Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

"A Boat To An Island On The Wall" is the first new music that Ben and his band have shared since the release of his number 1 charting second album, "I Forget Where We Were", in October 2014. It welcomes in a new full length record, "Noonday Dream". "Noonday Dream" was recorded in numerous studios between South West France and South West England, including Sawmills. It was produced by Ben. "A Boat To An Island On The Wall" is a typically uncompromising, richly textured epic of an introduction to Ben’s next body of work. Tap here to listen to "A Boat To An Island On The Wall" The transformation and development in Ben’s writing from his hugely successful debut LP back in 2011, to the immersive darkness of 2014’s I Forget Where We Were, and now on the cusp of another new sonic phase in Noonday Dream, could and should cement his status as one of the UK’s most gifted and unpredictable of artists. Ben will per...

Ben Howard is pleased to announce details of his biggest UK headline shows to date for the Spring. Following the release of his critically acclaimed second album, 'I Forget Where We Were ' which debuted this weekend at number 1 in the UK, Ben will play seven arena shows in April, including a night at London's Alexandra Palace. Tickets for the tour will go on sale from www.benhowardmusic.co.uk at 9am on Friday 31st October. Ben Howard UK Tour 2015 *NEW DATES*: 13th April – Echo Arena, Liverpool 16th April – Alexandra Palace, London 20th April – NIA Arena, Birmingham 21st April – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 23rd April – Leeds Arena, Leeds 24th April – SSE Hydro, Glasgow 25th April – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle As previously announced, Ben Howard plays a short tour of the UK in November, with all dates selling out within hours of being on sale. Ben Howard Live: 3rd December - O2 Apollo, Manchester SOLD OUT 4th December - The Civic, Wolverhampton SOL...

I Forget Where We Were was produced by Ben’s drummer Chris Bond at Start Point Farm Studios in Devon, and follows the huge success of his million selling, Mercury Prize nominated debut album, Every Kingdom, in 2011. In 2013, Ben capped a fantastic two years, by picking up two Brit Awards for British Breakthrough and British Solo Male Artist. A dark, dramatic return, I Forget Where We Were was recorded almost completely live, and its rawness matches the emotion of Ben’s words and vocal. It’s a bold, uncompromising listen and an incredibly assured body of work by one of Britain’s most successful young musicians of recent years. ‘I Forget Where We Were’ Tracklisting:  Small Things Rivers In Your Mouth I Forget Where We Were In Dreams She Treats Me Well Time Is Dancing Evergreen End Of The Affair Conrad All Is Now Harmed Since the announcement of Ben’s new record, with the sprawling eight minute introduction of End of the Affair, both parts of his upcoming ...

Ben Howard releases a brand new EP of material, the Burgh Island EP, through Island Records on 10 December 2012. Since the release of Ben’s platinum-selling, Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album, Every Kingdom back in October 2011, he has mindfully kept himself firmly routed to the motorways and freeways of each corner of the globe. A gruelling schedule of relentless touring across the UK, Europe, America and Australia. Devon is home to Ben, but it has become a rare occasion when he can settle back there for any longer than a couple of days before the touring process kicks back in. Having performed at many of the major summer festivals across the UK and Europe this year to huge audiences, Ben retreated to Devon and to a remote studio on the Start Point peninsula to lay down The Burgh Island EP, an entirely new record that finds him ditching his acoustic guitar and taking things electric. The four tracks that form Burgh Island EP are united in their dark, menacing, and brood...

Following the 200,000+ sales of his top 10 debut album Every Kingdom in the UK alone, two sold-outs tours of the US (multiple, and contemplating a hectic Summer of festival appearances ahead of his biggest, UK tour to date, Ben finds himself positioned as one of the most successful young singer-songwriters from the UK and Europe in years. Old Pine is a woozy, languid song, both cathartic and quietly euphoric. A long-standing live favourite, Ben’s percussive perfection is matched with the driving intricacies of his guitar playing and, smoky controlled voice. Originally released in the Spring of 2011 as an introductory EP through Communion Records, Old Pine has already played a crucial part in introducing Ben to a bigger, broader audience. He has since played to over 80,000 thousand fans at over 120 sold out performances. His UK tour later this year has now sold in excess of 50,000 tickets alone, culminating in three sell-out nights at London's Brixton Academy. Ben How...

Ben Howard releases his new single, ‘The Wolves’ on the 27th February 2012 through Island Records. It is taken from Ben’s top 10 debut album, ‘Every Kingdom’. 2011 was a hugely successful introduction to the music of Ben Howard. The young Devonshire singer-songwriter wrote his own story based on twelve months of relentless European and British touring, a string of radio-friendly, folk-informed singles, and an acclaimed debut album. Where his peers have become very British successes, Ben has been building a solid, fanatical fanbase across Europe, appearing on France’s hugely respected Taratata television programme alongside Coldplay, and selling out every show announced (including venue upgrades). In 2012 Ben will launch his music in America with ‘Every Kingdom’ finding a release in the Spring through Communion Records, with appearances at SXSW in Texas and a US tour already confirmed. Regularly compared to the likes of John Martyn, Donovan, and Bon Iver, Every Kingdom (produced by the...

Here's a quick round up of the new releases for February: The X Factor may be over but Kelly Rowland is back, empowered and more assertive than ever with new single, ‘Lay It On Me’, released on February 6th through Island Records. Gotye – Making Mirrors - Released 13th February 2012 + UK Tour Dates Live Dates and Main Post Fresh from supporting Jessie J, Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz on tour, hot new urban-pop sensations Encore release their brand new single 'Fun Last Night' on February 26th via Island Records. Encore will release their brand new single 'Fun Last Night' on February 13th via Island Records. Midnight Lion release their new EP, ‘Sleeping In The Woods’, on the 13th February 2012 through Locks & Keys/Island Records. Live Dates and Main Post Ben Howard releases his new single, ‘The Wolves’ on the 27th February 2012 through Island Records. It is taken from Ben’s top 10 debut album, ‘Every Kingdom’. LADYHAWKE release her new single ‘Black, White &...

Every Kingdom is a record that young West Country singer-songwriter Ben Howard has been brewing within himself for at least a couple of years. And yet its careful attention to detail, with tight, homespun harmonies and folk-informed arrangements, could only have been fully realised after relentless road-testing of these songs on stages across the UK and Europe. UK Tour Dates: 9th October – The Phoenix, Exeter 10th October – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth 11th October – The Komedia, Brighton 12th October – Old Fire Station, Bournemouth 14th October – Thekla, Bristol 15th October – HMV Institute, Birmingham 17th October – The Plug, Sheffield 18th October – Brudenell Social, Leeds 19th October – Stanley Theatre. Liverpool 20th October – Ruby Lounge, Manchester 22nd October – The Jericho, Oxford 23rd October – SWN Festival, Cardiff 24th October – Bodega Social, Nottingham 26th October – The Scala, London 29th October – The Riverside, Newcastle 30th October – The Tunnels, Abe...

Ben Howard releases his new single, ‘Keep Your Head Up’ on the 26th September. It is taken from his forthcoming debut album, ‘Every Kingdom’ on the 3rd October 2011, released through Island Records. Check out the video here Every Kingdom is a record that young  & has been brewing within himself for at least a couple of years. And yet its careful attention to detail, with tight, homespun harmonies and folk-informed arrangements, could only have been fully realised after relentless road-testing of these songs on stages across the UK and Europe. It has been an explosive introduction to a broader audience in 2011 for 24 year old Howard. Having only signed his record deal with Island Records at the beginning of the year, Ben had already accrued a hefty fanbase through sheer hard touring and the word of mouth support that followed. His initial success was predominantly buoyed by the incredibly supportive surf community that nurtured Ben in Devon and Cornwall after pul...

It’s been an explosive introduction for young West Country singer-songwriter Ben Howard. Having only signed his record deal with Island Records at the beginning of the year, Ben had already accrued a hefty fanbase across the UK and Europe through sheer persistent touring, and the word of mouth support that followed. With the release of his debut EP, ‘Old Pine’ this Spring, that fanbase is still growing by the day, and raced into the Top 20 iTunes chart within a few hours of its release. Old Pine’s success was predominantly buoyed by the incredibly supportive surf community that nurtured Ben in Devon and Cornwall and now across the whole UK over the past couple of years, but also by the support from national and regional radio stations across the UK. Old Pine was playlisted at 6Music and XFM, and received repeat rotation and celebrated sessions at Radio 1 (Zane Lowe, Fearne Cotton) and Radio 2 (Jo Whiley, Dermot O’Leary, Janice Long) which has since garnered further acclaim at press, b...