John Grant announces UK arena tour with Elbow

John Grant will head out on a UK arena tour next with Elbow. To celebrate, Guy Garvey and John have re-recorded a version of the Elbow album track “Kindling (Fickle Flame)”. Listen below…

Dates + live info below…

2nd March – Glasgow – The SSE Hydro
3rd March – Birmingham – Genting Arena
4th March – Manchester – Manchester Arena
6th March – Leeds – First Direct Arena
7th March – London – The O2

elbow have long been admirers of John’s music and they became friends when John toured with the band in the US in 2014. This collaboration came about following a speculative conversation between the members of elbow as Guy Garvey explains:

‘We are always looking for ways to lead new ears to our records and the idea of duetting with John on the track came from a dressing room conversation in Cork. I felt that there was space in the song between the original vocals for a sympathetic voice and a romantic close harmony. John was the first person that came to mind for us when we thought about who could do that.

The last guest on an elbow record was Richard Hawley on ‘The Fix’ which is a Matthau / Lemmon style comedic caper. I felt I could write friendship into a romantic song and as John is both a good friend and a true romantic it worked perfectly. We like to think the listener can feel the beards nuzzling on either side of their neck.”

John recorded his vocals during his visit to London for the 6 Music Scott Walker tribute with elbow keyboard player and producer Craig Potter and is suitably self-deprecating about his contribution:

“Singing with Guy is humiliating and disheartening because he is perfect and sounds like he’s vomiting velvet out of his mouth, but maybe I’ll learn something and besides, I like being around those guys.”

‘Kindling (Fickle Flame)’ is available to download on iTunes now!