Celebrated Scottish melodic master John Douglas, a key member of the Trashcan Sinatras, who has helped shape the indie rock genre in the UK and beyond, is back with a new video and excellent news for music lovers.
With a knack for writing catchy and memorable melodies that have become synonymous with the Trashcan Sinatras’ sound, his recently released eponymous debut album has been growing in popularity, leading to today’s announcement – that we will be bringing his introspective sound to the other side of the pond for his ‘Lost in North America Tour – Part One’,
Previewing these October performances, Douglas has unveiled an endearing video for ‘Oranges & Apples’, a Trashcans classic that is one of 11 tracks on this album, out now on CD and digitally via Reveal Records. He shares, “‘Oranges & Apples’ is a song very close to my heart. It’s a love song to a fellow artist… the late Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. He ploughed his own furrow and showed all who followed how to be your eccentric, individual, glorious self. Stay true to you. Paint, sing, write, sculpt, carve, dance your own way through this playground. Hang on to your wonder at this world. Syd did. He’s away now… gone, but resonating on. As the song says.. now everything is enhanced by him”.
Watch the video for ‘Oranges & Apples’ – BELOW:
This has been a fine year of music prowess, involving the reissue and UK Top-40 charting of Trashcan Sinatras’ debut album ‘Cake’ (33 years since its original release), a successful UK headlining tour, and the issuance of a Trashcan Sinatras documentary, produced by Ken Sweeney. Earlier, Douglas also released videos for ‘I Just Want To Go Home’, ‘Lost’, ‘I’m Not The Fella’ and ‘Always’, in addition to solo renditions of the Trashcan Sinatras’ classics ‘Leave Me Alone’ and ‘Weightlifting’.
“I am so excited to be coming to the USA and Canada this year to debut my solo shows. It’s me, my guitar and many songs.. some new and some old with a new lick of paint. I will get lost in song and story and look forward to conjuring up the good stuff in North America,” says John Douglas.
One of Scotland’s finest songwriters, Douglas, will be joined for his West Coast and Midwest dates by Lily Vakili of Vakili Band, a savvy street poet who finds the sweet spot between Patti Smith, Grace Slick and Janis Joplin. For East Coast dates, he will be joined by singer-songwriter Lauren Calve, whose new album ‘Shift’ earned her the 2024 Wammie Award for Best Country/Americana Album. Together, these artists will treat listeners to an intimate series of masterclasses in musical storytelling.
John Douglas’ debut album presents an intimate snapshot of the talent, charisma and depth of this celebrated songsmith, recorded live at Kyoti Studio in Glasgow with renowned producer Mark Freegard (New Model Army, Lush, The Breeders, Del Amitri, Marillion). Reflecting Douglas’ candor, this 11-track collection features original material and new recordings of fave Trashcan Sinatras’ material, plus his own rendition of the Prefab Sprout classic ‘We Let The Stars Go’.
Apart from touring with his partner Eddi Reader’s band, the past few years have seen Douglas perform around the UK and Ireland, sometimes joined by friends like Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jill Jackson, Withered Hand, James Grant (Love & Money), and even Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout), with whom he first toured in 1990 for the Trashcan Sinatras / Prefab Sprout double bill.
John Douglas’ debut album is available on CD and digitally via Bandcamp, as well as from fine online platforms. Tickets for Douglas’ autumn tour dates are now available online.
TOUR DATES
October 1 LOS ANGELES – Hotel Cafe *
October 2 SAN FRANCISCO – The Lost Church *
October 4 PORTLAND – Mission Theater *
October 5 SEATTLE – Ballard Homestead, Fremont Abbey *
October 7 SALT LAKE CITY – The Beehive *
October 8 DENVER – Mercury Cafe, Jungle Room *
October 10 KANSAS CITY – Knuckleheads *
October 11 MINNEAPOLIS – Icehouse MPLS *
October 15 TORONTO – The Monarch **
October 16 CLEVELAND – Beachland Tavern **
October 17 COLUMBUS – Natalie’s Grandview **
October 19 BOSTON – City Winery Boston **
October 20 NEW YORK – Cafe Wha? **
October 21 PHILADELPHIA – City Winery Loft **
* with Lily Vakili of Vakili Band
** with Lauren Calve
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