DAVY KNOWLES ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW STUDIO ALBUM
THREE MILES FROM AVALON ON OCTOBER 14
Vinyl, Limited Edition Signed Memorabilia, Bundled
Merchandising Packages Available Via Pledge Music Now
Digital
On-Sale Set For September 30 With All Global Retailers
Extensive
Tour Commences Late-July
Chicago, IL --- Davy Knowles has announced the release of a
new studio album Three Miles From Avalon on October 14. Hot on the heels of the 2014's The Outsider,
the full-length documentary Island Bound, and an extensive tour
schedule, Isle of Man-born Knowles looks forwards with a collection of new
songs marking a return to his roots and the sounds that first ignited his
passion for music. Recorded exclusively in his adopted hometown of
Chicago, the capital of electric blues provided Knowles with a landscape
steeped in legend, inspiring him to creatively explore the genre of music he’s
always loved - energetic, guitar driven blues-rock. The pre-order for vinyl,
plus limited edition signed memorabilia, alongside bundled merchandising
packages is live on Pledge Music here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/threemilesfromavalon.
A digital pre-order campaign will be available
globally two weeks prior to release on September 30 via all retailers and at www.davyknowles.com.
Knowles began the recording
process for Three Miles From Avalon with a fresh approach, one
that has resulted in a dynamic, gutsy sound. He offers, "I wanted to
go back to the basics. The band and myself have racked up a lot of playing time
together, and we have really started to gel. I wanted to capture that ‘live’
feel in the studio”. This led naturally to a back-to-basics
approach, and a search for authenticity when it came to recording the new
material. Knowles reveals, “My favorite sounding records
are certainly older ones, recorded to tape, with minimal fuss or overdubs. I
wanted that lovely warm, vintage sound that only tape and glowing tubes can
do.”
A raw, vintage sound is evident
in the album’s opening two tracks, the hard-driving "Ain’t Much Of
Nothing" and the live favourite, "What You’re Made Of", a homage
to one of Davy’s musical heroes Rory Gallagher. He offers, "Rory has
been a huge influence for me, his energy and drive was so mesmerising. I wanted
to get back to that high energy, big guitar riff style of writing.”
The album's third track
"Falling Apart" adds dark drama to the record’s driving pace with its
smoky verses and heavy, snarling, blues riff. Knowles reflects, "I’ve had
this song kicking around for a long time, but it wasn’t until I had found this
guitar pedal called ‘The Octron’ (one of only two pedals used by Knowles on the
entire album) that the song and the riff really came to life, it’s got this
wonderful menacing sound.”
Storytelling has always been a
vital ingredient in Knowles’ work, and the repertoire introduced on Three
Miles From Avalon continues this legacy of introducing indelible
characters to the listener's mind. Weaving a moment of pathos into the
track list is "Oxford MS" – a fictional account of shady dealing and
violence. Knowles offers, "Songs with characters and stories have
always grabbed me, and I wanted to write one in the blues and gospel
vein. This one specifically is a story of blackmail, gambling and regret,
though certainly not an autobiographical one!” The title track itself
brings forth a personal reflection through songs which the artist states,
"is really all about being slightly further away than where you want to
be, and the frustration that comes with that. Avalon is this Arthurian legend,
the Island that could never be found. It became my metaphor for things just out
of my grasp.” The song also reveals the musical influences close to
Davy’s heart, showcasing his love of blues and classic rock with affection.
The album closes on a hat tip
to one of the all-time greats, Willie Dixon, with a re-working of his blues
classic "What In The World." Performed with a live, ‘after hours’
feel, the track showcases Knowles’ confident and distinctive guitar playing,
but also a powerful solo on the Hammond B3 by Andrew Toombs – demonstrating
that Knowles and his tight-knit band all possess not only stunning technical
ability, but soul too. There is no question that this long road Knowles
has travelled finds the artist passing through a crossroads with clarity
focused on the destination he strives to reach. Perhaps not as
unattainable to reach as this fictional, mythical place he metaphorically
alludes to in title.
In support of the new studio
album, Knowles has announced initial dates on an extensive global tour.
Confirmed appearances include:
7/23
Sunrise Beach,
MO
Picklehead's Roadhouse
7/29
Bethlehem,
PA
Levitt Pavilion
7/30
Alexandria,
VA
The Birchmere
8/03
Northampton,
MA
Iron Horse Music Hall
8/04
New York,
NY
Iridium
8/05
New York,
NY
Iridium
8/06
Hoboken,
NJ
Maxwell's
8/07
Pawling,
NY
Daryl's House
8/11
Charlotte, NC
U.S. National White Water Center
8/12
Salisbury,
MD
Headquarters Live
8/13
Philadelphia,
PA
Hard Rock Cafe
8/14
Fairfield, CT
Stage One
8/18
Rockport,
MA
Shalin Liu
8/19
Burlington,
VT
Higher Ground
8/20
Londonderry,
NH
Tupelo Music Hall
8/26
Lombard,
IL
Brauerhouse
8/27
Elkhart,
IN
Lerner Theatre (w/ 38 Special)
10/01 Carbondale,
IL
Carbondale Rocks
10/15 Auburn Hills,
MI
Callahan's
10/21 Evanston,
IL
SPACE (Album Release Party)
11/04 Des Moines,
IA
Des Moines Social Club
11/05 Marion,
IA
Campbell Steele Gallery
ABOUT DAVY KNOWLES
Davy Knowles has staged over
five hundred appearance in support of his two Billboard-charting studio albums,
DVD's and live albums. The Chicago-based artist began his journey as a
young man growing up on the UK's Isle of Man, and his commitment to succeed led
to his emigration to America at 19 with his band Back Door Slam. His acclaimed
debut album Roll Away (Blix Street Records) delivered TV appearances on
Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America fueled by the radio hit "Come
Home." His second studio release Coming Up For Air was
produced by Peter Frampton, yielding radio hits "Tear Down The Walls"
and "Taste of Danger." Knowles made appearances at festivals
that included Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits, headlines the
globe, and was invited to tour with Jeff Beck, The Who, Warren Haynes / Gov't
Mule, Joe Bonamassa and Peter Frampton amongst others.
Knowles is one of only a small
handful of artists who’ve had their music beamed straight into space for
astronauts listening on the International Space Station. A
headline show at the inaugural Garden Party Festival in the Isle of Man
was memorably gate-crashed by the same astronauts who had heard Davy from the
ISS. In 2011, Knowles wrote, recorded and released "Reach Higher" as
official anthem for the Youth Commonwealth Games, and in 2014, as ambassador
for the Isle of Man's Year of Culture he took part in several key events –
making an appearance at the International Celtic Festival in Lorient, France.
More recent, roots-driven
projects have emerged in the form of the music documentary Island Bound,
produced in association with DAM. Tracking the migration of Celtic and European
folk music to America, Canada and Australia, Knowles enlisted the help of
musicians such as Richard Thompson and Martin Simpson to explore the origins of
bluegrass, folk, country and Americana, the sounds that influenced blues, pop
and rock music of today.
‘THREE MILES FROM AVALON’
Personnel:
Davy Knowles - Guitars and Vocals
Bryan Doherty - Bass Guitar and Vocals
Andrew Toombs - Hammond Organ, Piano and Wurlitzer
Michael Caskey - Drums and Percussion
Produced by Davy Knowles and Anthony Gravino
Engineer - Anthony Gravino
Recorded at Shirk Studios and Drake Studios, Chicago IL
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