John Smith

Plus Special Guests

TUESDAY 12TH APRIL 2022

Doors 7pm

£20.00

‘The Fray’ is Smith’s sixth studio album, written and recorded in a universally difficult 2020, and
his vulnerability throughout is offered to his listeners, unadorned. “It’s been a hell of a year,
but I feel I’ve created my most honest work as a result, and as a necessity. A lot of these songs
are about accepting that life is hard, but just holding on and trying to enjoy it anyway.” Smith’s
stubborn optimism in tough circumstances shines through on the title track, in which he sings
“Holding onto hope / I don’t need a decent reason / Yes and though it disappears sometimes /
It returns with every season”.
Smith co-produced ‘The Fray’ with long-time friend and producer Sam Lakeman. They recorded
at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio, with pianist Jason Rebello (Sting, John Mayer), bass player
Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah), Drummer Jay Sikora (Paolo Nutini) and Jessica
Staveley-Taylor of The Staves. The album is a true reflection of the times, with American
collaborators Sarah Jarosz, Courtney Hartman, The Milk Carton Kids and Bill Frisell recording
remotely and sending contributions over international borders. John’s frequent touring partner
Lisa Hannigan contributed via a virtual studio session in Dublin.
Smith co-wrote a couple of songs for the album whilst on tour before the pandemic. Driving a
rental car from Asheville to Nashville, John stopped to write the standout track ‘Eye to Eye’ with
North Carolina-based Sarah Siskind. The Americana influence is a red thread throughout the
album which beautifully compliments Smith’s unmistakable British Folk roots.
With 10 weeks in the US Americana top 50 charts, and with strong coverage in AP, Mojo,
Sunday Times, No Depression, Guitar Magazine, and The Fretboard Journal, backed up with
over 2million streams in the first two months of release alone, ‘The Fray’ is set to become
John’s most successful and critically acclaimed album.
Smith was born in Essex and raised on the Devon seaside. Known for his intimate songwriting,
his honey-on-gravel voice and pioneering guitar playing, he has spent the last fifteen years
touring internationally and has amassed over 55 million streams on Spotify. As a session
musician he has played guitar with artists as diverse as Joan Baez, David Gray, Joe Henry, Lianne
La Havas and Tom Jones.
'Smith's voice is a rare and deeply soulful combination of granite and velvet’ - THE SUNDAY
TIMES
‘Aching, doggedly optimistic and gently spangled with hooks’ - MOJO
‘There’s a comforting sway to the album’s melodic folk-pop, built on Smith’s subtle guitar
work...12 tunes of resilience, devotion and hope, with determination
in the lyrics and buoyancy in the music.’ - ASSOCIATED PRESS
‘An album of searing honesty and lithe beauty whose songs amplify the emotions and
experiences of so many of us this year—the reassessed relationships, the self-reflection, and the
ultimate search for hope.’ - THE BLUEGRASS SITUATION

Over 18s Only


Buy Tickets

Not available online at this time


Voodoo Rooms

19a West Register Street
Edinburgh
United Kingdom


Venue Details

Regular Music Presents

THU 14 DEC 2023
The Mary Walloppers
Dundee Show
Fat Sam's Club, DundeeDoors 7.00pm£15.00
Alexis FFrench
"Christmas Piano"
The Queen's Hall, EdinburghDoors 7pm£29.50
SAT 16 DEC 2023
China Crisis
Oran Mor, GlasgowDoors 7.00 pmSold Out
Roachford
Liquid Room , EdinburghDoors 7.00pm£22.50
Callum Beattie
Plus special Guest - Edinburgh Show
The Queen's Hall, EdinburghDoors 7.00pmSold Out
The Unthanks
The Unthanks In Winter/ Support Kathryn Williams
Usher Hall, EdinburghDoors 7.00pm£27.50/£25.00
The Mary Wallopers
plus special guests
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7:00pmsold out
SUN 17 DEC 2023
China Crisis
The Queen's Hall, EdinburghDoors 6.30pm£27.50
Roachford
Saint Luke's, Glasgowdoors 7.00 pmSold Out
The Mary Walloppers
Edinburgh Show
Liquid Room , EdinburghDoors 7.00pmSold Out
MON 18 DEC 2023
Ocean Colour Scene - Monday
Plus Special Guests
O2 Academy Glasgow, GlasgowDoors 7.00pm£38.50
TUE 19 DEC 2023
Callum Beattie - Tuesday
Glasgow Show
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7.00 pm£27.50
Ocean Colour Scene - Tuesday
Plus Special Guests
O2 Academy Glasgow, GlasgowDoors 7.00pm£38.50
WED 20 DEC 2023
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
OVO Hydro, GlasgowDoors 6.30pmVarious
Callum Beattie - Wednesday
Glasgow Show
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7.00 pm£27.50
THU 21 DEC 2023
Callum Beattie - Thursday
Glasgow Show
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7.00 pm£27.50
SAT 23 DEC 2023
The Silencers
The Dazes
SWG3 Galvanizers Yard, GlasgowDoors 7pm£22.50
SAT 27 JAN 2024
Martin Hayes & The Common Ground Ensemble
The Pleasance , EdinburghDoors 7.00pm£27.50
SAT 3 FEB 2024
THE FILTHY TONGUES
+ Special Guests
The Cabaret Voltaire, EdinburghDoors : 7.00pm£17.00
SAT 10 FEB 2024
EMF
plus support
Oran Mor, GlasgowDoors 7:00pm£22.50
Niki King
The Everlasting Energy of Love
The Queen's Hall, EdinburghDoors 7pm Start 8pm£20.00
THU 15 FEB 2024
Manu Delago
Mono, Glasgowdoors 7.30 pm£15.00
FRI 23 FEB 2024
Rhiannon Giddens
‘You’re The One’
The Pavilion Theatre, GlasgowDoors 7.00pm£28.50
SUN 25 FEB 2024
The Pretenders
Usher Hall, EdinburghDoors 7.00pm£55.00
SAT 2 MAR 2024
Dubinski
Nice N Sleazy, Glasgowdoors 7.30 pm£12.50
THU 14 MAR 2024
Happy Mondays
Inspiral Carpets,Stereo MC's
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7:00pm£42.50
FRI 15 MAR 2024
Happy Mondays
Inspiral Carpets,Stereo MC's
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7:00pm£42.50
SAT 16 MAR 2024
Marti Pellow
OVO Hydro, GlasgowDoors 6.30pm£Various
Moya Brennan
No Support
The Queen's Hall, EdinburghDoors 7.00 pm£29.50
SAT 16 MAR 2024 - SUN 17 MAR 2024
Stiff Little Fingers - Weekend
Access to Saturday and Sunday
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7.00pmSold Out
SAT 16 MAR 2024
Stiff Little Fingers - Saturday
Barrowland, GlasgowDoors 7.00pmSold Out