Passion Pit join Rob da Bank & Friends UK tour

PASSION PIT have been announced as headliner on the first Rob da Bank & Friends UK tour. The hotly-tipped US band have been championed by Rob da Bank on his BBC Radio 1 show of the same name and have emerged as one of the 'most likely to' acts of 2009. These dates will be the first opportunity to see Passion Pit on tour supporting the release of their debut record.

The tour, which takes place in May, will include a special London date at legendary club Heaven, as well as regional shows in Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol and Southampton, Rob da Bank's hometown.

Speaking about the tour, Rob da Bank states: "I'm delighted to be taking Passion Pit out on the road for my Rob da Bank & Friends tour. They are my top tip for 2009 and I have been playing them on BBC Radio 1 for months. And after seeing them at CMJ last year, I can safely say this will be a rare opportunity to see them playing in small venues in this country."

Michael Angelakos from the band said of the tour: "We are thrilled to be headlining the Rob da Bank & Friends tour. Rob has been such a huge supporter early on for the band and we are excited to be sharing the same stage with him." Passion Pit's debut album, "Manners", is out May 18 on Columbia UK/ Frenckiss. Passion Pit will also perform at Rob da Bank's Bestival festival on the Isle of Wight on September 11.

The live support act on the tour is Ebony Bones, the red-hot signing to Rob's own Sunday Best record label. The artist, descrbibed by the NME as 'the alchemical result of setting MIA and Santogold on fire" and "Screamin' Jay Hawkins at the Rio Carnival", sees her first single out on the label in May, titled, "The Musik". Rob da Bank will DJ at every date, along with Sunday Best label signing dan le sac, whose DJ sets are becoming more and more in-demand whilst him and partner Scroobius Pip write their second album for the label.

ROB DA BANK & FRIENDS full tour dates in May:

09 - Trinity Ball, Dublin (*not including Passion Pit / www.trinityball.ie)
11 - MOHO, Manchester
12 - The Leadmill, Sheffield
13 - Heaven, London
14 - Orange Rooms, Southampton
16 - O2 Academy, Bristol (including DJ Yoda and DJ Derek)
Passion Pit also play Brighton's Great Escape festival on May 15.

'MANNERS' is released on May 18th on Columbia Records.