Ahead of the release of their new album The Sovereign Self on 29th June via Tin Angel Records Trembling Bells are to take over Cafe Oto for a two day residency on Tuesday 30th June and Wednesday 1st July which includes performances from Mike Heron (Incredible String Band), Martin Carthy and more. They also recently revealed this new video for Sweet Death Polka:
The Sovereign Self which takes its name from a line from Dennis Potter is the bands fifth album and their first since 2012 when they released The Marble Downs which featured Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.
Talking about the new album Alex Neilson, who as well as being the band percussionist is also the chief songwriter, said “It’s darker than our other records. Suffering played quite a big part in its conception. I came out of a relationship and was consoling myself creatively and emotionally by reading a lot of Greek tragedy. The language is incredible. I immersed myself in that and then cherry-picked lines from it, distorting and personalising them.”
“Some songs are a little challenging” says lead vocalist Lavinia Blackwall, “Bringing Alasdair C Mitchell into the band means we have the interplay of two guitar parts. Musically, this album has been a lot more collaborative and democratic and as a result a lot of our other influences have come through – psychedelia, early-70s prog and rock. It’s heavier and darker. I find it physically and emotionally draining to sing these songs, because they are quite intense you have to put so much into them.”
Their mass of influences are equally apparent with the lineup for their two-day residency at Cafe Oto which features collaborators both old and new. On Tuesday 30th June the they feature acclaimed Scottish folk artist and FRUK favourite Alasdair Roberts, eclectic folk trio the Family Elan, and Alex Neilson, Sybren Renema and Lucy Stein’s free jazz project, Death Shanties. Then on Wednesday, they perform alongside Incredible String Band founder Mike Heron, with support from legendary folk artist Martin Carthy, songwriter Dan Haywood, and Trembling Bells a capella offshoot, Crying Lion. Tickets are available here.
They have a busy touring schedule ahead, details of which can be found below.
Live Dates
23 June- Marc Riley session
25 June- Bristol, Cube
26 June- Glastonbury, Bandstand stage
28 June- Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival
29 June- Colchester Arts Centre
30 June- London- Cafe Oto album launch (with Alasdair Roberts/ Family Elan/ Death Shanties)
1st July- London- Cafe Oto album launch (with Mike Heron/ Dan Haywood/ Martin Carthy/ Crying Lion)
2nd July- Wymondham Music Festival (with Mike Heron)
3rd July- Wymondham Music Festival (with Crying Lion)
5th July- “All In The Downs”- tribute to Shirley Collins, Southbank, London
25 July- Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s
26 July- Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
27 July- Brighton, The Greys (with Elle Osborn)
28 July- Ramsgate, Music Hall (with Elle Osborn) tbc
29 July- London, 229 Venue (with Galley Beggar)
30 July- Port Elliot festival, Cornwall
31 July- Tretheene, Treen, End of the Earth Festival
1 August- Exeter, Phoenix
2 August- Bath, The Bell
3 August- Coventry, Tin Music & Arts
5 August- Birmingham, Kitchen Garden Cafe
6 August- Oxford, The Cellar (with Jackie Oates)
7 August- Supernormal Festival, Oxfordshire
9 August- Leeds, Hyde Park Picture House (with Alasdair Roberts & Horseloom)
10 August- Leicester, The Musician (with Alasdair Roberts)
11 August- York, The Basement (with Alasdair Roberts & Horseloom)
12 August- Preston, Continental (with Alasdair Roberts & Horseloom)
13 August- Newcastle, Cumberland Arms (with Mike Heron & Horseloom)
14 August- Glasgow, Glad Cafe (with Alasdair Roberts & Horseloom)
22 August- Bert Jansch festival, The Bell, Ticehurst, Sussex
23 August- Doune the Rabbit Hole Festival, Scotland
http://www.tremblingbells.com/