NEWTON FAULKNER has revealed details of his forthcoming eighth studio album Octopus, released via
Cooking Vinyl on 19 September, a number of instores and signings throughout September, and a full UK
and Irish tour for October and November.
The forthcoming album represents a deliberate pause and reset after years of relentless touring and
recording. Rather than rushing back with familiar sounds, Faulkner used this creative five year
sabbatical to rediscover what genuinely excites him as an artist – resulting in a collection that feels both
deeply personal and surprisingly expansive.
The acclaimed singer songwriter initiated this new chapter in November last year when he cut his iconic
dreadlocks during the finale of his tour at London Islington Assembly Hall. The haircut, which took place during an acoustic performance of the hit single Dream Catch Me, benefited Teenage Cancer Trust while
symbolising a new direction for Faulkner, both musically and visually.
“I felt like my hair was tying me to the past,” he explains. “The guy that sang Dream Catch Me from under
a large pile of hair is a distant memory and has been for a while.” He describes his new direction as
‘freedom from the past’, one that embraces authenticity in his creative choices, “This is about letting go;
there is no part of this record that is trying to recreate anywhere I’ve been before, however well it might
have gone. This is me; this is my head; this is what I love.”
To coincide with the album release, a number of instore performances and signings have been
announced, along with a full UK and Ireland tour in the autumn. Full dates as follows:
SEPTEMBER
Thu 18 KINGSTON Banquet Records (8:30pm)
Fri 19 BIRMINGHAM HMV Records (5:00pm)
Sat 20 SOUTHAMPTON Vinilo Records (1:00pm)
Sat 20 BRIGHTON Resident Records (6:30pm)
Sun 21 NOTTINGHAM Rough Trade Records (6:00pm)
Mon 22 LEEDS Vinyl Whistle Records (1:00pm)
Mon 22 BURY Wax & Beans Records (5:00pm)
Tue 23 LIVERPOOL Jacaranda Records (6:00pm)
Wed 24 BRISTOL Rough Trade Records (6:30pm)
Thu 25 LONDON Rough Trade East Records (7:00pm)
Fri 26 MARLBOROUGH Sound Knowledge Records @ St Peters Church (7:30pm)
OCTOBER
Sat 11 ISLE OF WIGHT Strings Bar
Mon 13 NORWICH Waterfront
Tue 14 MANCHESTER Academy 3
Wed 15 CARDIFF Tramshed
Thu 16 BIRMINGHAM Academy 2
Sat 18 EXETER Lemon Grove
Sun 19 BATH Komedia
Mon 20 CAMBRIDGE Junction
Wed 22 LEEDS Project House
Thu 23 NEWCASTLE Northumbria Student Union
Sat 25 ABERDEEN OGV Podium
Sun 26 GLASGOW SWG 3
Tue 28 LIVERPOOL Arts Club Theatre
Wed 29 LEICESTER O2 Academy 2
Thu 30 LONDON Earth Concert Hall
NOVEMBER
Thu 13 BELFAST Limelight 1
Fri 14 PORTRUSH Atlantic Sessions
Sat 15 DUBLIN Ambassador
Sun 16 CORK Cyprus Avenue
TICKETS: https://newtonfaulkner.os.fan/