BEN HOWARD announces his fifth studio album, ‘Is It?’ – Hear first single ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’

Ben Howard
Credit: Toby Coulson

Ben Howard releases his fifth studio album, ‘Is It?’ on the 16th of June, 2023, through Island Records. In the Summer of 2022, Ben and his band recorded ‘Is It?’ over 10 days in the Le Manoir de Léon studios, nestled between Bordeaux and Biarritz, in the South of France.

Produced by Bullion (Westerman, Nilüfer Yanya, Orlando Weeks), ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ is the first track of that ten-song record, exploring music after Ben experienced two mini-strokes (TIAs). ‘Is it?’ is a lush, sonically splintered album which captures Howard working through those moments of a seismic shift.

Ben has to say – “I found it impossible not to dwell on the absurdity of it, that with one tiny clot, one can lose all faculties. It really ate into the writing of the record.”

Listen to ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ – BELOW:

In March 2022, Ben Howard was sat in his garden when he found himself unable to think clearly, form sentences or speak for almost an hour. A month later, after the same thing happened again, the Ivor Novello Award-winning singer-songwriter learned he’d suffered two TIAs (transient ischemic attacks – known as mini-strokes). “It was out of the blue,” says the 35-year-old. “It was a confusing time.”

That June, after a month of inconclusive hospital tests, Howard and his band returned to Le Manoir de Léon, where they’d previously worked on his acclaimed third album, ‘Noonday Dream’.

This is Ben’s first new music since the release of ‘Collections From The Whiteout’ in 2021, which debuted at the top of the UK album charts, his second number-one record to date.

The album’s striking artwork (see below) was designed by Portuguese graphic designer and illustrator Bráulio Amado.

ben howard

Next month, Ben kicks off a UK and European tour in Madrid at La Riviera on the 18th of May, hitting cities through Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK including an already sold-out show at London’s new Alexandra Palace Park on 22nd July. He is currently confirmed for UK festival performances at Boardmasters and Victorious in Portsmouth and headlines “On the Mount at Wasing” series of outdoor shows in Berkshire.

A new date at London’s Royal Albert Hall is now announced for 1st June. Tickets go on general sale from Friday, 28th April at 10 am BST.

Tickets for all headline dates are on sale now via www.benhowardmusic.co.uk

Ben Howard Live:

18th May – La Riviera, Madrid

19th May – Santana 27, Bilbao

20th May – Palacio de Congresos, Santiago de Compostela

22nd May – Coliseu Lisboa, Lisbon

23rd May – Coliseu Porto, Porto

25th May – Razzmatazz, Barcelona

26th May – Le Rocher de Palmer, Bordeaux

1st June – Royal Albert Hall, London *NEW DATE – On sale Friday 28th April at 10am*

15th June – Fairview Park, Dublin

17th June – Piknik I Parken – Oslo, Norway

19th June – Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT

20th June – Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT

21st June – Phil Haarlem, Netherlands

30th June – Rock Werchter, Werchter

1st July – On The Mount At Wasing, Berkshire

2nd July – Down the Rabbit Hole, Beuningen

4th July – Philarmonie de Paris, Paris

6th July – Arena Wien, Vienna

7th July – Pohoda Festival, Trenčín

9th July – Sexto ‘Nplugged, Sesto Al Reghena

11th July – Žluté Lázně, Prague

12th July – Progresja Summer Stage, Warsaw

14th July – Zitadelle, Berlin

15th July – Stadtpark, Hamburg

17th July – Tonhalle, Munich

18th July – X-Tra, Zurich

21st July – SWG3 Yard, Glasgow

22nd July – Alexandra Palace Park, London SOLD OUT

23rd July – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

11th August – Boardmasters, Newquay

27th August – Victorious Festival, Portsmouth

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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