John Illsley - When God Made Time Single Release May 26th 2014

John Illsley

‘When God Made Time’ - Single release May 26th 2014

From the new album:

‘Testing The Water’ - Album release June 16th 2014

On Creek Records, distributed by Absolute via Universal

www.johnillsley.com

One-off London show: John Illsley & his band at the Jazz Café

June 19th 2014 - tickets: £20.00 adv / £25.00 on the door www.ticketmaster.co.uk

* Autumn 2014 tour just announced *

“One can only make a record when it feels right and for me the time was right.” John Illsley

From the opening riff of the first single, ‘When God Made Time’ (a song 12 years in the making and inspired by a turn of phrase heard while touring in Ireland), John Illsley’s classic sound is unmistakeable. As the man who was a significant element in the pace and feel of Dire Straits’ music from the outset, this familiarity is not surprising "that's not me being influenced by the band, that's just the way I've always played and it continues in my own work" he reflects.

The multiple Brit & Grammy award winner’s fourth studio album ‘Testing The Water’, which was recorded and produced with Guy Fletcher at A-Bay Studios and British Grove, sees the “engine room of Dire Straits” in fine form.

‘Testing The Water’ is a welcome return to the recording studio for John whose last album ‘Streets Of Heaven’ was released in 2010. “I was missing being in the studio and playing music seriously. This record was an important one for me to make.”

Written over the last three years these songs are deeply personal narratives, “the last few years have been so turbulent politically, militarily and personally and I wanted to try and create some songs that reflected these strange times and perhaps were worthy of sharing with others.”

John also expresses himself through painting, a passion he has developed over the last twenty years, and has now had solo exhibitions around the world. “For me art and music are interlinked - you start with a blank canvas and work away until you are satisfied that you have made something which is as close as it can to be to what you are trying to achieve. There is a great element of mystery in both processes which can surprise you and upset you in equal measure.”

Returning to the stage, John will be embarking on a UK tour in September and October:

SEPTEMBER

Wed 24 - The Stables, Milton Keynes. www.stables.org/ 01908 280800

Fri 26 - Embassy, Skegness. www.embassytheatre.co.uk/ 08456740505

Sat 27 - Flower Pot, Derby. https://flowerpotderby.co.uk/ 01332 204955

OCTOBER

Thur 2 - Robin 2, Wolverhampton. www.therobin.co.uk/ 01902 401211

Fri 3 - Trading Boundaries, Fletching. www.tradingboundaries.com/ 01825 790200

Sat 4 - The Brook, Southampton. www.the-brook.com/ 023 8055 5366

Sun 5 - Colosseum, Watford. https://watfordcolosseum.co.uk/ 0845 075 3993

Tue 7 - St David’s Hall, CardifF. www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/ 029 2087 8500

Thur 9 - Shanklin Theatre, Isle Of Wight. www.shanklintheatre.com/ 01983 868000