Seating Tickets Sold Out!!!
Wainwright/McGarrigle Family Christmas Concert
Royal Albert Hall, December 9, 2009

Limited Number Of Exclusive VIP Packages Released

With all seating tickets sold out for the hotly anticipated first Wainwright/McGarrigle Family Christmas concert in London, ‘A Not So Silent Night’ – a limited number of exclusive charity VIP Packages have been released.

These rare packages include excellent seats for the concert, entry to a post-show cocktail with all the performers, and unique gift bags.

Boy George, Dawn French, Guy Garvey, Jennifer Saunders, and The Thompsons (Teddy, Kami, Linda) are just a few of the special guests and friends announced for this special seasonal show.

The show will also include performances by Ed Harcourt, International soprano and ‘Prima Donna’ star Janis Kelly, Jenni Muldaur plus human beatbox Shlomo.

These packages can be obtained by making a donation of £500 to benefit cancer research through the Kate McGarrigle Fund from:

Telephone: 00-1-514-931-5656
Website: A Not So Silent Night OR www.muhcfoundation.com/en/not_silent

This is organised by the McGarrigle/Wainwright family and friends, a supporter of Cancer Research UK.

The Kate McGarrigle Fund is a non-profit organisation dedicated to cancer care and research and affiliated with the McGill University teaching hospitals and Cedars Cancer Institute in Montreal, Canada.

The Kate McGarrigle Fund Official Website

Rufus Wainwright Official Website
Martha Wainwright Official Website

Lucy Wainwright-Roche is literally following in her illustrious family’s footsteps, her father Loudon Wainwright III, her mother Suzzy Roche (The Roches), not to mention her brother and sister Rufus and Martha Wainwright – Lucy Wainwright-Roche is stamping her very own indelible mark on the music scene.

Needless to say music is very much in Lucy’s blood and when her brother Rufus Wainwright invited her to sing on one of his 2006 US tours, she left the teaching classroom to pursue her love of music.

Lucy began writing her own songs and recorded her debut CD in 2007, receiving rave reviews and acclaim from National Radio. It became a favourite amongst fans and critics alike.

She has honed her stagecraft and sharpened her dreamy guitar based melodies on tour with Teddy Thompson, Amos Lee and Dar Williams. Her majestic voice and refreshingly honest songwriting paints a beautiful picture making her an instant hit with audiences wherever she plays.

Lucy is set to showcase her captivating sound for the first time in the UK on a 13-date summer tour.

Lucy Wainwright-Roche 2009 UK tour dates:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

June 2009
Wed 24th LEICESTER, The Musician
Thu 25th BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
Fri 26th LONDON, Borderline
Sun 28th GLASTONBURY, Acoustic Stage
Mon 29th SOUTHSEA, Cellars at Eastney

July 2009
Wed 1st GLASGOW, Brel
Thu 2nd DUNFERMLINE, Carnegie Halls
Fri 3rd CORK, Pavilion
Sun 5th BELFAST, Spring & Airbrake
Mon 6th DUBLIN, Whelan’s
Wed 8th MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge
Thu 9th NEWCASTLE, Cluny
Fri 10th YORK, House Concert

“Her clear, steady voice feels like a beacon of sorts, slicing straight through the room.” – New York Times

Lucy Wainwright-Roche MySpace

Rufus & Martha Wainwright and their mother Kate McGarrigle bring their acclaimed seasonal show to London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 with special guests.

Tickets for this must see event – ‘A Not So Silent Night’ – go on sale Friday, May 1, 2009 and are priced from £35 to £70.

Tickets are available from:
Web: www.artistticket.com
Hotline: 0871 230 0333
Or from the Royal Albert Hall Box Office.

In the US, Christmas has become synonymous with the semi-annual Wainwright/McGarrigle Carnegie Hall shows. “It’s an off-the-cuff evening of friends and family kind of popping on and off stage as if the stage was our living room,” says Rufus Wainwright.

Special guests consisting of Rufus, Martha and Kate’s friends and family will be announced later this summer.

A limited number of exclusive A Not So Silent Night VIP Packages include excellent seats for the concert, entry to an intimate post-show cocktail with the performers, and unique gift bags. These packages can be obtained by making a donation of $1,000 CAD, $750 USD, or £500 GPB to the Kate McGarrigle Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer care and research and affiliated with the McGill University teaching hospitals and Cedars Cancer Institute in Montreal, Canada.

Proceeds from the sales of these VIP packages will benefit cancer care and research in Canada and the UK. For more information, call Cléa Desjardins at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation, toll-free at 1-877-601-4536 (1-514-931-5656 from outside North America), visit The Kate McGarrigle Fund website.

Rufus Wainwright Official Website
Martha Wainwright

The Tapes Have Been Found!

Throughout the 1970’s, as Britain succumbed to the likes of The Wurzels and The Brotherhood of Man, somewhere in Brighton a loose collective known as The BPA was hosting 48 hour warehouse parties and producing a series of tracks with passing musicians that became a part of musical legend.

Within the seafront HQ of The Brighton Port Authority, (originally styled the Brighton Phonographic Authority) chairman Norman Cook, later to find international fame under a variety of guises (incl Fatboy Slim), and cohort Simon Thornton were at the hub of a set of recordings that inadvertently created the roots of punk, acid house, trip hop and many other now accepted genres.

Watch video: “He’s Frank (Slight Return)” featuring Iggy Pop (March 9th release):

The BPA on amazon.co.uk

The BPA on amazon.com

That this underground gang never achieved recognition for their efforts is as much to do with the lack of focus in those heady days as the somewhat puzzling situation whereby Jamie T recorded a track before his conception and Iggy Pop, on a stop over from recordings in Berlin with the Thin White Duke, covered The Monochrome Set’s ‘He’s Frank’ a full four years before the band actually wrote it.

As for the creation of the artist known as Martha Wainwright, originally found on a beach and taught to speak English with an American accent by the chairman in exchange for her contribution, well, things just get weird at that point…

So, many years on and following the slow disbandment throughout the 80’s of the BPA in a series of half remembered recriminations and long forgotten fall-outs, 2008 saw the tapes re-appear during construction of luxury flats on the Brighton sea front.

What is revealed is an album that was and still is light years ahead of not just its time but the times in which we now live.

Across the 12 tracks now immediately recognisable names such as David Byrne, Dizzee Rascal, Ashley Beedle and Justin Robertson join a host of new up and comers (from the later sessions) to create an album bursting with diversity but held together by a sheer exuberance in the joy of creating and a willingness to discard the straightjackets of genre in order to achieve musical nirvana.

Collecting the twelve so far unearthed tracks together and taking it’s title from a much used phrase within the BPA when things got too much and escape by sea seemed the only option, ‘I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat’ will be the debut from the Brighton Port Authority over 30 years since the original recording sessions.

Sure to interest both music historians for whom the band have entered the annals of rock myth and anyone who knows a good tune when they hear one, the album is not the only BPA material to have recently come to light.

‘I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat’ is released 2nd March 2009.

(The BPA with Iggy Pop, Pete York, Connan, Ashley Beedle, Justin Robertson, Jamie T, Emmy The Great, Martha Wainwright, Simon Thornton, Cagedbaby, David Byrne, Dizzee Rascal, Olly Hite)

More music, photographs and images are being collated and all that has been found to date can be seen at:

The BPA MySpace
The Brighton Port Authority Official Website

Last night (4 November, 2008) I witnessed two sets from Martha Wainwright and her support act Angus & Julia Stone that couldn’t be more different. One look at the crowd told me the majority were lefty (I’m one too, before I sound like a fascist!), middle class professionals who were there for Martha first and foremost and who’d probably heard about her through the Observer (heck, an English teacher from my high school was there). However, by the end of Angus & Julia’s set they were clearly won over to their curious alt-folk – and quite right too.

Enchanting ingénues Angus & Julia Stone beguiled the crowd with their pretty folk sound in a set characterised by honest to goodness talent and quiet charm. The elaborately designed domed ceiling of the Oxford Town Hall was beautifully lit and gave the appearance of a fine lace cover over the stage which set off the pair’s delicate and breathy vocal styles perfectly. Julia’s witchy delivery was particularly spellbinding and a new track from Angus which peaked in an angry, rockier chorus was also notable.

It really is astonishing how talented the two are. And how they can put up with each other on the road. I don’t think my brother and I would last a day on a tour bus together! Their backing band are equally gifted.

Guitarist Clay had taught himself drums especially for the tour after their regular drummer was taken sick and he showed himself to be pretty proficient on the old skins. An unecessary apology for any mistakes (none that I could spot) was given before a rumbling and throaty “A Book Like This”, which was the high point of the set for me – that and an old song the siblings had written at band camp some years ago on the hoof which incorporated “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and provoked gentle chuckles from the crowd.

Given their wonderful music, it’s especially striking how shy the pair are – Angus in particular seemed content to hide behind hair and hat and left most of the inter-song banter to sister Julia. I guess they were new to most of the crowd last night but I predict that sales of their album will definitely increase after this tour finishes. I do love them so. “A Book Like This” is definitely one of my favourite albums of 2008 – possibly even my most favourite. They sound and look like they’ve stepped out of your most lovely imaginings and I hope their success builds and sustains over time. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

In contrast to the winsome humility of Angus & Julia, Martha Wainwright was her typical showy self – a presence massively opposed to her support but which was nonetheless compelling. Martha is herself one of famous siblings, and I couldn’t help but wonder as I watched her extravagant gestures and evident pleasure in being on the stage, what teatime at the Wainwrights must have been like with all those performers jostling for attention in one room. School friends must have been made of strong stuff to visit, for sure! The venue’s baroque décor suited Martha’s ostentatious and emotive vocal style perfectly. Boy can that woman belt out some tunes. By the time she got to singing a jazzy number in French, I concluded as a mere mortal, that’s just showing off …! “You Cheated Me” and a closing cover of Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play” were my personal highlights although at times an overwrought and bombastic vocal style proved a little too much to take.

Martha’s between song patter was tongue in cheek and a million miles away from her confessional music, and was certainly evidence of her professionalism as well as a charismatic and dramatic personality. Thanking her excellent band and support as well as technicians alike (she rightly pointed out the sound men did wonders in what must have been a tough space to work with), she was slick and classy without sounding insincere. In fact I’d say her patter was refreshingly chipper and much welcome after the emotional gymnastics of her songs.

In all, gold stars are due to both acts. My fondness for Angus & Julia was admittedly my main reason for going and they didn’t disappoint; but credit where it’s due to the main act: Martha gave a set which no one could criticise for being sloppy or indifferent – she’s a born entertainer with a voice that demands to be heard. Now, thank you.

Martha Wainwright on amazon.com

Martha Wainwright on amazon.co.uk

Martha Wainwright Official Website

Angus & Julia Stone on amazon.com

Angus & Julia Stone on amazon.co.uk

Angus & Julia Stone Official Website

By: Lindsey Davis

Pictured: Primal Scream

Will Young is punching up some big numbers with new single “Changes”. After an incredible 10,000 plays on UK radio, the track is #1 in the national airplay chart and #4 in the regional airplay charts. We’re expecting a top ten chart entry this weekend, with CD, video and digital bundle formats still to come on Monday. Listen out for Will on Jonathan Ross’ Radio 2 show this weekend. He also plays London’s Cadogan Hall next Thursday September 25th, 2008.

Stereophonics‘ new single “You’re My Star” received an exclusive first spin on Chris Moyles’ breakfast show Wednesday morning. Kelly was on top form despite coming straight from the band’s show at L.A.’s Henry Fonda theatre. Just a few more stops to go on the North American tour now, with the UK tour kicking off in December.

Primal Scream were the big winners at last night’s Vodafone Live Music Awards, scooping two prizes: “Best Live Act” and “Outstanding Contribution to Live Music”.

Mark Ronson, modelling a fantastic new pair of specs, walked away with “Best Live Male”, while Will Young and Primal Scream got the night’s biggest cheers for their performances.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were also winners last night, as the acclaimed duo were awarded “Album of the Year” and “Group of the Year” at Nashville’s Annual Americana Music Awards.

Anyone spotted Bill Bailey in the dole queue yet? Mark Ronson has pinched his seat on Never Mind The Buzzcocks for the new season opener, airing Thursday October 2nd on BBC2. Mark was great fun when he appeared as a guest in the last series, this should be even better.

Ship ahoy! Martha Wainwright is preparing for her October UK tour with a trip to Greenland, courtesy of the Cape Farewell project. Joining a crew that includes KT Tunstall, Feist, Jarvis Cocker and Robyn Hitchcock, Martha will see the impact of global warming at close quarters. New single “Comin’ Tonight” is out November 3rd, 2008.

Never ones to be outdone, Guillemots are planning a bit of potholing on their upcoming UK tour. The band play a series of unconventional November dates in caves, libraries and converted cinemas. Before then, it’s Wednesday’s premier of Simon Pegg’s new film How To Lose Friends & Alienate People, with the band playing the rooftop after party at Shoreditch House. New double A-side single “Kriss Kross / Clarion” is out Monday.

Teddy Thompson starts his UK tour next week, playing four headline dates before heading off to join James Blunt on his October arena tour. More Teddy headline dates coming up in January.

We think Aimee Mann should be made an honorary Englishwoman, after listing Elton John and Boddingtons as two of her greatest passions on ITV1’s “Soundtrack To My Life” last night. She gave a great interview, and also performed “Freeway” from her latest album. “@#%&! Smilers”. Look out for UK headline dates in October.

Aimee’s not the only one recognising her heroes – our very own Paolo Nutini is one of only twelve Celtic fanatics featured in the club’s forthcoming “Celtic Opus”. Half a metre square and weighing in at a massive 30kg, you’re going to need a big coffee table for this one!

Finally, look out for Dave Edmunds‘ greatest hits album out Monday September 22, 2008. He also performs as a special guest at Joe Brown’s 50th anniversary concert, taking place Wednesday at the Royal Albert Hall.

MBC 2008 Live Schedule

Aimee Mann

OCTOBER
22nd MANCHESTER, Academy
23rd SHEFFIELD, Leadmill
24th LONDON, indigO2
26th GLASGOW, Old Fruit Market

—

Beth Rowley

OCTOBER
Wed 22nd BRISTOL, St Georges
Thur 23rd LONDON, St James Piccadilly
Sat 25th MANCHESTER, Royal Northern College Of Music
Mon 27th CARDIFF, Glee Club
Tues 28th BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
Wed 29th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
Thur 30th EDINBURGH, Cabaret Voltaire
Fri 31st GATESHEAD, The Sage

NOVEMBER
Sun 2nd DERBY, The Royal
Mon 3rd LEEDS, City Varieties
Wed 5th BRIGHTON, Old Market
Thu 6th PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms

—

Dave Edmunds

September 24th LONDON, Royal Albert Hall (Joe Brown 50th Anniversary Concert)

—

Duffy

November
Mon 24th DUBLIN, Olympia
Tue 25th BELFAST, George’s Market
Fri 28th LEEDS, Academy
Sat 29th MANCHESTER, Apollo
Sun 30th MANCHESTER, Apollo

December
Tue 2nd GLASGOW, Academy
Wed 3rd NEWCASTLE, Academy
Thu 4th WOLVERHAMPTON, Wolves Civic
Fri 5th WOLVERHAMPTON, Wolves Civic
Sun 7th NEWPORT, Newport Centre
Mon 8th LONDON, Brixton Academy
Tue 9th LONDON, Brixton Academy

—

Guillemots

SEPTEMBER
26th LONDON, Royal Albert Hall, Orange RockCorps

NOVEMBER
Fri 7th BIRMINGHAM, Custard Factory (Gigbeth)
Sat 8th BATH, Pavilion Theatre
Sun 9th YORK, The Duchess
Tue 11th INVERNESS, Eden Court
Wed 12th MIDDLESBROUGH, Empire
Thu 13th EDINBURGH, Picture House
Sat 15th LANCASTER, Lancaster Library
Sun 16th SHEFFIELD, Plug
Mon 17th BRADFORD, St Georges Hall
Wed 19th LISKEARD, Carnglaze Caverns
Thu 20th FALMOUTH, Princess Pavilion
Fri 21st PORTSMOUTH, Pyramids Centre
Sat 22nd BRIGHTON, St Georges
Mon 24th DERBY, Assembly Rooms
Tue 25th CAMBRIDGE, Junction
Wed 26th LONDON, Barbican

—

James Blunt

October
3rd CARDIFF, Cardiff International Arena
4th SHEFFIELD, Arena
6th NOTTINGHAM, Arena
7th BIRMINGHAM, National Indoor Arena
8th MANCHESTER, Manchester Evening News Arena
10th GLASGOW, Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
11th ABERDEEN, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
13TH NEWCASTLE, Arena
14th LONDON, O2 Arena

—

Jersey Budd

OCTOBER
10th WREXHAM, Wrexham University
18th EXETER, Phoenix (supporting The Rifles)
19th PLYMOUTH, The Hub (supporting The Rifles)
20th PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms (supporting The Rifles)
21st CAMBRDIGE, Junction(supporting The Rifles)
23rd SWANSEA, Sin City (supporting The Rifles)
24th LONDON, This Feeling (acoustic)
25th GLOUCESTER, Guildhall (supporting The Rifles)
26th LEICESTER, Charlotte
27th BRISTOL, Thekla (supporting The Rifles)
28th GLASGOW, King Tut¹s
29th MANCHESTER, Roadhouse
30th LONDON, Borderline

—

Little Lost David

SEPTEMBER
18th LEICESTER, FireBug (Supporting Mick Turner)
19th GLASGOW, King Tuts
22nd LEEDS, The Faversham (Supporting Neil Halstead)
23rd LONDON, The Troubadour (Supporting Liam Gerner)

OCTOBER
14th YORK, Fibbers (Supporting John Power)
15th LONDON, Amersham Arms (Supporting Dag för Dag)

—

Martha Wainwright

October
Sun 19th SHEFFIELD, Plug
Mon 20th BRISTOL, Colston Hall
Wed 22nd EDINBURGH, Picture House
Thu 23rd MIDDLESBROUGH, Empire
Fri 24th WARWICK, Arts Centre
Sat 25th BRIGHTON, St. Georges Hall
Mon 27th CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
Tue 28th LONDON, Roundhouse
Thu 30th LIVERPOOL, Symphony Hall
Fri 31st BELFAST, Opera House

November
Sun 2nd DUBLIN, Olympia
Mon 3rd NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
Tue 4th OXFORD, Town Hall
Wed 5th PORTSMOUTH, Pyramids

—

Primal Scream

NOVEMBER
16th BELFAST, St George¹s Market
17th DUBLIN, Olympia
20th OXFORD, Academy
21st CARDIFF, University
23rd BRISTOL, Academy
24th SOUTHAMPTON, Guildhall
25th READING, Hexagon
27th NOTTINGHAM, Rock City
28th LONDON, Hammersmith Apollo
30th NORWICH, UEA

DECEMBER
1st SHEFFIELD, Academy
2nd BRIGHTON, Dome
4th BIRMINGHAM, Academy
5th CAMBRIDGE, Corn Exchange
8th LEEDS, Academy
9th NEWCASTLE, Academy
11th LIVERPOOL, Academy
12th MANCHESTER, Apollo
13th GLASGOW, SECC

—

Simply Red

December
3rd LONDON, O2 Arena

—

Stereophonics

DECEMBER
TUE 2nd GLASGOW, SECC
WED 3rd GLASGOW, SECC
THU 4th ABERDEEN, AECC
SAT 6th CARDIFF, International Arena
SUN 7th CARDIFF, International Arena
TUE 9th LIVERPOOL, Echo Arena
WED 10th MANCHESTER, MEN Arena
FRI 12th NEWCASTLE, Metro Radio Arena
SAT 13th NOTTINGHAM, Trent Arena
MON 15th BIRMINGHAM, NIA
TUE 16th BRIGHTON, Brighton Centre
WED 17th BOURNEMOUTH, International Centre
FRI 19th SHEFFIELD, Arena
SAT 20th LONDON, O2 Arena

—

Teddy Thompson

SEPTEMBER
24th BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
25th GLASGOW, Oran Mor
26th MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge

OCTOBER
2nd LONDON, Scala

3rd CARDIFF, CIA (Supporting James Blunt)
4th SHEFFIELD, Arena (Supporting James Blunt)
6th NOTTINGHAM, Arena (Supporting James Blunt)
7th BIRMINGHAM, NIA (Supporting James Blunt)
8th MANCHESTER, MEN Arena (Supporting James Blunt)
10th GLASGOW, SECC (Supporting James Blunt)
11th ABERDEEN, AECC (Supporting James Blunt)
13th NEWCASTLE, Arena (Supporting James Blunt)
14th LONDON, O2 Arena (Supporting James Blunt)

JANUARY
Sat 17th CORK, Opera House
Mon 19th NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms
Tue 20th CARDIFF, Glee Club
Wed 21st EXETER, Phoenix
Thu 22nd BRIGHTON, Concorde 2
Sat 24th NORWICH, Arts Centre
Sun 25th YORK, Duchess
Mon 26th STOCKTON, The Arc

—

Will Young

September
25th LONDON, Cadogan Hall

November
16th NEWCASTLE, City Hall
17th HARROGATE, International Centre
18th LIVERPOOL, Philharmonic
20th GLASGOW, Royal Concert Hall
23rd MANCHESTER, Apollo
24th MANCHESTER, Apollo
25th SHEFFIELD, City Hall
27th OXFORD, New Theatre
28th NOTTINGHAM, Royal Concert Hall
30th PORTSMOUTH, Guildhall

December
1st BRISTOL, Colston Hall
3rd IPSWICH, Regent Theatre
4th BRIGHTON, Dome
5th CARDIFF, St David¹s Hall
7th BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall
8th BIRMINGHAM, Symphony Hall
9th PLYMOUTH, Pavillions
11th BOURNEMOUTH, International Centre
12th LONDON, Roundhouse
13th LONDON, Roundhouse

~ MBC ~

Since seeing Martha Wainwright at Wychwood Festival a few years ago, I’ve followed her career with interest, always suspecting that the real vocal talent in the Wainwright siblings didn’t belong to her more flamboyant brother but actually Martha herself. Incidentally, I’ve also always really envied her incredible legs, which if Pretty Polly don’t wake up to and offer her an advertising contract sharpish, they’re fools to themselves.

Said legs are paraded seductively on the album cover, which was taken by former YBA (actually – good point – when do you stop being a YBA?) Sam Taylor Wood. The involvement of such a figure, along with a gaggle of musicians including Garth Hudson, Pete Townshend, brother Rufus and mum and aunt Kate and Anna McGarrigle respectively, serve to up Martha’s credibility ratings. Not that she needs to worry about such issues as being cool. The voice (hereon referred to as ‘The Voice’) alone confidently sweeps such anxieties aside without even trying.

On this, her second album, her vocals do more than prove she has not just a fine pair of lungs on her but that she is the real deal: she can go from sounding coy and girlish to wearying and experienced in the space of an octave (”I Wish I Were”).

Like her debut, this LP is similarly emotionally honest (what else can you say about a debut boasting a song title like “Bloody Mother Fu**ing A**hole”?!). Although there are still some allusions to her father Loudon Wainwright III, on this outing she seems more interested in documenting heartbreak – oddly perverse given that she’s recently tied the knot. But when has Martha (or indeed any of the members of her famous family) been accused of being conventional? She and brother Rufus have subjected their father to well documented slaggings in previous songs and the drama of their family life has claimed many column inches in the music press. I won’t labour over it all here, simply because to do so would detract from celebrating the immense affection I feel for this album after only a handful of listens. Martha has a voice that immediately lures you into her psychological landscape; a landscape which is fascinating not only because it lists aftershows and all the paraphernalia that comes with being a child of rock royalty, but also for the sheer depth of raw feeling it conveys.

And those feelings are not just intense. There’s breadth as well as depth to offer here. Yes Martha’s still angry, but on this album we traverse a wide range of emotions, from melancholy to desolate to hopeful and desiring. “So Many Friends” perhaps best sums up the album’s peripatetic emoting. From the wistful “I have lost so many friends/I have gained so many memories” to the excitable “I live and breathe for the rush when we touch”, the track encapsulates the whole album’s tendency to emotional see-sawing and sucks in the listener completely. “The George Song” is more playful: Martha’s voice seems to gurgle and tease as she upbraids a lover for liking Captain Beefheart:

“You played the captain/And I will, I will never understand/ Why you love the beef heart/More than you could love the common man”.

This lyric stakes her claim to a place in musical history, scoffing at it’s patriarchal lineage just as she has her biological paternity. This place is guaranteed on the basis of this album alone; she is much, much more than a footnote to her famous parent’s biographies. She sings with such style it’s impossible to dispute the fact that this album is one of those clichés beloved of music hacks – an instant classic.

“You Cheated Me” is so in your face pop I’m surprised it isn’t A-list on every radio station going; whereas “In The Middle of the Night” is one of the album’s darkest moments – a response to her mother Kate McGarrigle’s cancer – with Martha’s chilling wails set against backing vocals from Rufus, brooding flutes, guitars and ominous, building drums. The tune evokes an Easter-period Patti Smith and the effect is as spellbinding as it is menacing.

The tracks couldn’t be more different but both allow That Voice to demonstrates its natural range. The whole album dips into a variety of styles: from the pure pop handclaps on “Love is a Stranger” through acoustic folk and rock all the way to the gloomy, bluesy “Tower Song”, the album drips with melodies.

Opening track “Bleeding All Over You” is reminiscent of Tori Amos undergoing psychoanalysis, and sets the tone for a dramatic group of songs which at times also recall Carole King or Fleetwood Mac (but glammer). Yep, there’s a distinctly middle of the road leaning to many of the musical arrangements. But this shouldn’t put you off – the way Wainwright’s voice relays her romantic travails is sensational; she wrings every last drop of emotion from each line in a marvellously dramatic way. It shouldn’t work – how many times have you winced at the vocal gymnastics of the likes of Mariah Carey or Celine Dion? But it does.

The only time things slip – tellingly – is on the covers (Pink Floyd and The Eurhythmics). They’re okay, but nothing more. An artist of Martha Wainwright’s talent doesn’t really need to rely on covers. When you compare them to the spooky “Jesus and Mary” they merely seem quaint, surplus to requirements. That’s right – she’s also got a way with words. Not fair is it?!

I’m going to stop effusing now, but before I sign off let me say that Martha Wainwright has a natural poise and grace without sounding contrived, or threatening to smother the emotional histrionics that she is famed for.

This is a classy album that will appeal to the serious music fan as well as more casual listeners who are partial to Madames Winehouse and Duffy: I have every confidence it will make an appearance in the inevitable top ten albums of 2008 lists later this year. It’ll certainly be on mine.

MySpace

Martha Wainwright Official Website

By: Lindsey Davis

Multi-platinum Scottish-born Relentless/Virgin Records singer/songwriter KT Tunstall will return to the live U.S. stage this summer, with a month of dates scheduled, many of them with acclaimed Zoe/Rounder artist Martha Wainwright.

In this round of touring, Tunstall’s show will highlight the way her vibrant and versatile music “distinguish(es) herself from the herd by demonstrating a wealth of musical possibilities,” as a Boston Herald reviewer put it a few weeks ago.

KT Tunstall notes: “I’m very excited to be bringing my vintage electric guitars over to the U.S. for this month, and mixing the acoustic roots of Eye to the Telescope with the more complex driving sounds of Drastic Fantastic.”

Tunstall’s European and North American acoustic spring 2008 tour, dubbed “The Campfire Tour,” “was a huge success,” Tunstall says. “It taught me to enjoy the subtleties of the set as much as the pedal-to-the-metal foot-stompers.”

The Boston Globe agreed, praising “Tunstall’s easy way with a melody,” and noting that she had “no trouble getting comfy and generating warmth during a sweet and sassy 90-minute set.” The Boston Herald continued: the “Scottish firecracker(’s) unplugged set yielded marvelous results. Her four-piece band improvised ingeniously.”

Tunstall is set to perform on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien on July 15th, 2008, with American pop-soul icon Daryl Hall.

Discussing the pleasure and revelations of touring in the wake of her tremendous commercial breakthrough, Tunstall recently said: “my bar has been raised – I’ve realized what’s possible…touring (a first album) with a band, seeing how that album can turn into something else on stage, and how we can actually make it better…It’s always been about getting onstage and trying to do a mind-blowing show. And if you’re playing the same set night after night, that means playing around with it, and experimenting with what you’ve got. It’s not a CD, it’s a gig.”

KT Tunstall’s second Virgin/Relentless album, ‘Drastic Fantastic’, debuted on the Billboard Top 200 album chart at a career-high No. 9 last fall. The lead-off single, “Hold On,” was No. 1 in the AAA (adult alternative albums) radio format, and charted three months on the Hot AC listing.

First released in the U.K. late in 2004, Tunstall’s debut album, ‘Eye To the Telescope’, became a quintuple platinum smash in the British market, winning Tunstall the Brit Award and the prestigious Ivor Novello Award. It sold in excess of a million copies in the U.S. over an 83-week chart run. “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” was nominated for the 2006 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy®, and along with “Suddenly I See,” charted a combined 70-plus weeks on the AC and Hot Adult Top 40 radio charts.

She is a founding figure in the launch of Global Cool, an environmental issues action group, and is also affiliated with The CarbonNeutral Company, partnering with CarbonNeutral in a dedicate-a-tree plan in her native Scotland to offset the carbon footprint of her own career.

KT Tunstall August 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to KT Tunstall’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

August 1 Atlanta, GA @ Atlanta Botanical Gardens
August 2 New Brunswick, Canada @ Moncton Magnetic Hill Festival
(w/ The Eagles, John Fogerty, Sam Roberts)
August 3 West Hampton Beach, NY @ Westhampton Beach Performing Arts
August 4 Northampton, MA @ Calvin Theatre (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 6 Albany, NY @ Empire State Plaza (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 7 Fairfield, CT @ Fairfield Theatre (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 8 Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Music Box (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 9 Baltimore, MD @ Virgin Festival (w/ Foo Fighters, Bloc Party, etc)
August 11 Grand Rapids, MI @ Meijer Gardens (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 12 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 13 Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 14 Interlochen, MI @ Kresge Auditorium (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 15 Milwaukee, WI @ The Pabst Theatre (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 17 Lyons, CO @ Folks Festival (w/ Jakob Dylan, Missy Higgins, etc)
August 18 Denver, CO @ Denver Botanical (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 20 Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre (w/ Martha Wainwright)
August 22 Reno, NV @ Silver Legacy Resort Casino
August 23 Cle Elum, WA @ Suncadia Resort
August 24 Denver, CO @ Mile High Station
August 25 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen (w/ Martha Wainwright)

Myspace
KT Tunstall Official Website