John Grant is making his way back to Kilkenny – again – with a new date announced for his St. Canice’s Cathedral show postponed last year due to Covid-19.
Not only that but when he returns to Kilkenny, he’ll have a new album in tow with Boy From Michigan set for release on 25 June via Bella Union.
Going along with this week’s album announcement, he’s released an acid-soaked video for the title track, directed by Casey and Ewan.
“I discovered the chord progression in the chorus of Boy From Michigan on my OB6 back when I was working on Love is Magic, and while I knew it would eventually become a song, I didn’t know what to do with it yet”, says Grant of the track.
“Sometimes you just know you need to take your time with certain ideas.”
“The song sprang from a moment I experienced when I was about 11 and we were about to move to Colorado from Michigan; my best buddy took me aside and warned me about ‘the world out there’ – so the song is about the transition from childhood to adulthood, the simplicity and innocence of childhood and the oftentimes rude awakening that occurs when one crosses over into adulthood.”
“It’s also about romanticizing the past, which can be dangerous. I don’t believe one can or should live in the past, but if you ignore it, well, you know. I also have to say there are moments when I actually relive the scent of early spring as the snow is beginning to melt revealing the wet Earth beneath. It’s incredible.”
Rescheduling for Kilkenny
16 October this year sees Grant take to St. Canice’s Cathedral for a rare, stripped-back, career-spanning live show. The tour was set to mark the 10-year anniversary of his debut solo album, Queen Of Denmark, though may now mix things up with the promo train building for Boy From Michigan.
Tickets, priced €34, are available via Set.ie.
