30.95°C Colchester-based singer-songwriter Ady Johnson is set to release his third album, Under Gainsborough Skies, on 26th June, celebrating with a special launch show at Colchester Arts Centre on 30th June.
The new record is deeply rooted in the landscapes of the Essex-Suffolk border, where Ady Johnson grew up and later trained as a furniture restorer near Sudbury before pursuing music. Recorded live in the Arsenic Audio studio with producer Nathan Wacey using vintage equipment, the album was deliberately created with minimal overdubs to capture performances as naturally as possible.
“I wanted it to feel honest and immediate – just my guitar, my voice, and the moment,” says Ady.
Drawing on folk traditions and his background in classical guitar performance, the album explores themes of family, memory, loss and the passage of time through a collection of intimate acoustic songs.
One of the album’s most personal tracks is The Old Child’s Chair, the recently released second single. The song was inspired by a restored Regency-era child’s chair that Ady’s grandparents gave him when he was born. Before pursuing music, Ady followed a similar path to his family, serving an apprenticeship in the antique furniture restoration trade near Sudbury.
The song reflects on inheritance, family connections, and the stories passed down through generations. Recorder accompaniment from multi-instrumentalist Toby Bull gives the track a distinctly pastoral quality that sits comfortably alongside the album’s rural East Anglian influences.
The album’s opening single, Foolin’ Around (With You), introduces listeners to the world of Under Gainsborough Skies, while other tracks explore friendship, mortality and the possibility of reunion beyond this life. The album also features guest vocals from Ivor Novello Award-winning singer-songwriter Scott Matthews on Wash Away, Blow Away.
The cover artwork was painted by Ady’s stepfather, artist David Leeming, who also lives on the Essex-Suffolk border. Inspired by the landscapes associated with Thomas Gainsborough, the painting complements the album’s themes and sense of place.
Under Gainsborough Skies follows Ady Johnson’s earlier albums Tell the Worry Dolls and London Songs. The former received a vinyl reissue in 2025 to mark its 15th anniversary, while the latter was produced by Gerry Diver, whose credits include work with Graham Coxon, Tom Robinson and Billy Bragg.
Over the years, Ady has toured extensively across the UK, Europe and the USA, sharing stages with artists including Scott Matthews and Willy Mason. Despite those travels, East Anglia remains at the heart of his songwriting, with Under Gainsborough Skies drawing much of its inspiration from the places and people closest to home.
Under Gainsborough Skies is released on 26th June via Little Robin Records. Ady Johnson launches the album at Colchester Arts Centre on Tuesday 30th June.
Buy tickets for the album launch here.
Pre-save or order Under Gainsborough Skies here.
Look out for a forthcoming Keep Colchester Cool interview with Ady Johnson, where we’ll explore the stories behind Under Gainsborough Skies, his songwriting process and the experiences that have shaped his career.
