Foy Vance Enlists Ed Sheeran, Elton John And Keith Urban For Guiding Light (Anniversary Edition)
Thursday, 16 November 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
Foy Vance has re-recorded Guiding Light with Elton John, Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban.
The original track appeared on Vance's 2013 album 'Joy Of Nothing' and also features additional vocals from longtime friend Sheeran. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the Northern Ireland singer-songwriter has released a new version of the song with the three musicians who have inspired him on his journey.
"When I wrote Guiding Light I was feeling lost in my life due to a loss of family, friendships and reason," Vance said in a statement. "The music lit up the darkness. Melody reminded me to keep going no matter how long the road or how pointless it seemed.
"Guiding Light is the person or the thing that brings you back to a safe space, somewhere to lick your wounds and convalesce. To see this song resonate with so many people over the years has truly been a beautiful thing."
Produced by Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid, the new Anniversary Edition finds Sheeran, John and Urban contributing new vocals alongside a choir. The track's accompanying video will premiere on YouTube at 3pm GMT today (November 16).
John commented: "It’s the most beautiful song. When Foy asked me to do it, it was a no brainer for me because I’m such a huge fan of his."
Sheeran said: "I was a Foy Vance fan from the age of about 15 and went to a load of his gigs back then where he used to end with Guiding Light. It was a song that I was obsessed with—I learned it in my bedroom, and I used to play it at pub shows, trying to be Foy. When we got to know each other, I asked him why he had never recorded it because I’d only ever found videos of it on YouTube and I really encouraged him to record it. When he was recording it he asked 'well why don’t you sing it with me? If you’ve been singing for all these years you should sing it with me,' so we sang it on 'Joy Of Nothing' in 2013. Then when said he was re-recording it and wants to do it with Keith Urban and Elton John I was like, that sounds great!"
Urban added: "I get a call from Foy that they’re going to do a new version of Guiding Light, one of my all-time favorite songs, to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Foy writing the song, and so for me that was a no brainer. To be on the song period is incredible because it’s such a beautiful song. It’s more of a hymn—it captures all of the beauty and the struggle and everything that it is to be a spiritual being having a human experience. I think this song captures it. So it was an immediate yes from me to be a part of it."
Back in August, Vance released 'Joy Of Nothing (Anniversary Edition)', though it didn't include the star-studded new single, which arrives via Gingerbread Man Records ahead of Vance's Regarding The Joy Of Nothing UK Tour in December. He also has Australian dates lined up for next week and North American shows scheduled for early 2024.
Vance's most recent album is 2021's 'Signs Of Life'.
Foy Vance Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Tue November 21 2023 - BRISBANE Triffid
Wed November 22 2023 - SYDNEY Metro
Fri November 24 2023 - MELBOURNE Croxton Bandroom
Sat December 02 2023 - KILLARNEY INEC Arena
Sun December 03 2023 - LIMERICK Dolans
Tue December 05 2023 - GALWAY Roisin Dubh
Wed December 06 2023 - GALWAY Roisin Dubh
Mon December 11 2023 - LEEDS Brudenell Social Club
Tue December 12 2023 - BRISTOL THE FLEECE
Wed December 13 2023 - NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
Fri December 15 2023 - MANCHESTER Band on the Wall
Sat December 16 2023 - LONDON Union Chapel
Mon December 18 2023 - GLASGOW St Lukes
Tue December 19 2023 - GLASGOW St Lukes
Thu January 18 2024 - BIRMINGHAM AL - Iron City Birmingham (USA)
Fri January 19 2024 - ATLANTA Georgia - City Winery (USA)
Mon January 22 2024 - ST LOUIS Missouri - City Winery At City Foundry STL (USA)
Wed January 24 2024 - KANSAS CITY Missouri - Truman (USA)
Thu January 25 2024 - OMAHA Nebraska - Main Room at Slowdown - Complex (USA)
Fri January 26 2024 - IOWA CITY Iowa - Englert Theatre (USA)
Sun January 28 2024 - FORT WAYNE Indiana - Clyde Theatre (USA)
Mon January 29 2024 - PITTSBURGH Pennsylvania - City Winery (USA)
Thu February 01 2024 - ROCKY MOUNT Virginia - Harvester Performance Center (USA)
Fri February 02 2024 - VIENNA Virginia - Barns at Wolf Trap - Complex (USA)
Sat February 03 2024 - MONTCLAIR New Jersey - Outpost in the Burbs at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation (USA)
Mon February 05 2024 - WILMINGTON - Queen (USA)
Tue February 06 2024 - SOUTH DEERFIELD Massachusetts - Tree House Brewing Co (USA)
Thu February 08 2024 - EAST GREENWICH Rhode Island - Greenwich Odeum (USA)
Fri February 09 2024 - PORTSMOUTH VA New Hampshire - Historic Theater at Portsmouth Music Hall (USA)
Sat February 10 2024 - SOUTH BURLINGTON Vermont - Higher Ground Ballroom at Higher Ground - Complex (USA)
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