Jon Boden has announced that after a 26 month (unintentional) break, the Remnant Kings will be returning for four gigs in Feb 2022 (all dates below). Jon founded the Remnant Kings in 2009 to tour his post-apocalyptic song cycle Songs from the Floodplain. These tours picked up quite a reputation with fans as a sing-along often followed the performances in a nearby pub. The band went into hibernation for several years whilst Bellowhead were in full flow but were later reunited and relaunched to record ‘Afterglow’ in 2017, Jon’s first new album after leaving Bellowhead. The band features former Bellowhead band-mates Sam Sweeney and Paul Sartin, Leveret’s Rob Harbron and Ben Nicholls and Richard Warren (King of The South Seas).
Below, you can hear them performing Seven Bonnie Gypsies; Marry Waterson made the video.
‘So many great versions of this song but not too many with a chorus so I’ve borrowed this one from Sheath and Knife which I first heard at a formative stage from a recording of Eliza Carthy accompanied by Dan Plews, both of whom subsequently become good friends and colleagues / employers. The tune is my own. There are different ways of interpreting this song, and in particular of interpreting the socio-historical origins of the story, but I very much see it as a song about people being trapped in situations where the escape route is almost as painful as would be remaining. So the lady chooses to abandon her baby in order to escape an unhappy marriage. What is particularly moving for me is the lack of rancour or bitterness expressed between the characters, just an overwhelming sense of sadness.’ Jon Boden
There will be some dates (see below) with the Remnant Strings in April. The Strings are a smaller and more intimate lineup to the Kings but no less magical. The strings are Helen Bell (viola), Morven Bryce (violin) and Lucy Revis (cello). Here they are performing Rose in June for the BBC’s ‘The Quay Sessions’.
There will also be some solo dates and not forgetting Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden’s ‘The Wassail’ at London’s Union Chapel on Tuesday 21st December. Although Jon played in Eliza’s bad the Ratcatchers, this is the first time they will be performing as a duo, and coming together for a wassail. Presenting seasonal, traditional material on a stage decorated for the occasion, they will take the audience back to some of the oldest songs in the English canon, telling Christmas tales, spreading good cheer and lighting up one of the darkest days of the year, ahead of Christmas Day itself. Get your tickets for The Wassail here.
Jon Boden Tour Dates
Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings
Wed Feb 9th – Victoria Hall, Settle
Thurs Feb 10th – The Regal, Tenbury Wells
Fri Feb 11th – The Atkinson, Southport
Sat Feb 12th – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
Jon Boden Solo Dates
Mon Jan 31st – Nettlebed Village Hall
Thurs Feb 24th – The Place, Bedford
Sat Mar 26th – Theatre Deli, Sheffield
Jon Boden & The Remnant Strings
Wed Apr 6th – Turner Sims, Southampton
Thur Apr 7th – Strode Theatre, Street, Somerset
Fri Apr 8th – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis
Sat Apr 9th – St Petroc’s Church, Bodmin
Fri Apr 22nd – Stoller Hall, Manchester
Sat Apr 30th – Bristol Folk Festival
Ticket Links: https://www.jonboden.com/shows