| Simply Red are back! Four years since the triumphant Blue Eyed Soul, one of the UK’s most treasured bands return with brand new studio album Time – out May 26th on Warner Music. The record’s debut offering comes in the form of the sensational pop masterclass ‘Better With You’ – Listen HERE. The video will premiere Friday March 3rd at 14:00 GMT HERE. “On the song itself, I’m reminiscing on phase one of the relationship with my wife, when we first met in Milan. At that time, I was single and just partying my way around the world. And I thought to myself: well, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I was just going along, having a right old time. It just stemmed from there,” Mick Hucknall said of the track. Over 12 vivid, heartfelt, life-giving tracks that mix soul, funk, R&B and blues, Time demonstrates an unerring ear for, feel for and passion for songs that move the emotion and the imagination. Recorded in London with longstanding producer Andy Wright and the close-knit cadre of musicians with whom he’s formed a matchless touring band, Hucknall is back – and not just with the label, Warner Music, with whom he began Simply Red’s musical adventure. He’s writing from, and about, himself. “When we were in lockdown, I went, well, jeez, who am I actually?” he remembers. “What makes me tick? And I realised: you are a songwriter. So why don’t you write some songs about who you are? That’s really the essence of this album.” With a career spanning 12 studio albums as Simply Red (five of them Number Ones), two solo albums, back-to-back ASCAP Most Performed Song honours (1987 and 1988) for Holding Back The Years, consecutive Brit Awards (1992 and 1993) for Best British Group, a Brit for Best British Male (1993), the 1997 MOBO for Outstanding Achievement, two Ivor Novellos (1992 Songwriter of the Year; 2002 Outstanding Song Collection), and some 60 million album sales, Mick is ready to continue the ride into the next chapter. Time is full of golden moments from a golden talent. Come for the poppy confessional and stay for the honest accounts of where Mick Hucknall finds himself, a happily married father, as an ever-inspired singer and songwriter. “Music is one of those wonderful communicators. Each and every person can have an interpretation of a song that can mean something to them. To be able to create something that is then shared with millions of people all over the world – what a joy. How can anything be more rewarding and fulfilling than that?” Time Track Listing Better With You Just Like You Let Your Hair Down Shades 22 It Wouldn’t Be Me Never Be Gone Too Long At The Fair Slapbang Hey Mister Just Like You (Pt. 2) Butterflies Earth In A Lonely Space Live, after a stellar 2022 which saw the band perform 73 shows to over 600,000 people across Europe, the band show no sign of slowing down and will play a host of European Summer shows this year 2023. With more to be announced, the 28 dates will see Simply Red take on summer venues across Europe, performing all of their Greatest Hits and confirming their reputation as one of the great live acts of today. 2023 SUMMER DATES June 2023 16th – Sønderborg, Mølleparken – Denmark 18th – Werchter, TW Classic – Belgium 21st – Pula, Roman Arena – Croatia 25th – Nimes, Festival de Nimes – France 27th – Trani, Piazza Duomo – Italy 28th – Macerata, Sferisterio – Italy July 1st – Lucca Summer Festival 2023 – Italy 3rd – Marostica, Piazza Deli Scacchi – Italy 4th – Torino, Stupinigi Sonic Park 2023 – Italy 7th – Weert, Bospop Festival 2023 – Netherlands 8th – Berlin, Zitadelle – Germany 9th – Halle Saale, Peißnitz Insel – Germany 11th – Kiel, Wunderino Arena – Germany 12th – Mönchengladbach, Sparkassen Arena – Germany 14th – Bonn, Kunstrasen – Germany 15th – Mainz, Zitadelle – Germany 16th – Lörrach, Stimmen Festival – Germany 19th – Rosenheim, Mangfall Park – Germany 20th – Regensburg, Schloß Emmeram – Germany 21st – Fulda, Domplatz – Germany 23rd – Stuttgart, Jazz Open – Germany 25th – Salem, Schloss – Germany 28th – Füssen, Barockgarten – Germany 30th – Klam, Castle Klam – Austria August 4th – Murcia, Murcia On Fest – Spain 5th – Poblado De Sancti Petri, Concert Music Festival – Spain 9th – Zofingen, Magic Night – Switzerland 10th – Schaffhausen, Stars in Town – Switzerland |
