This March sees the return of Sheffield-based Neil McSweeney with his fourth album, A Coat Worth Wearing. The album is the second release on the newly formed Hudson Records. Like the first release, The Furrow Collective’s Wild Hog, production wizard Andy Bell is at the helm. To whet your appetites, we have the pleasure in sharing this live session of Neil performing ‘Land of Cockaigne‘ filmed by Handheld Cine Club’s Jim Lockey at Yellow Arch studios.
Back in October when we interviewed Andy Bell about Hudson Records (read it here) he hinted at this new release being a family affair, the line-up certainly lives up to that statement: Sam Sweeney, Ben Nichols, MG Boulter, Tom Lenthall, Lucy Farrell and Emily Portman.
This Hudson Records family are certainly no strangers to each other. Lucy and Emily both play in The Furrow Collective, and Neil is no stranger to the traditional folk world having previously toured with Bellowhead, accompanied by Sam Sweeney and Vera van Heeringen. He also sings in a traditional folk trio with Jon Boden and Fay Hield called Holler.
His last album, Cargo (2013), was well received with R2 declaring him ‘a songwriter of rare ability.’ Despite the praise the anticipation around A Coat Worth Wearing is heightened by hints at a marked development in his sound and approach. Its nine songs were conceived as a piece and subsequently recorded together, largely in full-band live-takes, over seven days in the beautiful Welsh countryside.
A Coat Worth Wearing is due for release on Friday 10 March 2017 via Hudson Records. Don’t miss his tour dates below:
Neil McSweeney – A Coat Worth Wearing Tour Dates
08 March Biddulph, Stoke on Trent
10 March Queen’s Social Club, Sheffield.
13 March Green Note, London (press launch)
17 March Labour Club, Retford
18 March Independent Cafe, Scunthorpe
23 March The Musician, Leicester
25 March LV21, Gravesend
31 March Oswestry Chapel
01 April Blue Sky Café Bangor
Pre-order A Coat Worth Wearing here: www.hudsonrecords.co.uk