Maximo Park celebrate their return with a free charity show at the Newcastle College Performance Academy on March 24, 2009.

For those who weren't already aware - Maximo Park are back in 2009, and they are making a splash.

And, to celebrate their return, the band are set to play a very special show indeed on March 24th.

The gig is a strictly one-off, free event, and fittingly enough takes place at the Newcastle College Performance Academy, one of the UK's leading lights in performing arts, music and media, and home to a generation of aspiring musicians influenced by the band and their peers.

Wristbands will be available on the day and will be given away on a strictly first-come, first-served basis (one per person) so make sure you get there early!

Moreover, Maximo Park will even be signing 250 "Wraithlike" 7"s at the event - the only copies that will ever be available in the UK. Costing a minimum of £3 (fans will be welcome to donate more if they choose) all proceeds will go to their chosen charity No Surrender. The No Surrender Charitable Trust was set up by Jason Boas, a friend of the band who recently passed away, with the aim to support cancer sufferers all over the world through establishing a social network at www.no-surrender.org. This is a cause extremely close to the band's heart - last year, they organised a sell-out show with Mystery Jets, Blood Red Shoes and Pete and the Pirates at the Kentish Town Forum with all proceeds once again going to the charity.

All signs point to 2009 being Maximo Park's most exciting year yet. Case in point: "Wraithlike", the first teaser off Maximo Park's forthcoming third album, 'Quicken the Heart', was given its debut airing on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show on March 9, and such was Lowe's unbridled enthusiasm for the track that he played it twice, back to back: an almost unprecedented event. It is currently available as a free download (for a limited time) on the band's official website (www.maximopark.com), where downloads have already been in excess of 50,000 around the world and which will be available for 1 more week, as a very special gift to their fans, and to whet their appetites for the imminent new album to be released in the spring.

Produced by Nick Launay, 'Quicken the Heart' showcases another side of the band completely; one filled with a renewed sense of looseness, vim and vigour, and one which most certainly picks up the shiny pop baton and goes sprinting with it.

More information on the brand new album to be released very soon...so watch this space!

Maximo Park on amazon.com

Maximo Park on amazon.co.uk

Maximo Park Official Website