Media Release 7 April 2015

MARC ALMOND, KEATON HENSON AND SUN KIL MOON; HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL’S CUTTING EDGE SUMMER SERIES ‘THIS MUST BE THE PLACE’

‘THIS MUST BE THE PLACE’
1 August, 8pm – MARC ALMOND performs his The Velvet Trail Tour in
NCH debut
6 August, 8pm – SUN KIL MOON perform songs from latest album, Benji, alongside his 2003 debut Ghosts of the Great Highway
15 August, 8pm – KEATON HENSON who rarely performs live, will be accompanied by his 22-piece sinfonietta for his Irish debut

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY 10 APRIL, 10AM

(NCH FRIENDS GET PRIORITY BOOKING, WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL)

In one of the most exciting announcements of the summer the National Concert Hall launches ‘This Must Be the Place’; a series of special concerts by iconic, independent and influential artists this August. First up; legendary singer Marc Almond brings his new album The Velvet Trail to Ireland in his NCH debut (1st August), followed by Mark Kozelek (aka Sun Kil Moon and his band) performing songs from his latest album ‘Benji’ (6th August). Also making this Irish debut will be British singer-songwriter Keaton Henson accompanied by his 22-piece sinfonietta (15th August) in a rare performance by the popular recluse.

Rarely has there been such an exciting line-up of rare performances by  such  artists at the National Concert Hall. Inspired by cutting-edge festival with an indie-rock slant, ‘This Must Be The Place Series’ pays homage to a generation

MARC ALMOND (1 August)

Marc Almond’s The Velvet Trail Tour is his first major solo jaunt in two years. Fans attending the show on 1st August will enjoy a live premiere of tracks from his new album, together with acclaimed 2014 extended EP The Dancing Marquis and a chance to relive his greatest hits as well as old classics. Marc is joined by loyal stage companions Neal X on guitars, Martin Watkins on piano and keyboards, and Tim Weller on drums.

Almond says, “I’m really excited about the tour and the new album The Velvet Trail, I can’t wait to perform some of the songs live – this will be one of the most exciting shows I’ve ever staged”.

A recipient of last year’s Ivor Novello Inspiration Award Almond is currently touring with Jools Holland, following the 2013’s triumph of his award-winning Ten Plagues song cycle performances and subsequent album release.

SUN KIL MOON (6 August)

Mark Kozelek (aka Sun Kil Moon) and his band perform songs from latest album, Benji, alongside material from his eleven-year career including his 2003 debut, Ghosts of the Great Highway on 6th August. Released in February 2014 to widespread critical acclaim, Benji, which is an intricate album about life, death, love and humanity, laced with tragedy, is already been heralded as one of the top-10 albums of the decade.

Kozelek has been performing under the Sun Kil Moon moniker since 2002, following the split of his previous band, Red House Painters. He uses his song-writing to blend the autobiographical with the universal; all of his songs are accounts of events that have affected Kozelek and almost all of them feature death.

KEATON HENSON (15 August)

Keaton Henson, who rarely performs live, will be accompanied by his 22-piece sinfonietta for his Irish debut on 15th of August. Recognised for his fragile voice and delicate melodies, Henson creates a mesmerizing landscape of almost unbearable grief. His debut album, ‘Dear...’;  a collection of simple, tender songs, stripped to the marrow was released quietly in late 2010, in a limited edition run, hand-made by Keaton, selling out immediately. Fast forward to September 2011 and BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe is threatening to play ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are’ twice in a row, triggering a frenzy of investigations into Keaton’s identity. Ahead of the release of his third Album ‘Birthdays’ Keaton takes tentative steps into the live performing space, giving one-on-one performances for fans from within a dollhouse, as part of an art gallery exhibiting his work. Then, eventually, he started to play conventional gigs - but in unconventional venues (the first was in a dusty old cinema museum in South London). Unannounced, tickets sold out in a little over an hour, and were greeted with 5-star reviews.

Turning to orchestration and instrument writing, Henson produced ‘Romantic Works’, his first collection of classical compositions. It was made available without prior warning on the same day as his biggest show to date; headlining London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall at the personal request of UNKLE’s James Lavelle for Meltdown Festival (with Keaton’s show selling out in a morning). More recently he scored ‘Young Men’, a full-length ballet for Balletboyz and choreographer Iván Pérez, which premiered in January 2015 at Sadler’s Wells. A fully immersive production of Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ – billed as Keaton Henson presents Cellophony – sold out two nights at London’s Oval Space, in association with The Barbican. He recently launched ‘Crooked Darlings’, his range of homewares on the theme of self-loathing, and is currently putting the finishing touches to his first book of poetry. Plus he is at work on his third album!


AT THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL
1 August 2015 This Must Be The Place: Marc Almond €40, €45, €50
6 August 2015   This Must Be The Place: Sun Kil Moon €30
15 August 2015 This Must Be The Place: Keaton Henson €35

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY 10 APRIL, 10AM
(FRIENDS GET PRIORITY BOOKING WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL
 
ENDS

For further information please contact : Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.
 
 

Sinead Doyle
Marketing & PR Manager
National Concert Hall
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2.
Tel: 01 – 417 0057 / 087 1775334