Chris Helme (The Seahorses) & Nigel Clarke (Dodgy) Live double header show, features intimate acoustic sets from two prominent Britpop artists that emerged from the mid 90’s. They both achieved notable success with their respective outfits The Seahorses and Dodgy and will join us live in Rossendale for the first time playing stripped back, intimate sets of notable songs from their back catalogue and more recent solo material .
Chris Helme
Rising to fame in the 1990s as frontman of indie band The Seahorses singer-songwriter Chris Helme is now producing acclaimed folk-infused tracks as a solo artist, including with a new album readying for release in summer 2019.
His enviable back catalogue includes Britpop classics such as ‘Love is the Law’ and ‘Blinded by the Sun’ from his time with John Squires’ post-Stone Roses band, The Seahorses. But beyond these well-loved indie hits Helme has matured into a songwriter of regard for noir-tinged folk gems blistering with emotion.
Previous album, 2012’s The Rookery - produced by Sam Forrest (Nine Black Alps, Sewage Farm) - drew critical praise on release with Uncut describing it as, “echoing the fragility of Gram Parsons, while flirting with the rustic side of Neil Young” and his latest work is set for a similar reception.
Long-awaited his forthcoming album, due in 2019, builds on this tone. With a number of ‘70s folk and song writing touch points across his works - Tim Buckley, Van Morrison, and Jackson Browne - it is the melody and imagination as much as the intricate guitar interplay and orchestration, which leads to lush, blossoming climaxes to hold audiences spellbound. Lyrically Helme has a knack for mixing light and dark and for poetic description which remains relatable to resonate deeply, his matured vocal uncovering new feeling in whichever track he turns his attention to.
From rousing sing-a-longs of Britpop classics to underrated indie-folk gems Chris Helme is among the finest singer-songwriters on the circuit today and the release of long-awaited new material should only confirm his reputation and give audiences fresh favourites to enjoy alongside his indie classics.
Nigel Clark
An artist with a foot in the freedom loving 60’s sound of sun drenched West Coast USA and a foot in gritty, grey, political UK, Nigel’s songwriting and vocals have delivered stories from the heady days of Indie pop (“Staying out for the Summer”; Lovebirds; Found you; In a room), a working class life (Making the most of), and the emotional truths of mid-life tribulations (Good Enough, Only a heartbeat)
Nigel Clark grew up in punk and troubled 70’s, listening to the radio, hating school, playing guitar, working in a record shop and joining bands from age 14.
Taking his songs and his band Dodgy to brighter lights, Dodgy began their musical career in West London 1988. With Lovebirds from The Dodgy Album being aired on GLR. Nigel is 5 Dodgy albums in - the latest album “What are we fighting for” (9/10 Soundblab).
As a singer-songwriter and solo artist, Nigel focuses his melodic voice in fresh soul-searching songs, to create an emotional connection with the audience.
