Roddy Woomble releases a new single ‘Lo Soul’

It’s the first and title track (more or less) to be taken from the Idlewild frontman’s forthcoming solo album ‘Lo! Soul’, due out in May 2021.

Produced and mixed by recent collaborator Andrew Mitchell (aka Andrew Wasylyk), who also worked on ‘Everyday Sun‘ EP from last April, the new LP was recorded remotely between Woomble’s home in the Hebrides and Mitchell’s studio in Dundee throughout 2020 while Scotland was locked down.

Woomble explains: “I’m a collaborative songwriter, used to working in a room with one or more people, or a band, and I think my songs benefit from that human connection and response. With lockdown last year my initial reaction was not to work on songs. It offered a pause for us all, and like many others I found myself alone and reflecting. Concentrating on reading and writing. Considering maybe working on a book of poems instead….

“Gradually though, I started developing songs on my acoustic guitar which I would record on my phone and send on to Andrew in Dundee. Around then, my friend and musician Danny Grant, based in Glasgow, began sharing his wonderful electronic grooves and rhythms with me. I started improvising over these with my poems. It didn’t feel like an album we were creating at this stage though, more a scrapbook of this particular moment. As restrictions eased in the summer I spent three days in Andrew’s studio recording vocals and developing these ideas. Other than this, the album was all recorded remotely – Dundee Glasgow, and the Hebrides.

Woomble adds: “I have always been an admirer of the word ‘Lo’, Walt Whitman uses it quite a bit – (…’Lo, the unbounded sea…) It is a call to attention, in it’s dictionary definition. I’m using it like a wake up call – a wake up call through the ages!”

Woomble’s previously announced live shows for May 2021 have now been rescheduled for March 2022 with original tickets still valid. These are accompanied by a string of UK-wide dates in October 2021 including his biggest solo headline show at London’s Union Chapel.

29 July 2021 – Irvine, Harbour Arts Centre
30 July 2021 – Dundee, Dundee University’s Chaplaincy Centre
31 July 2021 – Topcliffe, Deer Shed Festival
01 August 2021 – Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough Town Hall
06 August 2021 – Strathaven, Frets Acoustic @ Strathaven Hotel
07 August 2021 – Sheffield, Greystones
08 August 2021 – Sunderland, Lamplight Festival
26 September 2021 – Chester, St Mary’s Creative Space
03 October 2021 – Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
04 October 2021 – Galashiels, Mac Arts
05 October 2021 – St. Albans, The Horn
06 October 2021 – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
07 October 2021 – Coventry, The Tin Music & Acts
08 October 2021 – Reading, South Street Arts Centre
09 October 2021 – London, Union Chapel
10 October 2021 – Newcastle, Hapless Weekend @ Cumberland Arms

2022

15 March 2022 – Manchester, Night & Day
16 March 2022 – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
17 March 2022 – Oxford, Jericho Tavern
18 March 2022 – Winchester, The Railway Inn
19 March 2022 – Isle of Wight, Quay Arts Centre
20 March 2022 – Guildford, The Boileroom
22 March 2022 – Lewes, Con Club
23 March 2022 – Cambridge, Portland Arms
24 March 2022 – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
26 March 2022 – Edinburgh, Summerhall
24 May 2022 – Lerwick, The Dowry
25 May 2022 – Lerwick, The Dowry

‘Lo! Soul’ will be released digitally on 21 May 2021, followed by a vinyl and CD release on 30 July, including a limited edition indie record store exclusive coloured vinyl, and is available to pre-order now.

More at ffm.bio/roddywoomble / www.facebook.com/RoddyWoomble and www.roddywoomble.net.