Ben Howard Announces Details Of 'Burgh Island' EP And Video For New Track 'Esmerelda'
Friday, 02 November 2012
Written by Jon Stickler
Ben Howard will release a brand new EP of material, the 'Burgh Island EP', through Island Records on 10th December.
The EP's opening track 'Esmerelda' - which debuted earlier this week as Zane Lowe's Hottest Record on Radio One - has launched with a beautiful video shot by Mickey Smith.
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 the 'Burgh Island' EP are united in their dark, menacing, and brooding outlook. It’s a long, way from the blissful warmth of tracks such as 'Old Pine', 'Keep Your Head Up', and 'The Wolves' that has defined Ben across British radio stations for the past 12 months.
There’s a darkness and introspective delivery that makes for a vivid listen throughout the EP. 'Oats In The Water', first aired live to a rapturous response from both DJ and fans on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show in the early Summer, has quickly become a powerful live favourite, and is as beautiful as anything this young artist has recorded to date.
The one constant from the 'Every Kingdom' sessions is the intimate nature of Ben’s vocals and that exquisite guitar playing. Produced once more by drummer/multi-percussionist Chris Bond, Ben has shirked any outside influence to deliver four leftfield tracks that are shot directly from the heart.
This EP coincides with Ben’s biggest, sold-out UK tour to date, which takes in 3 nights at London’s Brixton Academy.
Fri November 2nd 2012 - Brighton Dome, Brighton
Sat November 3rd 2012 - Plymouth Pavillion, Plymouth
Sun November 4th 2012 - University Great Hall, Cardiff
Mon November 5th 2012 - Colston Hall, Bristol
Wed November 7th 2012 - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Fri November 9th 2012 - Waterfront Hall Auditorium, Belfast
Sat November 10th 2012 - O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow
Mon November 12th 2012 - Apollo Manchester, Manchester
Wed November 14th 2012 - O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds
Fri November 16th 2012 - O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne
Sat November 17th 2012 - Aberdeen Music Hall, Aberdeen
Mon November 19th 2012 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, Cambridge
Tue November 20th 2012 - Engine Shed, Lincoln
Wed November 21st 2012 - Academy Leicester, Leicester
Thu November 22nd 2012 - Rock City, Nottingham
Sat November 24th 2012 - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
Sun November 25th 2012 - O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth
Mon November 26th 2012 - Southampton Guildhall, Southampton
Wed November 28th 2012 - O2 Academy Brixton, London
Thu November 29th 2012 - O2 Academy Brixton, London
Fri November 30th 2012 - O2 Academy Brixton, London
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