Adam Holmes & The Embers who were our Artist of the Month for May (read the album review here) have revealed their new video for People Come People Go. The video, which you can watch above, was shot in Adam’s home town of Edinburgh and is the first single from the forthcoming album, ‘Brighter Still’ – out June 10th.
Brighter Still doesn’t ride on the coat-tails of the success Heirs and Graces enjoyed. Rather than adopting the safe approach of ‘that went well, let’s do it again‘; Adam has gained confidence in his own ability and taken his music forward. Not in a new direction, but off on a gentle tangent that explores what else can be achieved when the quality of the song writing leaves ample space for adventure. The music is still rooted in the rhythm & blues, country and folk that’s inspired Adam, but on this album he allows his own voice as a singer, song-writer and musician shine Brighter Still. Read Neil McFadyen’s full review here.
Adam’s musical education began in the infamous folk clubs of Edinburgh – Sandy Bell’s and The Royal Oak – taken along by his mother, a huge fan of UK folk music, he witnessed the legendary live sessions that took place. His father’s influence was equally strong, a love of classic American singer songwriters (notably Neil Young and Townes Van Zandt) which he passed onto to his son, now evident in the transatlantic quality to Adam’s music.
Adam Holmes and the Embers debut album, ‘Heirs and Graces’ was released to much acclaim in early 2014 and immediately achieved a Scottish Album of the Year nomination. Produced by John Wood (John Martyn, Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Pink Floyd) it followed a stint working on building sites by day, playing in folk clubs at night before a string of award nominations from the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition to Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and then Best Up and Coming Artist at The Scottish Traditional Music Awards, all recognising a rising star on the UK folk scene. Live sessions for BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland soon followed.
Two years on, the new album, ‘Brighter Still’ is eagerly anticipated by folk fans and critics alike, but its combination of haunting melodies, honest lyrics and Adam’s captivating voice will undoubtedly resonate with a wider audience.
Tour Dates
Adam is a featured singer on John McCusker’s Anniversary Tour (details here) which continues around the UK until mid-May, before he begins his own headline tour and plays festival shows throughout the summer:
June
3rd Ullapool The Ceilidh Place
4th Inverness Brew at the Bog Festival
8th Aberdeen The Blue Lamp
9th Glasgow CCA (album launch show)
10th Stirling The Tolbooth
August
24th Hagen, Germany Stadthalle
25th – 28th Tønder Festival, Denmark
31st London The Green Note
[+ Edinburgh International Festival – 2 x shows with Flit by Martin Green of Lau and members of Portishead, Mogwai and The Unthanks – this show will tour the UK in October]
September
2nd Stroud The Convent
3rd Trelawnyd Trelawnyd Hall
READ OUR RECENT INTERVIEW WITH ADAM HERE