Ralegh Long with very special guests John Howard and Darren Hayman

Event information

Ralegh Long previews his forthcoming debut album with a full band including Jack Hayter (ex-Hefner) on pedal steel. This bucolic debut presents a pop craftsman with a distinct and fully-formed worldview. Due spring 2014, it features a cast of collaborators including Tom Dougall of Toy, arranger Louis-Philippe and and indie-pop orchestra A Little Orchestra. Long's joy in melody has earned him comparisons to Jimmy Webb, Randy Newman and Paddy McAloon.
'Like drinking a wine none of us can responsibly afford, this is just...classy' GoldFlakePaint

www.raleghlong.com

Long's very special guest is an elder master of songcraft. For a while, in the 1970s John Howard seemed poised to become huge, penning a series of elegant piano-driven pop songs with sharp lyrics such as "Kid in a Big World" and "Family Man", but somehow missing out on the big time. His rediscovery in the early 2000s led to comeback shows attended by a Who's Who of alternative music luminaries, after which he swiftly disappeared back to his Spanish exile. At the invitation of Gare du Nord Records, John Howard flies in to play his first London show in 7 years. He will be joined by a full band consisting of Robert Rotifer on guitar, Andy Lewis (Acid Jazz/Paul Weller) on bass and Ian Button on drums.

http://www.kidinabigworld.co.uk/

Opening the show is none other than Darren Hayman. A friend of Gare du Nord, Darren is in many ways key to this whole story. John Howard appears on his 2007 album 'Darren Hayman and the Secondary Modern' and it was through Darren that Ralegh was introduced to John Howard's music.

http://www.hefnet.com/