Today, Peter Doherty releases a new song, “Calvados” It is simultaneously a paean to the fine apple brandy produced in Normandy, where Peter lives, and a hymn to craftsmanship and patience; it makes yet another compelling case for Peter to be inducted into the pantheon of classic English songwriters.
For the Calvados video Peter invited fans to showcase their creativity by producing an official video for the track. The contest saw an incredible response, with submissions from around the world ranging from lo-fi mobile recordings to high-concept visuals. Natalie Sidorenko / SadLip created the chosen video animation. Natalie says, “I immediately pictured how the loving relationship between the farmer and his wife should be unified with their shared craft: the making of the Calvados. As Peter sings in the song: ‘The way it was, the way it is, & the way it will remain…’.
Watch the video below:
“Calvados” is another tantalising taster, along with the glorious soul-baring title track (watch the video here), to be lifted from Peter’s extraordinary new album, Felt Better Alive. The album is released through Strap Originals on Friday, 16th May.
To celebrate the release, Peter will perform and sign albums at five in-stores across the UK during the week of Felt Better Alive’s release.
MAY
16th FRI Leeds Crash (Brudenell Social Club)
17th SAT Liverpool Jacaranda
19th MON Nantwich Applestump (Nantwich Civic Hall)
20th TUE Kingston Banquet (Pryzm)
21st WED London Rough Trade East
Peter says of Calvados: “Where I live there’s a fellow in town, he’s got a shop that specialises in Calvados and ciders; the apple juice becomes cider becomes Calvados. He took me on a tour of all the old Calvados makers, in his van, place to place, staying with them. It’s that story. The line ‘Slow and steady is the way!/The way it was, the way it is…’, that’s how it is. These farms have been there for generations. You can’t hurry it, you wait for the apples to grow, you wait for the seasons to change, it’s not a laboratory. And at the end you get this incredible elixir. Fire water!”
Peter will launch Felt Better Alive at a Strap Originals showcase at the Great Escape in Brighton on 14th May along with label mates Warmduscher/Trampolene/Real Farmer/GANS/Vona Vella/Evan Williams and Junior Brother.
Peter Doherty has previously announced live dates around the UK and Europe. The full list of shows, with supports in brackets, is:
MARCH
8th SAT Newport ICC Wales (Jack Jones/ Junior Brother)
‘Anywhere In Albion’:
9th SUN Frome Cheese & Grain (Junior Brother/Charles Bueller)
10th MON Bedford Esquires (Junior Brother/Charles Bueller) SOLD OUT
12th WED Wimborne Tivoli Theatre(Junior Brother/Charles Bueller) SOLD OUT
13th THU Digbeth XOYO (GANS/Debdepan)
14th FRI Oldham Whittles (GANS/Ellis Murphy) SOLD OUT
16th SUN Bristol Trinity Centre (GANS/Debdepan)
17th MON Deptford New Cross Inn (Black Bordello/L.J Sharpe & The Monte Carlos)SOLD OUT
18th TUE Catford Blackheath Halls (Evan Williams/L.J Sharpe & The Monte Carlos) SOLD OUT
20th THU Mansfield Canvas (Evan Williams/Nick Diver) SOLD OUT
21st FRI Watford Palace Theatre (Evan williams/Max Bianco) SOLD OUT
22nd SAT Nunthorpe ARC Stockton (Charles Bueller/Max Bianco)
23rd SUN Newcastle Wylam Brewery (Fitzroy Holt/Ellis Murphy) SOLD OUT
APRIL
6th SUN Geneva Alhambra – Antigel Festival
‘Felt Better Alive In Europe’:
25th FRI Sint Niklass De Casino
26th SAT Paris Le Trianon
27th SUN Leuven Het Depot
28th MON Liege OM Liege
30th WED Amsterdam Melkweg
MAY
1st THU Cologne Die Kantine
2nd FRI Berlin Festisaal Kreuzberg
3rd SAT Leipzig Taubchenthal
5th MON Munich Muffathalle
13th TUE Bruges Cactus Muziekcentrum
14th WED Brighton The Great Escape
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