Wolverhampton show Saturday 21 September 2019, plus Songwriting Workshop
New Album released Friday 6 September 2019
Acclaimed Ivor Novello Award nominated English singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine heads to Wolverhampton’s Newhampton Arts Centre on Saturday 21 September 2019.
The appearance, for which he’ll be joined by Black Country artist Dan Whitehouse, coincides with the release of Boo’s latest album, Before (Reveal Records, out 6 September 2019).
The new recordings on Before are a perfect contrast of mood and theme to the gloriously rich, full band pop sound of Boo’s 2017’s acclaimed Swimming In Mercury album. It finds him focussed on the art of reduction, consumed by fine details and found sounds, songs where the fragility and beauty of life are laid bare with a stark emotive honesty.
The 18-track Before was recorded in the first weeks of 2019, with supreme Danish multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljungren Boo’s only collaborator on the set. Whilst this is an album for the times (that echoes the darkness and confusion in Europe surrounding its pre-Brexit conception) Before is also a timely reminder of the power of simplicity, Hewerdine’s lyricism set to a subtle backdrop of vintage instrumentation.
“My producer and studio partner Chris Pepper found a Dulcitone last year. A century old keyboard that strikes tuning forks with felt hammers. I fell in love with its delicate sound straight away,” says Boo. “We then came by an Indian harmonium, a Vibraphone and several other unusual instruments. My father’s old piano lives in the studio. Using these (and no guitars) I started recording with little intention this would become an album.
“Since Swimming In Mercury was released in 2017, I have been writing, recording and touring with Eddi Reader, Chris Difford, Kris Drever and Emily Barker among others. I love this! All my significant friendships have come through collaborative creativity. I realised that another friend Gustaf Ljunggren from Copenhagen, also has an amazing collection of strange instruments, so I asked him to react to my new recordings and augment them instinctively.
“He has a unique approach to instrumentation and always offers the song something unexpected (we first worked together on the album Anon back in 2002) I really trust him!”
The minimal approach to music-making is reflected in Before‘s stark artwork.
“I love the painting Cracked Ice by Maruyama Okyo, an incredibly sparse work from the 18th century that looks like it could have been created now. It was always in my mind during the writing and so I asked The British Museum and they let me use the artwork on the cover of Before.”
Alongside his collaborations with Eddi Reader, Chris Difford, American songwriter Darden Smith, and many others, Boo has also been working with Dan Whitehouse on his forthcoming album – due for release next year via Reveal.
Dan will be performing his own set (including several new songs) and joining Boo on stage, while both songwriters will be leading a special songwriting workshop in the afternoon of the gig.
Boo Hewerdine, plus Dan Whitehouse, appear at Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV14AN on Saturday 21 September 2019. For tickets, more information, and workshop bookings, see: www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
LISTINGS
Saturday 21 September 2019
Boo Hewerdine
With Dan Whitehouse
Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV14AN
Tel: 01902 572090
8pm
£12.50 (adv)
Age limit: 14+
www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
Saturday 21 September 2019
Songwriting Workshop
Lead by singer songwriter Boo Hewerdine and Dan Whitehouse this is a songwriting workshop designed to unlock writer’s block and provide stimulus and motivation to generate new and original raw material.
Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV14AN
Tel: 01902 572090
3pm
£10
www.newhamptonarts.co.uk
NOTES
For more information on Boo Hewerdine, see: www.boohewerdine.net
For more information on Dan Whitehouse, see: www.dan-whitehouse.com
Boo Hewerdine is available for selected interviews.
MEDIA CONTACT
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