“HARCOURT IS ONE OF THE BEST SINGER/SONGWRITERS TO EMERGE THIS MILLENNIUM” – THE TIMES

Depending on who you speak to, you will hear that Ed Harcourt was raised by wolves, he grew up in a Russian orphanage or discover that he was once part of a travelling circus, which perhaps explains his Coulrophobia. Of his six albums to date, one was Mercury nominated and the rest have picked up an array of blush-inducing plaudits from the music press. He’s composed film scores, toured with the likes of REM, Wilco and Snow Patrol, performed with everyone from Patti Smith to Nick Cave, and his CV is littered with co-writing credits that include the likes of Paloma Faith and Lisa-Marie Presley. Most recently, he has worked with Beth Ditto, Kathryn Williams and Ren Harvieu and played some piano for Lana Del Rey,

Taking a break from penning songs for pop starlets and orchestrating movie soundtracks, Ed Harcourt returned to the studio this summer to begin recording a record to scorch hearts with his melancholic piano-pop (although this time with added grunt from his new custom-made Beastatone guitar). Thirteen years ago, Harcourt’s career began with a mini-album named Maplewood, “Time of Dust feels not unlike its distant cousin,” says Ed. “I’ll soon be heading into the studio with Flood (Nine Inch Nails, PJ Harvey, etc) to work on an album of evil songs, but before I set sail for the edge of the world, I wanted to break people in gently. Think of Time of Dust as a piece of the map I’ll be using to navigate the fog and fire. Or maybe it’s the creak of the floorboard before the wolf pounces?” 2013 was a busy year for Harcourt too.

We are delighted to welcome special guest Darren Hayman  – a thoughtful, concise and detailed songwriter who eschews the big, the bright and the loud for the small, twisted and lost. For 15 years, and over 14 albums, Hayman has taken a singular and erratic route through England’s tired and heartbroken underbelly.

“bold and unique” The Sunday Times
“Hayman has hit a creative purple patch… a treat” Mojo

Stage Times:

7.30pm Doors

7.45pm Darren Hayman

9pm Ed Harcourt