Edwyn Collins returns to play Liverpool
Edwyn Collins confirms rare live show at Liverpool’s Arts Club, Getintothis’ Jamie Bowman on the return of one of the UK’s great songwriters.
Indie icon Edwyn Colllins, who recently released his ninth solo album Badbea will play The Arts Club on September 7.
The former Orange Juice frontman released his new album on his own AED label and tickets for his forthcoming Liverpool date will surely fly out when they go on sale Friday, April 26 at 9am.
The Scottish musician, who will turn 60 in August, has endured a torrid time in recent years after suffering two major cerebral hemorrhages in 2005, which led to a long period of rehabilitation and right-sided weakness and difficulty with speech.
Thankfully, the release of his sixth solo album, entitled Home Again, in September 2007 on Heavenly Records, hastened a welcome recovery as depicted in the moving BBC Scotland documentary, Edwyn Collins: Home Again.
Having released his last album, Understated in March 2013, Badbea is his first release since moving both home and studio to Helmsdale on the North East coast of Scotland in 2014.
The studio itself has been something of a labour of love for Collins and his wife Grace, with the couple building it from scratch close to their house, which once belonged to the artist’s grandfather and overlooks the Moray Firth.
Cosmic spacerockers Gnoomes to play with RongoRongo and Samurai Kip – buy tickets here
The studio has become a popular retreat for numerous bands with, recent visitors such as Teenage Fanclub, Hooton Tennis Club, Tracyanne and Danny, Meggie Brown, Shopping and David Gray all enjoying the isolated nature of the destination.
Collins is widely known for his work with the band Orange Juice and his memorable 1995 solo hit A Girl Like You and Badbea continues Collins‘ eloquent and contemplative solo career with many of the songs detailing his remarkable and on-going rehabilitation.
Some tracks see the Edinburgher remembering past times with Orange Juice and penning lyrics inspired by the discovery of over 30 old pre-illness lyric books unearthed while ‘de-cluttering’ before the move back to Scotland.
“It’s all about looking forward, I guess,” he reflects. “I’m happy. Content with life.”
The last few years have also seen the Scotsman scoring a couple of films – the much acclaimed ‘biographical’ The Possibilities Are Endless in 2014 with Carwyn Ellis and Seb Lewsley and the forthcoming Sometimes.
Always. Never with Sean Read which stars Bill Nighy and Sam Riley and is the directorial debut of Carl Hunter, who makes and teaches film in Liverpool and is a long-standing member of The Farm.
[paypal-donation]
