15 February 2018

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Sometimes Just The Sky album celebrates Mary Chapin Carpenter’s acclaimed 30- year recording career

Mary Chapin Carpenter’s anticipated new album, Sometimes Just The Sky, will be released in March on Thirty Tigers. A celebration of her acclaimed 30-year recording career, the landmark record features new versions of some of Carpenter’s most beloved songs as well as one newly written song, which became the title track.  In celebration of the release, Carpenter will embark on a UK tour in May. Special guest on the shows (except Worthing) will be Emily Barker, winner of the UK Artist of the Year award at the recent UK Americana Awards. Over the course of her acclaimed career, Carpenter has sold over 14 million records. With hits like Passionate Kisses and He Thinks He’ll Keep Her’, she has won five Grammy Awards (with 15 nominations), two CMA awards, two Academy of Country Music awards and is one of only fifteen female members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Paul McCartney, Ray LaMontagne), the 13-track album was recorded entirely live at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios outside Bath, England. Joined by long-time collaborator Duke Levine on guitar and a handpicked band of Johns’ favourite musicians, Carpenter reimagined one song from each of her twelve studio albums along with Sometimes Just The Sky. See below for complete track list. On the album title and newest song Carpenter says, ‘I read a beautiful interview with Patti Smith in which she said that you don’t have to look far or wide, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive or madness in order to find things to soothe you in life, or to be happy about. Sometimes just the sky makes everything fall into perspective.’ Most recently, in 2016, Carpenter released ‘The Things That We Are Made Of’. Produced by Grammy Award winning producer Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton), the album features eleven new songs and was released to overwhelming critical praise. The Associated Press called it, ‘an evocative collection of songs’, while The HuffPost declared, ‘Carpenter is now at the height of her musical career, painting a compelling, relevant piece of art tinged with mixed feelings of grief and joy, all without preaching or darkening our minds with sadness’.   MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER + EMILY BARKER   LONDON Barbican, Tuesday 15 May & on tour across the UK   Monday 7 May GATESHEAD Sage Gateshead Tuesday 8 May GLASGOW Royal Concert Hall Wednesday 9 May BIRMINGHAM Town Hall Friday 11 May BASINGSTOKE The Anvil Saturday 12 May WORTHING Assembly Hall (without Emily Barker) Monday 14 May CANTERBURY Marlowe Theatre Wednesday 16 May BATH Forum (as part of Bath Festival) Thursday 17 May NORWICH Theatre Royal (as part of Norfolk & Norwich Festival)   Bookings and more information: serious.org.uk/marychapin

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Revival by Jenn Bostic

Jenn Bostic tour kicks off this month with REVIVAL album following suit!

On May 4th, the critically acclaimed U.S. singer songwriter Jenn Bostic returns with her beautiful new album, Revival. Written over the last two years, ‘Revival’ is the follow up to Jenn’s 2015 album Faithful, which included the BBC Radio 2 playlisted single, What Love Feels Like. Returning with the blend of blues, soul, country, pop and gospel that’s already won her an army of fans, Revival is her most authentic album yet. “It’s the album my heart has been longing to make,” says Nashville based Jenn. “I grew up listening to the bluesy, soulful sounds of Bonnie Raitt and have fallen in love with Tedeschi Trucks. When I went into House of Blues Studio in Nashville to record this album I knew exactly what I wanted for the first time in my career.”   And it shows. The result is an honest, soulful and empowering collection about overcoming any obstacle that life throws at you. Showcasing experienced song writing and confident vocals Revival is the sound of an accomplished artist making the music they want to make. “I’ve gone through a decade of artist development and I’m incredibly grateful for that time of growth and experimenting with different sounds, styles and producers,” says Jenn. “With Revival we had all the musicians in a large studio, at the same time, capturing a moment. It’s my favorite way to make music.”   Highlights include the bluesy opener, Wrong Thing about trusting your heart, and the powerful Haunting Me, about a flashback you don’t want to remember. The upbeat pop of Hollywood is one of the album’s brightest moments, whilst the contemplative ballad Lonely and the rock infused Follow Your Own Star showcase Jenn’s positivity.  “If I’m going to be putting a message out into the world I want it to be one of hope, love and positivity” says Jenn. “We see life through the lenses with which choose to look at it. I choose joy.”   Other standouts include the honesty of Faint of Heart, a personal favourite of Jenn’s. “It shares my story in the most vulnerable way. When you’re chasing a dream, doubt is inevitable, but if you believe you’re chasing your purpose, then it doesn’t matter how many times you circle the mountain, you have to keep circling.”  There’s also the soulful country vibes of Love Song and the empowering Before It Gets Better. The life affirming Gotta Be You is an anthem for anyone that feels different and don’t miss the album’s lead single Revival, an uplifting gospel song about the power of positive thinking.   Recorded at House of Blues Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by six-time Grammy award winner, Paul Salveson, Revival is Jenn’s 4th studio album.  It follows an impressive career, which has included an appearance on BBC Breakfast in 2012, performing her breakthrough single Jealous of the Angels. Written for her late father, the song was championed by both Smooth Radio and BBC Radio 2 and hit Number 1 on the singer songwriter chart, with now over 3 million views on YouTube. In 2015 she was invited to perform on Songs of Praise, singing her track Little Grace from her album Faithful. She was the First American Independent Artist to have their first three singles playlisted at BBC Radio 2. In 2012 she was the recipient of five Independent Country Music Association Awards including “Best Songwriter,” “Best Female Artist” and “Overall Winner.” She had the honor of performing on Weekend Wogan for the late Sir Terry as part of a special St. Patrick’s Day show, as well as Good Morning Sunday. In September 2017, Jenn returned to the Radio 2 Playlist with her single What Love Feels Like and in October Jenn was named “International Touring Artist of the Year” at the British Country Music Association Awards. Jenn has performed sold out tours across the United States and Europe, and has opened for the likes of Richard Marx, Christian Kane and The Band Perry. Venues have included The Grand Ole Opry, The Ryman Auditorium and Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Her new UK tour kicks off on 21st February and sees her performing across the country, and includes her biggest ever UK headline show, at London’s prestigious Bush Hall on May 1st.   UK Tour Dates: 21st February, The Old School House, Maidstone, England 24th February, Gospel Fest, Omagh, Northern Ireland 28th February, The Hospital Club, London, England 8th March, BelNash (Clayton Hotel), Belfast, Northern Ireland 10th March, Country on the Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland 11th March, Country on the Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland 19th April, 02 Academy Islington, London, England (Supporting Christian Kane) 20th-22nd April, One More Shot Festival, Birmingham, England 25th April, Chapel Sessions, Southampton 1st May, Bush Hall, London, England 2nd May, Gullivers, Manchester, UK http://jennbostic.com/

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