Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott announce stripped back acoustic shows for June

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott at Glastonbury Festival 2016

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott have today announced 3 special stripped back acoustic shows at Stockport Plaza, Blackburn King Georges Hall Windsor Suite & Chesterfield Winding Wheel to celebrate the release of their new album 'Manchester Calling'.

Tickets for these intimate shows go on sale at 9:30am on Friday 21st June, available from here.

Full list of dates:
Thu 18th June - Stockport Plaza
Sat 20th June - Blackburn King George’s Hall Windsor Suite
Sun 21st June - Chesterfield Winding Wheel

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott will release their fourth studio album ‘Manchester Calling’ on Virgin EMI on 6th March 2020. ‘Manchester Calling’ boasts all the hallmarks of Heaton’s beautifully bittersweet songwriting – effortlessly catchy melodies allied with an everyman’s biting exasperation at the modern world alongside some truly heartfelt love songs.

Produced by long time collaborator John Williams who produced both Housemartins albums and the previous three Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott albums - ‘What Have We Become’ (’14), ‘Wisdom, Laughter & Lines’ (’15), and ‘Crooked Calypso’ (’17)  - the record was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Salford, Manchester. As is Paul Heaton’s habit the lyrics were written in various locations in North Holland and Belgium while the music was composed in a hotel in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria and in Limburg An Der Lahn in Germany.

Says Paul: “I've lived in Manchester for 17 years now and recording an album here for the first time, was looking forward to cycling to work. That was never possible as Manchester is now being turned into a business centre for the rich, which I can't stand.  If there's a theme to the record, it's anti growth, anti greed, against the continuous tearing down of old buildings and sticking up soulless offices, and the disappearance of local accents on TV, along with the creeping spread of Americanese.  So, some curmudgeonly moans, plus some hopefully uplifting love songs. Originally it was set up to be a double LP like 'London Calling' but alas the double album has also become a victim of time"

Says Jacqui: ““I’m so pleased and excited about the new album, it was wonderful to work on new songs and even more so that we did double what we have done for the last few records. It’ll be a joy to see others react to something we took such pleasure out of making”

To coincide with the album release Paul, Jacqui and the band will be embarking on a tour of the UK in April & May.  As with the previous live shows, Paul & Jacqui have requested that the ticket price for the tour remains at £30. A full list of all tour dates is below.

PAUL HEATON & JACQUI ABBOTT UK/IRELAND TOUR 2020

April
Tue 7^th Donegal Balor Arts Centre – SOLD OUT
Thur 9th Galway Leisureland - SOLD OUT
Fri 10th Dublin Arena
Sat 11th Belfast Ulster Hall - SOLD OUT
Sun 12th Killarney INEC
Thurs 16th Glasgow SEC Armadillo - SOLD OUT
Fri 17th Leeds First Direct Arena - SOLD OUT
Sat 18th Newcastle Utilita Arena
Tue 21st Hull Bonus Arena - SOLD OUT
Wed 22nd Hull Bonus Arena - SOLD OUT
Fri 24th Birmingham Arena
Sat 25th Liverpool M&S Arena – SOLD OUT
Sun 26th Leicester De Montfort Hall- SOLD OUT
Wed 29th London Palladium - SOLD OUT
Thur 30th London Palladium - SOLD OUT 

May
Fri 1st Cardiff Motorpoint Arena- SOLD OUT
Sat 2^nd Stoke Victoria Hall- SOLD OUT
Sun 24^th Warrington, Neighbourhood Weekender 

June
Sat 6^th Barcelona, Primavera Sound 2020
Fri 26^th Bristol Sounds 

July
Sat 4^th Jul Manchester Castlefield Bowl - SOLD OUT