Folk superstar Seth Lakeman will release his self-produced new album ‘The Granite Way' on 14th February 2024 via his own label Honour Oak Records.
‘The Granite Way' is a collection of songs that was recorded within a week alongside a group of longtime collaborators of Lakeman’s, staying true to his roots and referring to ancient stories that inspired early West Country storytelling.
‘I made a point at the beginning of this writing period to stick with a narrative as best I can,’ he explains. ‘Each song feels strongly connected through history to the moors and the sea. I had written the stories and songs beforehand and had the melodic tunes ready for us all to explore when we recorded in the room, and the musical interplay between this lineup really displays their appetite for sounds and subjects within the folk tradition. With very little rehearsal beforehand the songs evolved quickly and naturally – there was no fixed arrangement until we finally recorded.’
All of the tracks on ‘The Granite Way' were written and produced by Lakeman himself. The album sees Lakeman working with a group of musicians he has played alongside for many years, who he will also be touring with in early 2025 on his upcoming UK headline tour. They are Benji Kirkpatrick (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica), Ben Nicholls (double bass and electric bass), Cormac Byrne (percussion and bodhrán), and Alex Hart (vocals), with additional studio contributions from Archie Churchill Moss on accordion and Dany Crimp on whistles.
Speaking about bringing the songs from the album to life, Lakeman states: ‘In an effort to keep the excitement of a touring band, we recorded everything together so we can recreate all of the songs from The Granite Way live. There are plenty of upbeat melodic tunes and rhythms that will be exciting to play and explore.’
The full dates are:
- Wed 19 Feb – BRISTOL St Georges
- Thu 20 Feb – BUXTON Opera House
- Fri 21 Feb – FARNHAM Maltings
- Sat 22 Feb – EXETER Cathedral
- Sun 23 Feb – SWANSEA Taliesin Arts Centre
- Mon 24 Feb – SHREWSBURY Theatre Severn
- Tue 25 Feb – MILTON KEYNES The Stables
- Wed 26 Feb – COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre
- Thu 27 Feb – LONDON Union Chapel
- Fri 28 Feb – BURY ST EDMUNDS The Apex
- Sat 01 Mar – BRIGHTON St Georges
The tracklisting for ‘The Granite Way' is:
- Louisa
- One More Before You Go
- Charlotte Dymond
- Black Fox
- Huntsman and the Moon
- The Gallows
- Slow Down
- Come and Go
- Born to the Strain
- Roll Back the Years
