9.29°C Having fronted Colchester’s organ-driven rock ’n’ roll band FuzzFace for several years, Ady Johnson now embarks on a solo acoustic project.
This is not your usual bland, ‘woe is me’ introspective fare. Johnson writes dynamic songs that range from heartfelt whispers to aggressive, soulful hollers. His distinctive vocals, deft guitar work and sympathetic backing band make his recent recordings sound like Graham Coxon’s The Spinning Top colliding with Tom Waits’ Bone Machine. Add a touch of Steve Marriott-style vocals to the mix, and you’re some way towards describing Ady Johnson’s sound.
Ady performs live regularly and has played numerous festivals, including headlining the Castle Stage at Colchester Free Festival this summer. Stand-out solo gigs include supporting bands such as Coronership, The Godfathers, The Telescopes and Tom Hingley, as well as performing live in a maze in the middle of London’s Trafalgar Square.
A particular highlight of the year came in October when Ady was busking for the first time in his life to the queue at 6Fest – the London festival organised by Love 6 Music to celebrate its successful campaign to save BBC 6 Music from closure. During his set, he was approached by organisers and asked to perform at the festival after one of the scheduled acts failed to appear. An opportunity not to be missed, Ady went on to play the opening set at 6Fest. DJ Shaun Keaveny summed up the moment on the day, saying: “What a story that is… that’s typical of 6 Music.”
Ady Johnson – Tell The Worry Dolls
Ady Johnson’s debut solo album, Tell The Worry Dolls, was recorded live wherever possible with a backing band at Long Track Studios, through an old Neve mixing console once used by John Peel at Maida Vale Studios.
The album draws inspiration from Johnson’s personal experiences and explores a range of subjects and emotions we all encounter or can relate to. This honesty is reflected in both the songwriting and the conviction of his performances. The songs are dynamic and diverse – capable of pulling at the heartstrings while also bringing real grit to the acoustic canon.
Ady said: “Each of the songs expresses some kind of worry, concern or angst and, in committing these songs to the album, I like to think I’ve finally completed the cathartic process you go through as a singer-songwriter – much like the folklore surrounding the Guatemalan Worry Dolls: you tell the dolls your worries before you go to sleep and in the morning you find they’ve taken them away.”
The official album release party for Tell The Worry Dolls takes place on Sunday, 19th December 2010 at Colchester Arts Centre. Organised by Andy Winmill from Camand and Ben Howard of Cool Publicity, the event will see the album performed live in full, in running order, by Ady Johnson and his backing band for the first time. Support on the night comes from Lady Bird, The Larks, and Animal Noise.
Tell The Worry Dolls is available on CD and digital download from 17 January 2011.
For more information, visit:
www.adyjohnson.co.uk
