The Bookshop Band

Join us for an intimate and magical concert with The Bookshop Band, celebrating the release of their 14th studio album, Emerge, Return, produced by legendary musician Pete Townshend. The band formed out of a collaboration between award-winning songwriters and their local bookshop, writing songs inspired by the books of visiting authors. On first hearing their music after the band’s first US tour, Pete Townshend wrote, “I am enchanted, such variation and delicacy… such latent power. It reminded me of my days listening to Sandy Denny and Fairport [Convention] and The Incredible String Band… – a great discovery and inspiration” and offered to produce their next album. Between them Beth Porter and Ben Please bring the books to the stage along with a multitude of instruments, to create a cinematic sound that draws the audience in, at once touching and mesmerizing, heart wrenching and funny. No previous knowledge of the books is required as the band guide the audience through the stories behind each song’s inspiration. The concert will feature songs from the album, inspired by authors including Margaret Atwood, Philip Pullman and Robert Macfarlane among others, and you’ll leave enchanted with new melodies and stories, plus a few new book recommendations of your own. Emerge, Return will be out on the 28th June, as a limited edition, with artwork by Stanley Donwood, and will be available to pre-order on vinyl and CD before then. “Not just good, but achingly good” The New York Times “Fairytale-land for adults. You’ll be smitten.” BBC 6Music “Really fabulous new music.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 “The band are great. If I had a bookshop I’d stock all their albums” Margaret Atwood