First week sales numbers for Black Thorn have also pushed the album into the Billboard Top 200 at #160, the Billboard Top Independent Current Albums Chart at #17, Top Alternative Rock Chart at #29, Top Rock Chart at #43, Top Current Albums Chart at #143 and Top Internet Sales Charts.

As 2010 marks the 10-year anniversary for FLATFOOT 56, the new album compacts the band’s celebrated history of eclectic and driving musical charge into thirteen tracks that highlight the pride of the working class and their Chicago roots. The release of BLACK THORN has sent a tidal wave of energy from FLATFOOT 56’s international mob following while being matched with positive critical acclaim:

ALTERNATIVE PRESS: “There are bagpipes and mandolin gilded to the hard-charging chassis, but these 10-year Chicago scene vets know how to play, and even better, pen suitably triumphant songs awash in resilient spirit.” (April 2010)

HM MAGAZINE: “Black Thorn jigs, pulses, sways, mesmerizes and kicks up the heels – sometimes all within the same song structure.” (March/April 2010)

PUNK ROCK REVIEW: “Black Thorn is filled to the rim with Celtic influenced, high intensity gang vocal laden, heavy hitting song after song…Each intricate musical piece of this band is perfectly combined.” (March 2010)

DYING SCENE: “It is no wonder that FLATFOOT 56 has risen above the rest and gained the notoriety they so rightfully deserve.” 5 out of 5 stars! (April 2010)

Last week, FLATFOOT 56 celebrated the arrival of their new album with a sold-out west coast album release party in Fullerton, California. This Saturday, April 10, the band will throw multiple hometown album release celebrations, including an acoustic performance and meet & greet at Record Breakers (2105 S State St, Chicago; 6:00PM), an album release party and performance at Reggie’s (2109 S State St, Chicago; 7:00PM) and ‘Black Thorn’ After Party at Reggie’s Music Joint (2105 S State St, Chicago; 11:00PM).

To continue their onslaught throughout 2010, FLATFOOT 56 has also announced a year full of tour dates, including the Vans Warped Tour this summer and special festival appearances across the globe, including Cornerstone, Spirit West Coast, SoulFest, Irish 2000 Festival and a slew of others. Complete upcoming tour dates include:

Date Venue Name City State
4/10/10 Record Breakers (CD RELEASE MEET & GREET) Chicago Illinois
4/10/10 Reggies Rock Club ('BLACK THORN' CD RELEASE CONCERT) Chicago Illinois
4/10/10 Reggies Music Joint ('BLACK THORN' AFTERPARTY) Chicago Illinois
5/6/10 Western Illinois University (Corbinstock 2010) Macomb Illinois
5/7/10 Knickerbockers Lincoln Nebraska
5/8/10 Gio's Event Center (PRESENTED BY DIVE 95.9FM) South Moorehead Minnesota
5/20/10 Black Sheep Cafe Springfield Illinois
5/21/10 HeBrews Coffee & Music Leo Indiana
5/22/10 ONE HEART FEST at the BUS BARN Terre Haute Indiana
6/2/10 Studio Seven Seattle Washington
6/29/10 Cornerstone Festival Marietta Illinois
7/1/10 Cornerstone Festival 2010 Bushnell Illinois
7/3/10 Spirit West Coast - Monterey Salinas California
7/11/10 The Comcast Theater (WARPED TOUR) Hartford Connecticut
7/13/10 Comcast Center (WARPED TOUR) Mansfield Massachusetts
7/14/10 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center (WARPED TOUR) Darien Center New York
7/15/10 Toyota Pavilion (WARPED TOUR) Scranton Pennsylvania
7/16/10 The Susquehanna Bank Center (WARPED TOUR) Camden New Jersey
7/17/10 Nassau Coliseum (WARPED TOUR) Uniondale New York
7/18/10 Monmouth Park Racetrack (WARPED TOUR) Oceanport New Jersey
7/20/10 Merriweather Post Pavilion (WARPED TOUR) Columbia Maryland
7/21/10 Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) Virginia Beach Virginia
7/22/10 Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) Charlotte North Carolina
7/23/10 Vinoy Park (WARPED TOUR) St. Petersburg Florida
7/24/10 Cruzan Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) West Palm Beach Florida
7/25/10 Firestone Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) Orlando Florida
7/26/10 Lakewood Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) Atlanta Georgia
7/28/10 Riverbend Music Center (WARPED TOUR) Cincinnati Ohio
7/29/10 Marcus Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) Milwaukee Wisconsin
7/30/10 Comerica Park (WARPED TOUR) Detroit Michigan
7/31/10 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre (WARPED TOUR) Tinley Park Illinois
8/1/10 Canterbury Park (WARPED TOUR) Shakopee Minnesota
8/2/10 Sandstone Amphitheater (WARPED TOUR) Bonner Springs Kansas
8/7/10 SoulFest 2010 Gilford New Hampshire
8/13/10 Cup O' Joy Green Bay Wisconsin
8/21/10 Xnoizz Flevo Festival Utrecht Netherlands
8/27/10 Viper Room w/ THE BRIGGS Wien Austria
8/27/10 AJZ w/ THE BRIGGS Chemnitz Germany
9/2/10 Dynamo Jugendkulturhaus w/ THE BRIGGS Zürich Switzerland
9/3/10 Stoffel w/ THE BRIGGS Widnau Switzerland
9/7/10 Béi Chéz Heinz w/ THE BRIGGS Hannover Germany
9/9/10 Feierwerk w/ THE BRIGGS Munich Germany
9/10/10 Club Vaudeville w/ THE BRIGGS Lindau Germany
9/11/10 JUZ Bad Hersfeld Germany
9/17/10 IRISH 2000 FEST Ballston Spa New York
9/18/10 IRISH 2000 FEST Ballston Spa New York