Lisa Hannigan Announces Tour Supporting Richard Hawley And Details Of New Single 'Passenger'
Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
Lisa Hannigan has announced a tour supporting Richard Hawley, as well as plans for the release of third single from her stunning sophomore record, ‘Passenger’.
The title track will be released on September 10th via Hoop Records/PIAS, and is the next milestone in a prolific year for Lisa; one that’s included a Choice Music Prize nomination, breakthrough spots on the likes of ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ alongside two extensive US tours, and sell-out shows at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Shepherds Bush Empire and Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens.
‘Passenger’ is an uplifting taste of escapism from Hannigan, starting out with little more than ukulele and vocals, but building to a blend of strings, horns and sun-kissed harmonies. Name-checking Salt Lake, Texas, Phoenix and Arizona – amongst others - it is a fitting reflection on an album written about everything you take with you when you travel, encompassing emotional journeys as much as physical ones (“we came upon Ohio / I have you chewed on like a biro / Your are a sum I am no closer to deciphering”).
‘Passenger’ was produced by US legend Joe Henry (Solomon Burke, Loudon Wainwright) after a hook-up in Pasadena, before recording for the full record took place in Wales. “He’s a proper Southern gent” describes Hannigan. “We got the train out to him from L.A, and as we alighted, he crossed the tracks to meet us. He was in one of those proper old American villages that has a hardware store and bakery and a butcher –not like anywhere that exists any more. We shook hands and that
sealed the deal.”
For Hannigan – born in County Meath – the journey of her ‘Passenger’ project has taken her further still on her artistic travels. It completes the personal outing that saw Lisa exit her seven-year collaborator Damien Rice and make her first steps as a solo artist (see the Mercury-nominated ‘Sea Sew’). A darker and altogether more personal offering, ‘Passenger’ is themed around “those loves, heartbreaks, confusions and friendships that we take with us through life, over years and continents, enduring the passage of time.” And it’s all there to be heard - from the rain-lashed, ivory-poundings of opening track ‘Home’ to the idyll days of former love described in ‘Paper House’(“Oh you know what you are to me/and you know you will always be”). Having made her name singing co-vocals, Lisa has since turned the tables on the gorgeous ‘O Sleep’, inviting old friend Ray LaMontagne to guest.
Sept 16th - Holmfirth The Picturedrome
Sept 17th - Norwich UEA
Sept 18th - Portsmouth Pyramid
Sept 19th - Brighton Dome
Sept 21st - Bath Pavilion
Sept 22nd - Birmingham Institute
Sept 23rd - Sheffield City Hall
Sept 25th - Leeds O2 Academy
Sept 26th - Manchester Academy
Sept 27th - Newcastle O2 Academy
Sept 28th - Glasgow Barrowland
Sept 30th - Lincoln Engine Shed
Oct 1st - Derby Assembly Rooms
Oct 2nd - Sheffield City Hall
Oct 3rd - London O2 Academy Brixton
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