Neil Hannon, one of the country’s foremost songwriters, releases a beautiful new single ‘Norman and Norma’, taken from his wonderful new Divine Comedy album ‘Office Politics’, out on June 7th. It’s the follow-up to the acclaimed top ten 2016 album ‘Foreverland’. Neil will play four UK and Ireland instores this June as well as 11 dates this October, including a show at Londons Eventim Apollo on Thursday 17th.
Neil expertly narrates the quirky and alliterative story of ‘Norman and Norma’, a heroically normal couple from Norfolk to a typically sophisticated and emotive 80’s influenced soundscape. ‘I didn’t want my couple to go quietly into that goodnight, and I wanted to have some reason behind why I chose their names.’ Neil reflects. ‘Then it occurred to me that they might find new life and vigour in joining one of those historical re-enactment societies. The idea of Norman and Norma donning helmets and chainmail and hurling themselves into bloodthirsty medieval combat brought a smile to my face.’
June 2019
Wed 5th Kingston Upon Thames, Banquet Records at Pryzm
Sat 8th Manchester, HMV
Mon 10th Perth, Assai Records at Inchyra Arts Club
Wed 12th Dublin, Tower Records
‘Office Politics’ is a 16 track tour de force full of inventive, timeless music peopled with a typically irreverent cast of characters. It has synthesizers. And songs about synthesizers, Neil says. But dont panic. It also has guitars, orchestras, accordions, and songs about love and greed. But ‘Office Politics’ central characters are the machines. Or ‘Infernal Machines’ as one track rages.
The Divine Comedy will play the following UK and Ireland headline tour dates. Tickets on sale now. Ticket links are at www.thedivinecomedy.com/live
October 2019
Sun 6th Dublin, Bord Gais Energy Theatre
Mon 7th Belfast, Ulster Hall
Tue 8th Cork, Opera House
Thu 10th Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket
Fri 11th Birmingham, O2 Institute
Sat 12th Oxford, O2 Academy 1
Mon 14th Bristol, O2 Academy
Tue 15th Leeds, Metropolitan University (Leeds Beckett University)
Wed 16th Brighton, Dome
Thu 17th London, Eventim Apollo
Fri 18th Manchester, Albert Hall