NEWS: Marc Almond reveals details of new album and UK tour dates

Marc Almond has just announced details of a new studio album The Velvet Trail which will be released on 9^th March 2015 through Cherry Red Records. In a career that now spans more than 30 years in music, the one-time Soft Cell frontman turned dramatic, neo-operatic torch singer returns with his first album in five years.

The catalyst for The Velvet Trail was when Chris Braide the English singer, songwriter, and record producer who is based in Los Angeles sent Almond a trio of tracks which had been especially written for him. Inspired by these instrumental tracks, there then followed an intense, long distance collaboration between the two men – they avowed not to meet until the record was complete – from which The Velvet Trail emerged.

Speaking about the album, Marc Almond says “Some of the songs have a more personal melancholy, reflective and evocative, like the title track ‘The Velvet Trail’, a song about memories, nostalgia, childhood and death.  So it is too with the song ‘The Pain of Never’ (Chris Braide’s personal favourite). Chris wanted to create his ultimate Marc Almond record, electric, lush, emotional, dark and sexy and I felt inspired by his tunes and production to deliver just that”. He then explains the seamless format of the album:  “Chris saw the record as one journey, one record you put on from beginning to end, linking tracks with musical interludes. This a reaction against the downloaded digital age, where individual tracks are taken or albums re-arranged in different orders. I always see my records as a show running from beginning to end that takes you on a ride”

A twelve date tour of the UK will then follow to support the album’s release:

The Velvet Trail Tour Dates are as follows:

APRIL

Thu 16^th              NEW BRIGHTON      New Brighton Floral Pavilion Theatre

(The Wirral, Merseyside)

Fri 17^th                BIRMINGHAM             Town Hall

Sat 18^th               IPSWICH                     Regent

Mon 20^th             CAMBRIDGE              Corn Exchange

Tue 21^st              BRIGHTON                 Dome

Thu 23^rd             BRISTOL                     Colston Hall

Fri 24^th                LEEDS                        Town Hall

Sat 25^th               MANCHESTER          Bridgewater Hall

Mon 27^th             EDINBURGH             Queens Hall

Tue 28^th              GATESHEAD              Sage

Thu 30^th              BASINGSTOKE          Anvil

MAY

Fri 01^st                LONDON                    O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

Tickets are on sale now from Gigsandtours.com, ticketmaster.co.uk plus venue box offices, or by phone from 0844 811 0051 or 0844 826 2826.

Ticket prices from £19.50 regionally / £29.50 London (plus booking fees).