Last week, Alasdair Roberts released his eighth, self-titled album, on Drag City. Talking to tQ’s Sean Guthrie, he reflected on the new material rooting itself in firmly tradition, saying: "I’m immersed in traditional song so that’s always the basis for the song – I’ll adapt a tune from a traditional song or a turn of phrase or a conceit from a traditional source and take it from there. I’m interested in making new work, new music, but I’m also interested in the old music that informs it. I like the idea of the new work being located in the continuum of tradition but also being outside it. It’s almost like an alternative reality." Following on from that, we’ve just been given a first look at Joseph Briffa’s video for ‘In Dispraise Of Hunger’ from the album, which sees Roberts and his collaborators, The Crying Lion vocal group and bass clarinetist Alex South, set in the barren hillside of the song’s subject matter. At the same time, Roberts has announced a 13-date UK tour, so watch the video above and take a look at the dates below:
FEBRUARY
Thu 26 – Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
Fri 27 – Cecil Sharp House, London
Sat 28 – Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
MARCH
Mon 2 – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Thu 5 – Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Fri 6 – Glad Cafe, Glasgow
Sat 7 – Frigate Unicorn, Dundee
Thu 12 – Heart, Leeds
Fri 13 – Electric Theatre, Guildford
Sat 14 – The Hope, Brighton
Sun 15 – B-Bar, Plymouth
Sat 21 – Maltings Theatre and Cinema, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Fri 27 – Bridgwater Arts Centre, Bridgwater
