Elbow frontman Guy Garvey has announced details of his debut solo album, as well as a UK tour. Hear the first track 'Angela's Eyes' below.
The Mercury-winning Mancunian troubadour and radio DJ first revealed his plans to go it alone in an interview with Gigwise last year, but now he's announced that his solo LP Courting The Squall will be released on 30 October.
"I love being in the honest and even-handed democracy that is Elbow, but I fancy being the boss for a bit, so I'm going to do a side-project," Garvey told Gigwise. "It will either be great, and a right laugh, or a disaster, and a right laugh." Garvey added: "I don't know what to call it. I don't like the term 'solo project', because it won't be that - I'll be inviting friends to play on it. I'll let the name pick itself as it progresses."
Listen to 'Angela's Eye's by Guy Garvey below
Now, Garvey has said that Courting The Squall is made of songs that ‘don’t fit the elbow template’. The record was made with his ‘favourite musicians outside elbow’ with a band that ‘moved fast and drank a lot’ - featuring members of I Am Kloot and The Whip among others, with influences ranging from 90's baggy sounds to classic Tom Waits and beyond.
"Elbow graciously gave me some time to write a solo album," says Garvey. "I’ve wanted to try for years and I’m really proud of it. ‘Solo’ because I wrote everything but I was far from alone. I invited my favourite players outside of elbow (many of them also my favourite people) and we moved fast, drank a lot and had what can only be described as a massive laugh along the way."
Not only that, but he'll be hitting the road in December to celebrate. Full dates are below, with tickets going on sale at 10am on Friday 18 September. For tickets and more information, visit here.
Guy Garvey will play:
Tue December 01 2015 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Wed December 02 2015 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Fri December 04 2015 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Sat December 05 2015 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Tue December 08 2015 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
