Rock Regeneration

Including A Date At Wedgewood Rooms In Portsmouth

“Limited Edition Heart” is the second song to be released from Babelsberg, the fifth album by Gruff Rhys and his first record for Rough Trade since 2007ís classic Candylion. Gruff said ìI wrote Limited Edition Heart whilst walking along a polluted yet beautiful river. It has beautiful orchestral arrangements thanks to Stephen McNeff and the BBC NOW orchestra. Babelsberg’s ten tracks were initially recorded in early 2016 in a whirlwind three-day session, then hibernated for eighteen months, awaiting orchestral scores by Swansea born composer Stephen McNeff and the incredible work of the 72-piece BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The result is Gruff’s best record to date – a ten song index of modern times, each track set to timeless, indelible melody. Over the course of Babelsbergís songs, Gruff manages to perfectly document our troubled and troubling times with humour, grace and always addictive melody. The lyrics on it take on subjects such as the smoke and mirrors of division at the heart of our major cities, the 21st centuryís new forms of state-sponsored murder, the numbing effect helplessness of the 24-hour news cycle and the rise and rise of the delusional male ego. To counterbalance Babelsbergís lyrical themes, each of these ten tales of the fear-and-now is set against gorgeous, honeyed sound.

In a career that’s spanned three decades, two languages, multiple bands, offshoots, collaborations and one boundless imagination, Babelsberg is Gruff’s finest set of songs to date. Gruff has announced an autumn tour of the UK and Europe. These dates will feature a career spanning show from Gruff and his band. Gruff has previously announced a small series of special Babelsberg gigs featuring full orchestra backing and a couple of very intimate in-store shows. He plays:

Jun 8th Bristol, Rough Trade (in store gig, entry with purchase of LP)
Jun 10th Cardiff, Millennium Centre (w/BBC National Orchestra Of Wales)
Jun 13th London, Rough Trade East (in store gig, entry with purchase of LP)
Aug 30th Salisbury, End Of The Road Festival
Sept 12th London, Barbican (with the London Contemporary Orchestra)
Sept 15th Manchester, RNCM Concert Hall (with the RNCM Orchestra)
Sept 16th Manchester, RNCM Concert Hall (with the RNCM Orchestra)

New dates
Nov 8th – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
Nov 9th – Brighton, The Old Market
Nov 10th – Folkestone, The Quarterhouse
Nov 11th – Oxford, O2 Academy*
Nov 12th – Bristol, SWX
Nov 13th – Birmingham, Glee Club
Nov 15th – Glasgow, SWG3
Nov 16th – Leeds, Church Leeds
Nov 17th – Liverpool, Arts Club*
Nov 19th – Paris, France, Le Badaboum
Nov 20th – Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Tap Tab
Nov 21st – Munich, Germany, Ampere
Nov 22nd – Berlin, Germany, Privatclub
Nov 23rd – Hamburg, Germany, Turmzimmer
Nov 24th – Copenhagen, Denmark, Alice
Nov 26th – Brussels, Belgium, Botanique/Rotonde
Nov 27th – Cologne, Germany, Studio 672
Nov 28th – Amsterdam, NL, Paradiso Noord
Dec 1st – Cork, Ireland, Live At St.Lukes
Dec 2nd – Galway, Ireland, Roisin Dublin
Dec 3rd – Dublin, Ireland, Button Factory

Please visit http://www.gruffrhys.com/ for tickets/info. *Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Links
http://www.gruffrhys.com
https://www.facebook.com/Gruffingtonpost