John Illsley - Testing The Water Album Release June 16th 2014John Illsley ‘Testing The Water’ Album release June 16th 2014 On Creek Records, distributed by Absolute via Universal
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
Multiple Brit & Grammy award winner John Illsley returns with a new studio album ‘Testing The Water’. Recorded and produced with Guy Fletcher at A-Bay Studios and British Grove, ‘Testing The Water’ 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.”
From the opening riff of the first single, ‘When God Made Time’, John’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. 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.”
‘Testing The Water’ tracklisting: 1 Railway Tracks 2 Nothing To Do 3 Testing The Water 4 Sometimes 5 Run For Cover 6 Darling Heart 7 When God Made Time 8 This Is Your Voice
Musicians: Vocals and Bass - John Illsley Guitarists - Robbie Mckintosh, Simon Johnson and John Illsley Keys - Guy Fletcher Drums - Paul Beavis Sax - Nigel Hitchcock Trumpet - Tom Walsh Trombone - Mark Nightingale Backing Vocals - Jessica Greenfield and Jess Illsley
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 Fri 10 - Corn Exchange, Exeter. www.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange/ 01392 665938 Sat 11 - Cameo Hotel, Ipswich. www.cameohotels.com/ 01473 209 988 Sun 12 - Capitol Theatre, Horsham. https://tickets.thecapitolhorsham.com/ (01403)750220 More dates to be announced. See www.johnillsley.com for details
For further information please contact Republic Media info@republicmedia.net 020 3213 0135
May 6, 2014 10:04am ET by Republic Media
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