English visual artist and emotive troubadour
Keaton Henson will be making his much anticipated North American live debut this April 8
th with a special performance at The Housing Work's Bookstore in New York City. The famously reclusive Henson will be playing at the non profit in anticipation of the April 9
th release of his new album Birthdays out on Anti-.
The New Yorker magazine profiled the show, noting that previous artists to perform at the Housing Works series which is coordinated by music journalist Alan Light have included Ryan Adams, Regina Spektor, The Black Keys, Bjork and others. The magazine writes, “This season, Light has booked Keaton Henson, a reclusive singer-songwriter from the suburbs of London, to play... “Henson’s agent thought the store would be the perfect place for his first U.S. performance,” Light said, “which is a pretty nice compliment.”
Henson's only other stateside performance will be an April 11th sold out show in Los Angeles at the Masonic Temple in the historic Hollywood Forever cemetery.
Read the New Yorker and view accompanying illustration here:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/events/nightlife/2013/03/25/130325goni_GOAT_nightlife_preview
The Sunday Times wrote of a recent Henson performance in London, "In a rich, resonant voice backed by cello and delicate guitar parts,
Henson delivered desolate, devastating songs as though opening his diary for fans to share his sorrow... a deeply strange, spectacular show"
The new album
Birthdays is the follow up to
Henson’s breakout self-recorded and self-released debut Dear… which generated powerful buzz in his native England. Q Magazine called the record "Beautiful and uncompromising." Though created almost entirely on guitar,
Henson's newest generates a sound that is unexpectedly complex and evocative. The lyrics are so deeply personal it can feel voyeuristic, recalling the confessions of a close friend or lover. If one were to reach for a point of reference, it would be figures such as Nick Drake and Tim Buckley or even Dylan Thomas and Oscar Wilde.
Additional Praise For Keaton Henson:
"Beautiful and heartbreaking" - The Times
"Henson's private agony is proving addictive." - The Guardian
"A tear-stained love letter" – Fader
“Startling...it feels like trespassing” - Observer
"Beautifully fragile" - Evening Standard
“Accomplished artist, poised songwriter, heartbroken recluse...spine-tinglingly poignant” - Time Out