I’m finally back from holiday, fully recharged and raring to go. The album countdown proper starts here. There’s a whole lot of news to get through, so let’s get started!
The first news is about the album itself. “England Keep My Bones“, as we know, will be released on June 6th (UK) and 7th (rest of world). Check out the artwork over at my Facebook page. It’ll be available on CD for the most part, but we’re doing a special edition as well – it will have 3 extra songs and special leather-bound packaging. You’ll be able to get both the normal and the extended edition through iTunes, 7Digital and the like as well. We will also be pressing vinyl of the album, though that’s coming a little later.
Pre-order links for the album are starting to appear around the place (you can pre-order a signed special edition copy here, for example). One of the best places to head for is right here. On June 6th I’ll be playing a special show at the Barfly in London. It’s a tiny room, and to get tickets you ust need to pre-order the album from HMV and you’ll be entered into a draw for one of 75 pairs of tickets for the show. Simples, as I’d say if I watched TV, which I don’t.
We will also be releasing a single from the album, naturally. The song “Peggy Sang The Blues” is a tune I wrote for my grandmother, which has had a fair few outings live recently. More details on that release coming soon.
Next up, while I’ve been away, the folks at FTHQ have been confirming festivals in the UK and Germany willy-nilly, so I’ve been posting them up today. I’ll be at Guernsey Festival in July, and Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall in August. In Germany, I’ll be at Oma’s Teich, Taubertal, Rocco Del Schlocko and Open Flair in August. There are more festival announcements coming soon.
Finally, and by no means least… It’s one of the features of the way the music business works that there’s an agonizing time-lag, for a musician, between finishing a piece of work and unleashing it on the world. I can see the point – promotion and preparation are important to me and the label – but it’s still frustrating to be sitting here on a finished record without being able to play it to people. Well, after much wheedling and whining on my part, I think I’ve got the tacit nod to give you guys a sneak preview of one of the new songs. Go here to check out “I Am Disappeared“. I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to do this. If not, well, fuck it. Publish and be damned! Hope you like it.
You can order England Keep My Bones through any of the online retailers below.
As for the leak, a wise man once said “ask forgiveness, not permission”
Is the signed copy from amazon also the leather bound version?
I second Dave, wanted to know if the Amazon signed copy, is the leather bound & one with extra tracks – I feel wrong ordering it from Amazon though, I always go through Xtra Mile!
Best blog title I’ve seen! Love I Am Disappeared and great to hear Peggy Sang The Blues will be a single. It sounded great live at Aberdeen last month.
Hoping for some Scottish festival announcements, preferably Rockness
[...] Peggy Sang The Blues heißen. Dabei soll es sich um einen Song über seine Großmutter handeln, schreibt fthc in seinem Blog. Würde mich nicht wundern, wenn es am Ende dieser ist. Und schließlich seht [...]
Love the blog title, bit disappointed that you don’t get entered in to the competition when you order the Deluxe version.
Very proud of myself for understanding the german comment
Love your music, but a little bit taken aback by the title of your post, in which you compare yourself to an alleged (and, frankly, very probable) rapist. Um?
Is there anyway to pre-order in the US?
Shira, uh, kind of a joke about leaks? I think Assange is an international standard pillock, for what it’s worth.
This all sounds amazing, of course, but the only gripe I have is that the special edition is leather-bound. I don’t know if you were expecting this or not but I’d imagine some of your fans won’t be buying because of this.
What’s wrong with a good bit of pleather? I’m quite disappointed & unfortunately won’t be buying which I’m gutted about, sorry Frank
Hi Kirsty. Uhm, I think leather is much nicer than ‘pleather’. I wantdd the special edition to look and feel like old leather bound books that I have. You’re obviously entitled to disagree, but it’s my record at the end of the day, and as you note there is a non-leather version for you.
Is either the special edition and/or signed special edition Amazon exclusive?
(I only ask about signed because I know xtramile do signed pre-orders for a fair few of their releases).
Aye, it may look nicer to some but at what cost? You’re right though – it’s your call – just a bit bummed I miss out on the signed stuff. Nevermind, I’ll just have to find you after release and get the regular copy signed. Good luck with everything
Can’t please everyone.
I, personally will be buying the CD, the well fencypants leather one and the vinyl when it’s out.
Hope you enjoyed your holiday.
So, just to clarify…to enter the draw for the Barfly tickets you have to pre order from HMV, but the HMV version is not the super-duper-extra-deluxe leather version with the extra tracks that you get from Amazon?
Ignore that, sorted now
Only just noticed the bones on the cover by the way, I like!
When available could you let us know about preordering to the US?
So excited, Frank!
INCREDIBLE!!! I can’t wait. You are torturing me.
I ordered mine today from Amazon, hate ordering online but couldn’t resist a signed copy. Just hope I got in there quick enough.