Ray Cooper 2020 Interview – Promised Land Tour

Ray Cooper 2020 Interview
Photo by Dai Jeffries

Ray Cooper, former member of Oysterband, left the group 2013 and has now released three solo albums plus a song book. Ray, story-based singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire performs with cello guitar, mandolin and harmonica and Paul Johnson caught up with him recently for the Ray Cooper 2020 Interview on the first date of the current tour at St. Edith Folk Club at St. Edith’s Hall in Sevenoaks (run by everyone’s favourite, Keith Stockman).

It’s hard to believe it but Ray has now lived in Sweden for almost 20 years, honing his song-writing skills and building on his special love for winter, leaving a lasting glistening frosted watermark impression within many of his creations.

The songs range in subject, the title of his first album gives a clue: Tales Of Love War And Death By Hanging. The style straddles folk and rock and his latest release Between The Golden Age & The Promised Land sees a simpler and stripped down more acoustic production inspired by producer Rick Rubin’s treatment of Johnny Cash’s late recordings. It is a big sounding record with serious themes but is nevertheless simple, raw, joyous, and unashamedly romantic.

The interview should start playing automatically, if not click on the play button below to listen.

We featured this stunning version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Seven Curses’ in the last Video Wall but its so good we had to include it again here. It’s also performed as part of Ray’s current live set as well!

RAY COOPER’S PROMISED LAND TOUR 2020 – Remaining Dates…

Wed 11th BSR Bradley Stoke Radio (Bristol)- Guest 1pm

Thu 12th Wild Hare Club at the Green Dragon,New Market Street, Hereford, 8pm £12 info@wildhareclub.com

Fri 13th Stage 2, The Stables, Stockwell lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, 8pm, £11 01908 280800 boxoffice@stables.org

Saturday 14th Hop Barn, Hopyard Farm, Hockerwood lane, Southwell, 8pm, £16, 07880 973365

Sunday 15th Hermon Chapel, Chapel Street, Oswestry, 7pm, 01691 662196 Price- TBC

Wed 18th The Lamb Folk Club, Lamb Inn, 36 High Street, Eastbourne, 8pm, £8, 01323 728268 eastbournelambfolk@outlook.com

Fri 20th Milkmaid Folk Club, Risbygate Sports Club, Westley Road, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm, £12 contact@milkmaidmusic.co.uk,

Sat 21st St Mary’s Church, Alvediston, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5LY, 6.30 pm start 2 sets £15 in adv- 01722 780263 pen.teamtower@gmail.com

Sun 22nd Fleece Folk, The Fleece Inn, The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham, 7.30 pm, £12, 01386 831173

Artists’ website: https://www.raycooper.org/