Dan Walsh announces new album and tour dates

BBC Folk Awards nominee Dan Walsh is releasing his first full studio album of original material since 2019 – and it’s already been described as his ‘most exciting album to date’ by leading folk music producer Mark Hutchinson.

For the uninitiated internationally acclaimed banjo player, guitarist, songwriter, composer and vocalist Dan is a former BBC folk awards nominee, as well as being a key member of the Urban Folk Quartet, and an in-demand session musician who has toured the world.

He is releasing his new album At The Station on the Rooksmere Records label on 15th May featuring striking melodies, good-time country and Americana influences, a mix of upbeat and thought-provoking songs, stunning instrumentals, and a brand-new, full band sound – all built around his virtuosic musicianship. He is very ably joined on his new album by Nic Zuppardi of The Shackleton Trio on mandolin, fiddle player Niles Krieger from The Often Herd, and the Jaywalkers’ Lucy Williams on upright bass. ‘Still A Town’ will be released as a single in late April.

Lyrically the subject matter of the songs are extremely varied.

Album opener ‘Still A Town’ focuses upon the decline of the town and city centres, most notably his own native Stafford, in an age when many choose to make most of their purchases online. While ‘What We Should Be Fighting For’ deals with the cuts to the arts post covid and in the Brexit era, ‘What She’s Got’ is an observational song contemplating as to what a lady who pushes a pram around Dan’s neighbourhood with her elbows while permanently on the phone may be talking about.

Emotions surface quite a lot lyrically on the new album. ‘So Much Light’ was written after the funeral of a friend capturing the mixed emotions that Dan felt on the day, while ‘What Went Before’ was written by Dan after the death of a Welshman named Evan who barely spoke a word, but when Dan played music for people living with dementia an astonishing voice emerged from this slightly built gentleman. Equally emotive the Bluegrass inspired ‘Move Away’ was written by Dan with great concern for someone who needed to escape a toxic living situation.

There are two interesting cover versions on the album as well, from the obscure to the omnipresent. Growing up Dan found the song ‘Somebody Somewhere’ by the Irish band Picturehouse to be incredibly uplifting and his take on their song imbues it with beautiful harmonies and takes it in a Country direction. The other is extremely well known being ‘Some Might Say’ by Oasis which while instantly recognisable has probably never been given the Bluegrass makeover treatment before, until now.

Musically the album encompasses a wide range of influences from his love of Bluegrass and Americana taking inspiration from artists such as Alison Krauss and the Union Station and Nickel Creek, to his love of folk and Irish tunes through to the pop side of acoustic music, and as you would expect the songs are interspersed with some very fine instrumental tunes.

While ‘Acoustic Circus’, a funky banjo tune with twists and turns emerged from the lockdown era, and ‘Changing Tides’ is a sprightly Bluegrass work out, conversely ‘January Waltz’ has a more melancholic feel to it conveying how many feel during the opening month of the year. The album’s concluding instrumental ‘Clatterbug’ is a playful banjo tune centered around harmonics and is named after a music group that his young daughter attended in her early years.

As Dan himself says about his new album “Ultimately, I always want to write about things I understand and that make sense to me – and I think that means listeners will connect with these songs, too.”

On At The Station, Dan’s remarkable musicianship is married more than ever with truly accessible – and sincerely affecting – songwriting to produce as Mark Hutchinson says ‘May well be Dan’s most exciting album to date.” We agree, and hope that you will too.

Artist’s website: https://www.danwalshbanjo.co.uk/

‘Clatterbug’ – official video:

Tour Dates

19th April – STANSTEAD ABBOTTS Parish Hall,
30th April – NORTHWICH House Concert,
1st May – PONTARDAWE Valley Folk Club,
8th May – STOKE-ON-TRENT Potteries Folk Club,
15th May – NEWTON-IN-CARTMEL Village Hall,
17th May- SHREWSBURY The Hive,
21st May – LONDON Lvls,
22nd May – KINGSWINFORD Woodman Folk Club,
29th May – BEESTON Second Time Around Folk Club,
30th May – NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE Cumberland Arms,
4th June – CREWE Ebenezers,
5th September – CIRENCESTER Didmarton Bluegrass Festival,
6th September – SOUTHPORT Bijou Cinema,
7th September – CUPAR Gateside Memorial Hall,
10th September – NORWICH Corncutter Promotions,
11th September – STAFFORD Gatehouse Theatre,
12th September – MANLEY Village Hall,
13th September – ST IVES, CAMBRIGESHIRE Old Riverport Jazz and Blues Festival,
17th September – DEAL St Andrew’s Church Hall,
21st September – CHICHESTER Folk Club,
29th September – DARTFORD Folk Club.

 

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