcoming album, currently in production.

The following day (Sunday 8th) they will be appearing at The Shiiine Weekender at Minehead where they will be launching a series of melancholic rockets alongside Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Wonderstuff, 808 State, The Wedding Present, Peter Hook, The Telescopes & Pat Nevin.

Don't forget to jump on board the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Facebook page where you can find regular updates of the recording of album #2

Bickers & Fij air new songs

Pete & Terry will be playing a short set at the always lovely Bleeding Hearts Club on Monday 13th July at the Rialto Theatre, Brighton.

They will be airing a selection of their new songs before they head to the studio later this month to begin work on album#2.

Tickets are available here

McCulloch & Bickers & Fij

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers have been announced as main support for the upcoming Ian Mcculloch show at the stunning St Paul's (pictured here) in Worthing this Saturday 21st March.

It's particularly apt for Worthingtonian Pete who recently cited 'Ocean Rain' as his all time favourite album in an interview for Louder Than War

Doors open at 7.30, with our melancholic duo on at 8pm.

A limited number of tickets are still available here. 
You can join the Facebook Event Page here

Copies of Pete Fij / Terry Bickers album 'Broken Heart Surgery' which topped 4 different critics' polls for album of the year in 2014 is available from Bandcamp and you can follow the duo's exploits via the medium of the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Facebook page or by following Pete on Twitter

Bickers & Fij go literary in London

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers are stretching their melancholic wings for their first engagement of 2015, as part of the Speaky Spokey literary cabaret night at Kings Place, London 5 minutes walk from Kings Cross & St Pancras station, on Monday 9th March at 7pm.

"Colonising England" is part of a night celebrating writers talking about their experiences growing up in England in the 1970's, and features Salena Godden recounting grwoing up in Hastings with a go-go dancing mother and Jazz musician father, Gabriel Gbadamosi reading from his autobiographical novel 'Vauxhall' - an evocative and witty tale of Irish tinkers, rag & bone men and Nigerian immigrants, living cheek-by-jowl in a south London slum & there is a dramatisation of Colin Grant's Pen Ackerly prize short-listed memoir, 'Bageye At The Wheel' with tales of all-weekend poker playing amongst Luton's rambunctious Jamaicans

Alongside playing their maudelin tunes, Pete & Terry will be discussing their experiences growing up in the 1970's both as part of and alongside immigrant communities. Tickets are £9.50 in advance and can be bought online here

Pete & Terry live on Facebook here, you can follow Pete on Twitter here and you can buy Pete Fij / Terry Bickers' album 'Broken Heart Surgery' that topped four citics's lists for album of 2014 here.

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers end a great 2014 with 'Album of The Year' awards

Well what a year it's been. Some five years in the making, and messers Bickers & Fij finally got 'Broken Heart Surgery' out, no small thanks to our fabulous Kickstarter supporters who helped make it happen.

Rave reviews, appearances on 'Radcliffe Maconie' on BBC 6Music, 'Loose Ends' on Radio 4, 'Sunday Brunch' on Channel 4, not mention single of the week on Steve Lamacq's 'Roundtable' show on 6Music and also single of the week on the Rebel Playlist meaning daytime plays on all the 6Music programmes. A sell out Moscow premier of the Bickers & Fij documentary, plus a plethora of UK shows with the bonus of many new friends along the way.

To top it 'Broken Heart Surgery' has been named 'ALBUM OF THE YEAR' in Porky's Prime Cuts, Say It With Garage Flowers, Pop Junkie London , and This Wreckage as well as appearing in lists in Alltag und kulture (in at #2) Rock N Roll Runner ( #6)  the Platten Vor Gericht (PVG) (#7), Isolation Records (#9),Unthought Of But Somehow (#16), Louder Than War (#33), Italian Troublezine & Pennyblack  amongst others.

Pete said "Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, to everyone who helped us get this far - we've been truely taken aback. We've started on the long road to recording the next album, and we aim not to take quite as long this time. We'd like to wish you all the very best for the coming year."

You can buy the album from the duo's Bandcamp page, including Pete's solo version of the album recorded a few years prior to Terry's involvement, and you can follow them on Facebook .

See you in 2015 for the next installment...

UK Premier at Cine-City for Bickers & Fij Doc

After the sell-out screening of the world premiere in Moscow for the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers documentary 'Various Songs'  (directed by Peter Bromley of the 1968 Film Group)  the film get's it's UK premiere at the Cine-City Film Festival in Brighton in November.

The film, made over a period of 18 months, features extensive interviews with Pete & Terry on the build up to the release of their debut album 'Broken Heart Surgery' as well insights from those around them from their past and present.

The UK premiere will take place on Monday 24th November at 7pm at The Sallis Benney Theatre in Brighton, and is part of the Cine-City Festival (which runs throughout Brighton from 20th November - 7th December). The screening will feature a short acoustic set from messers Bickers & Fij which will be their last live appearance in what has been a very eventful 2014. Tickets are available here

You can buy the album 'Broken Heart Surgery' from the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Bandcamp site, and you can keep up to date with all things to do with the melancholy duo via their Facebook page and/or  you can follow Pete on Twitter

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers gets World Premiere in Moscow

The documentary on messers Bickers & Fij  'Various Songs' is to get it's world premiere at the New British Film Festival in Moscow on Sunday November 2nd. For Russian speakers amongst you , or those of you who are interested what 'Pete Fij / Terry Bickers' looks like when written in Russian, click here


The fruit of 18 months work by documentary film maker Peter Bromley of the 1968 Film Group , it follows the duo as they prepare to launch their debut album 'Broken Heart Surgery' and features interviews with them, as well as those around them who have had a role in their musical life.

The film will have it's UK premiere later this year, with further selected UK screenings anticipated in 2015.

You can buy the album 'Broken Heart Surgery' from the Pete Fij Terry Bickers Bandcamp page, you can follow further details about the two via their facebook page, and you can follow Pete on twitter.

Live Filmed Bowlegs Session

Everyone's favourite downbeat deadbeats have gone melancholy in monochrome in a fabulous live filmed session, captured in stunning black and white by the marvellous Bowlegs Music Review.

You can catch the two looking very Country & Western in a live studio recording of 'The Sound Of Love' by clicking here


The album has been recently voted in the Top 12 best break up albums ever is available from the Bickers & Fij Bandcamp page, as well as other well known online retailers and download sites, as well as local UK record emporiums.

You can follow all things to do with the duo on their Facebook page

On The Road Again

After the success of their sell out shows to coincide with the release of 'Broken Heart Surgery', the Bickers & the Fij hit the road again this Autumn with a series of UK dates.

B&F will also be supporting TPOBPAT (aka The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart) at their Brighton show on Saturday 9th. You can get in to the show at a reduced price of £8 + booking fee (£5 off the normal ticket price) by clicking here. THPOBPAT have cited both Pete & Terry as influences on their music.

Pete Fij / Terry Bickers headlining shows:

Thur 4th Sept NORTHAMPTON - NN Cafe
Fri 5th Sept HEBDEN BRIDGE - Trades Club
Sun 28th Sept COLCHESTER- Arts Centre
Thurs 9th Oct LEEDS - Santiago Bar
Fri 10th Oct STOCKTON - Green Room
Thurs 6th Nov LEICESTER - Firebug


They hope to add to this list of Autumn shows, and are still taking bookings, so drop us a line if you fancy having the duo bring the mood down.

Pete & Terry will also be playing a handful of private house parties - and are available for bookings. Probably not weddings, but divorce celebrations might be apt.

'Broken Heart Surgery' is available from Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Bandcamp page as download or CD, plus from your usual online retailers, as well as UK record stores, distributed by Republic Of Music.

Keep up to date about new shows, and all things Pete Fij / Terry Bickers - shaped on their Facebook page.

Photo Credit - Matt Hainsby

'Broken Heart Surgery' out to rave reviews!

What a month it's been!

'Broken Heart Surgery' was released on July 7th and has met with a very positive reaction - here is a quick(ish) summary of our reviews

The Guardian called it "a gently melancholic album that's really rather lovely" whilst Q magazine described it as "a sparse, rather lovely album. Bickers' playing is a masterclass, while Fij's voice has the fragile, worldly wise tenor of Richard Hawley or Ian McCulloch" and Mojo had it down as a "gorgeous set of bruised mid-life ballads."

On-line 'Broken Heart Surgery' has already made an all time top 12 line-up courtesy of this Brandish list of All-Time Top 12 Break Up Albums, nestling alongside the likes of Adele, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Lykke Li & Fleetwood Mac "...a decade in the making and the finished result is a work of exquisitely melancholic, stripped-down songwriting". Backseat Mafia has the album down as an  8.9/10 (so close to a 9 damn it!), describing it as "funny, poignant, clever and, frankly, beautiful"; Jon Robb writing in Louderthanwar said that 'Broken Heart Surgery' was "One of the most captivating albums of the year...a back from the dead triumph", Pennyblack thought " Pete Fij has a great vocal talent, which recalls in it's cheeriness Damon Albarn of Blur...while Bickers' guitar work shines like rough diamonds in the Brighton sunshine". Isolation Records said of the album "There are no weak moments here - this is about as a complete a collection as you would ever want to hear", Say It With Flowers has it down as "One of the best albums of 2014, ... With nods to Johnny Cash, Spiritualized and John Barry it’s raw, deeply personal,  melancholy and cinematic, but also has plenty of gallows humour and deadpan wit."  whilst A Musical Prioirty also marks it out  as a contender for album of the year describing it as "A Masterpiece".

On radio messers Bickers & Fij won the Roundtable Review Show 'Single of the Week' for Out Of Time, getting both the nods from the panel and the listners alike; the listeners of BB6Music also voted overwhelmingly for Out Of Time to win the Rebel Playlist, ensuring daytime plays on Shaun Keavney, Lauren Lavern, Radcliffe Maconie and Steve Lamacq, as well as plays on Gideon Coe, Janice Long (Radio 2) and Huey Morgan (Radio2). Our two downbeat mariachi's were guests on Radio 4's 'Loose Ends', and on TV the video for Out Of Time was shown on Channel Four's 'Sunday Brunch'.

The Bickers & Fij tour bus did a quick trip round 5 dates, playing to sell out shows and a great review in louderthanwar - "Reminiscent of the Bad Seeds at their most gentle and remorseful. It sounds like the Velvets brought up on the streets of a seventies British town. The sound of the Beach Boys lost at sea... Broken Heart Surgery is a gentle maudelin classic in the making", whilst brumlive said "It's easy to see why they are so successful", whilst highlighting a third member of the duo who stole the limelight.

The album is available as a CD or download from Pete & Terry's bandcamp page (and you get the envelope hand-addressed by Pete!), you can also purchase from  i-tunes, amazon,
 as well as a whole host of online stores. It is distributed in UK by Republic Of Music, who supply independent and national record stores.

More UK dates are planned for the Autumn and will be announced shortly.

Thank you for all your help and support in helping us get this far. Keep track of what is going on in Pete Fij / Terry Bickers' world by liking the Facebook page or following Pete on Twitter

It's Party (Out Of) Time - Single released

'Out Of Time' is released today (30th June), and the boys are parting like it's 1999 to celebrate.  

The single, which won 6Music Rebel Playlist listener vote, as well as winning both the panel and listener vote on Steve Lamacq's Roundtable review show, and was listed as 'song of the year on A Musical Priority is avalable on i-tunes & amazon as well as the duo's own bandcamp page for download.

Watch the Pete Fij -directed video here  As the duo party like only they know how. Warn the neighbours, alert the police and get ready for a Bickers & Fij party like no other! By the looks of it, the morning after is going to be frail

You can now pre-order the CD album of 'broken Heart Surgery'  with immediate download from our bandcamp page & you can join in the knees-up celebration with the party-loving duo at their live dates in July:

2nd Worthing
3rd Brighton
16th London
22nd Norwich
23rd Coventry 

 

Support on all shows is from I Am Ampersand the alter ego of Fujiya & Miyagi's Matt Hainsby

 

Join the Pete & Terry on Facebook to be kept up to date on all things Bickers & Fij-shaped. 

Donnie Darko's rabbit to the rescue

Sometimes help comes in the most unusual of forms. It has transpired that one of the Kickstarter guardian angels who came to assist Pete & Terry is a genuine screen icon - none other than Frank - the giant 7 foot rabbit from the cult film 'Donnie Darko'.

 Actor James Duval who played the menacing rodent in the 2001 classic, was one of those who pledged money for Bickers & Fij to help make the album, and his name appears in the credits of 'Broken Heart Surgery'. 
 

Terry Bickers (6 foot 1") said "We'll try to see if we can get Frank the rabbit to appear in our next video, lurking behind us in the shadows" whilst Pete (5 foot 9") added "We knew that our music appealed to the lost and the lonely-hearted ; we can now add malevolent giant rabbits to that list"

You can now order the album from our the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Bandcamp page. If you pre-order the album you will recieve an immediate download of the album, and the CD will be sent to your letterbox on release.

You can catch the duo, (or trio if Frank turns up) at their live UK shows in July:

 Wed 2nd Worthing, Persia Bar, Grand Victorian Hotel
Thur 3rd  Brighton Komedia, Studio Bar
Wed 16th  London St Pancras Old Church
Wed 22nd Norwich Bicycle Shop
Thur 23rd July Coventry The Tin Music & Arts Centre

Support from all shows will come from I Am Ampersand - the superb side project of Fujiya & Miyagi bassist Matt Hainsby 

Watch Pete & Terry's video for the forthcoming single 'Out Of Time' here

You can keep uptodate by liking the Pete Fij / Terry Bickers Facebook page & you can follow Pete on Twitter

Photo Credit: Michael Arvis Ocker