Paper Tigers is the fourth album from State Of The Union (Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams). It was written in fits and starts whenever they could meet up, as these days they are in Glasgow and Cambridgeshire. Both instinctively know when a song is welcome in the State Of The Union universe. It comes from an imagined long ago past, it’s almost like they try and transport themselves back to a writing room in the middle of the last century. Working with Mark Freegard again they went back to the room where they recorded their first two albums and in a day and half of live performance the record was done, this combination is almost magical! Just the two of them, no overdubs… The songs allow them a playful quality that is beyond their solo work.
‘Jonesin’ Over You’, ‘That’s All Folks’ and ‘Horsefeathers’ are almost comedic with an acerbic edge. ‘St-Louis-Du-Ha!Ha!’ is a real place in Canada, the only place name with two exclamation marks! They’ve never been there and think this rather judgmental song probably means they never will… ‘Hesitation Waltz’ a tale of mid-century longing and ‘Taste Of The Onion’ is the obligatory instrumental. Title track, ‘Paper Tigers’, well why not, they love the Everlys! Brooks and Boo are thrilled to invite you into their joyful decade long project.
Artists websites: https://boohewerdine.com/ https://brookswilliams.com/
‘Butterfly Wings’ – live:
State Of The Union 2025 Paper Tigers Tour Dates
11 February Montrose Folk Club, Montrose, Scotland
12 February Glad Cafe, Glasgow, Scotland
13 February The Catstrand, Dumfries, Scotland
14 February Barnoldswick Arts Centre, Barnoldswick, Lancashire
15 February Hunmanby Community Centre, Hunmanby, North Yorkshire
19 February The Whitham, Barnard Castle, County Durham
20 February Karona Sessions, Upholland, Lancashire
21 February Folk at the Barlow, Bolton, Greater Manchester
22 February Canopy Theatre, Beccles, Suffolk
23 February Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent
24 February Junction 2, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
25 February Hoy At Anchor, Leigh On Sea, Essex
26 February Folklore Rooms, Brighton, East Sussex
27 February Lyceum Folk Club, Newport, Wales
28 February Blue Boar, Maldon, Essex
1 March Railway Inn, Winchester, Hampshire
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