Having released his self-titled debut album on Dead Oceans, Alt-Country troubadour Marlon Williams is to tour the UK & Europe with his full band for the first time (The Yarra Benders) in April before heading to the US in May to tour with Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and Jesca Hoop. Little Miss Lonesome is our Song of the Day:
Raised in a coastal town of just 3000 people in New Zealand, Marlon Williams’ upbringing was no less richer for it thanks to an artistic community that included his parents – “a painter and industrial punk musician”.
“The first three things I remember Mum listening to were PJ Harvey, early choral music and Smokey Robinson. A lot of Maori music too. We used to go down the marae for meetings and sing these big harmony songs.”
Dad would bring home CDs every week, moving from Elvis and The Beatles through Echo & The Bunnymen, The Band’s Music From Big Pink, and, crucially, Gram Parsons: “A rock ’n’ roll dude playing country music, but respecting the purity of it.”
Whilst he’s a big name at home where he received five nominations in the New Zealand Music Awards 2015, the equivalent of the GRAMMYs in US or The Brit Awards in UK, 2016 is when that name crosses borders, make sure you catch him on tour!
UK Dates
05 APR – Bodega Social Club, Nottingham
06 APR – The Louisiana, Bristol
07 APR – St Giles In The Fields, London
08 APR – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton
For details of all his full European tour dates head here: www.marlonwilliams.co.nz