New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Billy Bragg will release 'The Million Things That Never Happened', his tenth studio album, on 8th October 2021 on the Cooking Vinyl label. The album, the first pandemic blues album of our times but also a heartfelt paean to human resilience, features 12 soulful country rock gems. The record was produced by
Romeo Stodart and Dave Izumi at Echo Zoo studio in Eastbourne. All songs are written by Billy Bragg apart from the final song (Ten Mysterious Photos That Can't Be Explained), which is co-written by Billy's son Jack Valero.
The full tracklisting of 'The Million Things That Never Happened' is:
1. Should Have Seen It Coming
2. Mid-Century Modern
3. Lonesome Ocean
4. Good Days And Bad Days
5. Freedom Doesn't Come For Free
6. Reflections On The Mirth Of Creativity
7. The Million Things That Never Happened
8. The Buck Doesn't Stop Here No More
9. I Believe In You
10. Pass It On
11. I Will Be Your Shield
12. Ten Mysterious Photos That Can't Be Explained
Bragg today releases the first taster from the album, and a personal favourite, the beautiful love song for our times, 'I Will Be Your Shield'.
Says Billy: "To me this (I Will Be Your Shield) is the heart and soul of the album. I've come to the conclusion that empathy is the currency of music - that our job as songwriters is to help people come to terms with their feelings by offering them examples of how others may have dealt with a situation similar to that in which listeners find themselves. After what we've all been through, the idea of being a shield, physically, emotionally, psychologically, really resonates."
On
Thursday 9th
September '21, a month prior to the album release, an online concert experience 'Billy Bragg On…', exploring the music and mind of Billy Bragg will be streamed on the Stabal platform. The show will feature the first outing of some songs from the new album, plus some nuggets from Bragg's illustrious catalogue. He is joined onstage by
Romeo Stodart (gtr), Michele Stodart (bass), Darren Beckett (drums), Nick Pynn (lap steel gtr, violin) and Jack Valero (gtr), who all played on 'The Million Things That Never Happened'.
'Billy Bragg on…' will also offer On-Demand passes with bonus features that will include extra encore performances, exclusive interviews, a look at his new album, an in depth songwriting discussion with Billy and Romeo, plus a behind-the-scenes look into the making of 'Billy Bragg on…'
'Billy Bragg On…', an Online Concert
Experience supports the work of
Music Venue Trust, a charity of which Billy Bragg is a patron. Fans who purchase tickets to the online event will have the opportunity to donate to the trust at checkout. To find out more about the trust head to https://musicvenuetrust.com/
Says Beverley Whitrick, Strategic Director,
Music Venue Trust: "Billy Bragg has been an active patron of
Music Venue
Trust for several years, helping connect his fans with our work and eloquently expressing why Grassroots
Music Venues are so vital to artists. We are grateful to Billy and his team for continuing to be passionate about supporting the charity and our venue community."
Billy Bragg previously announced a tour of the UK in the autumn and is very excited to put the last nearly two years behind us and get back to what he does best. The full list of dates is:
OCTOBER
Thurs 21 GATESHEAD - Sage Gateshead
Fri 22 DUNDEE - Fat Sam's
Sat 23 GLASGOW - Barrowland Ballroom
Tues 26 LIVERPOOL - Philharmonic Hall
Wed 27 OXFORD - New Theatre
Thurs 28 BIRMINGHAM - Symphony Hall
Sat 30 CARDIFF - St David's Hall
Sun 31 SOUTHAMPTON - 02 Guildhall
NOVEMBER
Tues 2 BELFAST - Ulster Hall
Thurs 4 DUBLIN - Vicar Street
Sat 6 GALWAY -
Black Box Theatre
Wed 10 READING - Hexagon
Thurs 11 EXETER - University Great Hall
Fri 12 BRISTOL - 02 Academy
Tues 16 GUILDFORD - G Live
Thurs 18 CAMBRIDGE - Corn Exchange
Fri 19 NOTTINGHAM - Rock City
Sat 20 MANCHESTER - Albert Hall
Sun 21 SHEFFIELD - City Hall
Tues 23 BRIGHTON - Dome
Thurs 25 SOUTHEND-ON-SEA - Cliffs Pavilion
Fri 26 FOLKESTONE - Leas Cliff Hall
Sat 27 LONDON - Roundhouse
Some tickets are still available via https://www.billybragg.co.uk/giglistings/
