August Wells is a musical project formed in New York by Dublin native Ken Griffin (formerly of highly underrated cult Irish band Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver and Favourite Sons) and New York pianist John Rauchenberger.
Griffin’s lyricism is something to be admired, he has stories to tell veiled in metaphor and eccentricity with Drowned In Sound describing Griffin as an ‘undiscovered genius’ in a recent feature, whilst Glen Hansard introducing August Wells as his guest at a show recently told the audience how in awe of Ken Griffin he is, describing him as “such a presence, such a power”.
With their critically acclaimed debut album ‘A Living & A Dying Game’ and a string of fine singles already under their belts 2016 is shaping up to be another busy year for August Wells as they prepare for the release of their new single. “She Was A Question” which is a psychedelic chamber-pop track with strange brass, haunting beautiful piano, and a vocal akin perhaps to something Lou Reed wrote for Sinatra to sing , or if Willie Nelson borrowed Johnny Cash’s voice for a song. The song deals with a man left alone ” her pillows they lie here like loyal dogs” left alone with a stream of stark and brutal realizations ” one day you wake up, as the man that you are, and not as the one, you thought you’d become” all leading to the aching line ” now i know, she was a question not an answer”
The single follows massive acclaim for August Wells in Ireland including national press acclaim, radio plays and TV appearances. The Irish independent going as far as to say Griffin ” Possesses possibly the most evocative, even beautiful, Irish singing voice ever recorded”
The single will be on their new album “Madness Is The Mercy” which is due for release late July 2016 and will once again see August Wells team up with Irish independent label ‘Forever In Financial Arrears’ (FIFA Records). Ken Griffin and pianist John Rauchenberger have met in the middle of differing musical pasts to form a band who would sit easily at the same table as Scott Walker or John Cale.
The band return to Europe in June and July for an Irish and UK tour:
Jun 11 BARE In The Woods Festival Portarlington, Ireland
Jun 24 Interlude Festival Dublin, Ireland
Jun 25 Sailors Bar Mayo, Ireland
Jun 26 Sea Sessions Surf & Music Festival Donegal, Ireland
Jun 30 Mike The Pies Listowel, Ireland
Jul 01 Coughlans Cork, Ireland
Jul 02 Levis’ Corner House Ballydehob, Ireland
Jul 08 The Cave, Junction Festival Clonmel, Ireland
Jul 09 Pine Lodge Myrtleville, Ireland
Jul 12 Bom -Banes Brighton, United Kingdom
Jul 13 The Islington London, United Kingdom
Jul 15 Dublin Castle London, United Kingdom
Jul 16 The Railway Hotel Southend On Sea, United Kingdom
Jul 22 The Hot Spot Music Club Greystones, Ireland
Jul 23 The Workmans Club Dublin, Ireland
Jul 24 Knockanstan Festival Blessington, Ireland
Jul 28 Kasbah Social Club Limerick, Ireland
Jul 29 Cleere’s Kilkenny, Ireland
Jul 31 Indiependence Music & Arts Festival Mitchelstown, Ireland
Oct 20 Molly Malones Marburg, Germany
Oct 25 Prinz Willy Kiel, Germany
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