Spottiswoode: "I'm A Worrier" video

English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has unveiled a video for I'm A Worrier, a track from his new album It Wasn't In The Script: "He has to play another part now, being a father, and as millions of guys before him, he is making it up as he goes along. As a seasoned artist he can give voice to his feelings through song, turning personal hassles into a bunch of snapshots that have a universal appeal."

Spottiswoode: It Wasn't In The Script

photo: Brian Geltner

English singer-songwriter Jonathan Spottiswoode has been a parent of a daughter now for quite some time, which made him reconsider his responsibilities as well as the undeniably fact that he is getting older. On his new album It Wasn't In The Script he can not help but wonder how much it has changed in his life, but now that he has adapted to this new reality, he actually quite likes it. He even went as far as to have his daughter singing backing vocals on most of the tracks. Being joined by your offspring is tricky - what if the little brat hasn't been gifted with the genes of the parent or, even worse tries to steal his thunder? It turns out that little Sophie actually can carry a tune (phew) and while she probably will hate her contributions once she hits puberty, she will come around eventually and cherish these moments in the recording studio.

As a songwriter and musician Spottiswoode alway has been on the fence between jazz and pop, both as a solo artist and fronting his ace band His Enemies, taking cues from both English folk and the less polished sound of off-broadway performances. While he has been spending most of his time in New York for longer than he cares to remember, the pull of London is always there, hence a heartfelt song about wanting his kid the sights of Camden town - "I'm a washed-up rock and roller, I played a season in hell Now I'm pushing a stroller along the Regents Canal // Couples grinning like they know who we are // But it's not me, it's my baby, she's the star" - in When I'm With You.

Spottiswoode: tour dates

photo: Brian Geltner

English singer-songwriter Jonathan Spottiswoode has a lot on his plate durign the next months. He will be playing solo, as part of duo, as part of trio and with His Enemies, the superb NY sextet. The latter have been chomping at the bit for more than a year and are ready to deliver their smart pop meets vaudeville again.

Spottiswoode: I Have So Many Friends

As a songwriter, Jonathan Spottiswoode should have gotten the same recognition that is bestowed on Rufus Wainwright, Ray Davies, Randy Newman, and ... wait for it ... Leonard Cohen, many, many years ago. Until that day finally arrives, he will have to make do with being New York and London's best kept secret. As a modern day troubadour and focal point of Anglo-American septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies, he has been a critic's darling for twenty odd years, but the world at large fails to take notice.

His new unplugged solo album I Have So Many Friends can serve as a crash course for those who want to catch up, featuring reinvented songs for his back catalogue plus a healthy dose of brand new material. Recorded at Studio 42 in Hildesheim, Germany with Jonny Gee (double bass, vocals), Matti Müller (guitar, vocals) and Angi Stricker (vocals, percussion) he breezes through the tracks: from an upbeat version of Mummy's Got Strange Friends to issuing a stern warning about a dangerous Fox News television host (Don't Fall In Love With Laura Ingraham), and donning the perspective of a woman fleeing from the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars.

Spottiswoode: new unplugged album "I Have So Many Friends" on August 1st

Singer-songwriter Spottiswoode will release his new I Have So Many Friends album on August 1. He revisits a couple of tracks from his back catalog and added a bunch of brand new songs, all recorded "unplugged" @ Studio 42 in Hildesheim, Germany. Jonny Gee (double bass, vocals), Matti Müller (guitar, vocals) and Angi Stricker (vocals, percussion). The title track has gotten the video treatment. It has a Latin vibe, a relaxed backing for his tongue-in-cheek, but heartfelt lyrics.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: 25th anniversary show in New York

photo: Brian Geltner

Spottiswoode & His Enemies will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a special show @ Rockwood Stage 2 in New York on December 9th. Some Christmas shehanigans may be part of the proceedings.

Live dates:

• 12/03 Rockwood Stage 3, New York, NY
  (Spottiswoode solo - US debut of the first act of "Youngest Child”, a memoir in song)
• 12/09 Rockwood Stage 2, New York, NY
• 12/10 The deej, Washington, DC
• 12/15 Green Note Basement Bar, Camden, London
  (Spottiswoode & special guests)

» spottiswoode.com

HCTF review of Lost In The City.

Spottiswoode & Kenny White: concert in Frederiksberg

Singer-songwriters Spottiswoode and Kenny White will perform @ Bartof Station, Frederiksberg, Denmark on May 8. Expect a night of storytelling and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

» spottiswoode.com

HCTF review of Lost In The City.

Spottiswoode: solo and full band shows

photo: Brian Geltner

Singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a couple of solo shows lined up, as well as two gigs with his band Spottiswoode & His Enemies. Be prepared for a bit of jazz, some vaudeville, and ace lyrics.

Spottiswoode: show in London

Singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in Frederiksberg @ Metronomen on November 8. He will be sharing the stage with Matti Muller, Jonny Gee, Joe Bickerstaff and Neil Moonsauce. He has announced that he will play "two cathartic and uplifting sets".

» Spottiswoode & His Enemies on Facebook

HCTF review of English Dream.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: tour dates

photo: Brian Geltner

Spottiswoode & His Enemies take their jazzy vaudeville songs on the road. Front man Jonathan Spottiswoode goes out on his own as well.

Live dates:

• 10/13 Camden, London @ Green Note Basement Bar (Spottiswoode solo)
• 10/24 New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2)
• 10/25 Concord, MA @ Private House Concert
  (Spottiswoode w/ Henry Dennis - mail for ticket inquiries)
• 10/26 Washington, DC @ the deej

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: Lost In The City

photo: Brian Geltner

How about a musical guide on how to cope in New York City? The Big Apple inspired lots of artists to do so, but the city is harsh mistress and many failed to pull it off. Spottiswoode & His Enemies however pass with flying colours with their new album Lost In The City, an amalgam of vaudeville, blues, rock and jazz plus lead singer's Jonathan Spottiswoode witty way with words. He is a sardonic poet, whose English heritage makes him a perennial outsider in the city that never sleeps.

Like Randy Newman and Ray Davies he is sharp observer, who can cram the contents of a short story within the confines of a song. The little people can become heroes of sorts (Goodbye Jim McBride, Batman & Robin). Autobiographical songs are used as reality checks. Hoboken is just Hoboken, not some mythical and better place on the other side of the Hudson River. And he takes the full blame for relationship going on the rocks in It's On Me and Now Didn't I? Loneliness and getting drink are captured in The Walk Of Shame: "It's 6 o'clock // The night was so delicious // But now a puddle is a mirror for Narcissus".

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: "Hoboken" video

English/American septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies have made a video for Hoboken, the opening track from their forthcoming album Lost In The City. As he looks out on the Hudson river it dawns on him that the other side is "just Hoboken" instead of a dreamed up heaven, a reality check that got him out of bout of self-pity. He directed the video himself, with stylish black-and-white cinematography by Ehud Lazin.

Spottiswoode: show in Frederiksberg, Denmark w/ Flemming Borby

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in Frederiksberg @ Metronomen on November 8. He will be sharing the bill with Flemming Borby.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies will release their new album Lost In The City in November 27.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: tour dates; "Lost In The City" release shows

photo: Brian Geltner

English/American septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies will release their new album Lost In The City in November. Lead singer Spottiswoode will perform a couple of solo shows before joining the band for the two release parties in November and December. Expect a blend of of pop and vaudeville with A+ lyrics.

Live dates:

• 09/13 Green Note Basement Bar, Camden, London, UK (with Muller & Gee)
• 09/27 Marie Curie Hospice Hampstead, London, UK
  (An evening of poetry and song. Poems: Leah Fritz, Tamar Yoseloff, Jacob Sam LaRose, Peter Phillips Songs: Spottiswoode)
• 11/07 Venue & Details TBA, Copenhagen, Denmark (Spottiswoode solo)
• 11/08 Venue & Details TBA, Copenhagen, Denmark (Spottiswoode solo)
• 11/30 Joe's Pub, NYC, NY (Spottiswoode & His Enemies)
  (Lost In The City Release show)
• 12/01 The deej, Washington DC (Spottiswoode & His Enemies)
  (Lost In The City Release/The Band's 21st Birthday Party)
• 12/14 Green Note Basement Bar, Camden, London (Spottiswoode with Walter Salas-Humara)

Spottiswoode: shows in Berlin w./ Matti Müller

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in Berlin @ pin Herr Lindemann on July 1st. He will be sharing the stage with guitarist Matti Müller.

Spottiswoode & His Enemies: raising funds for new album "Lost In The City"

English/American septet Spottiswoode & His Enemies have launched crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to cover the costs of recording their new album Lost In The City. They are aiming to raise £ 15,000 ($21,000). Singer Jonathan Spottiswoode explains:

LOST IN THE CITY is our most ambitious song cycle to date. An emotional sucker punch. Tales of love and death in the Big Apple. Celebrating two decades together as a band, the music reflects the raw energy and sophistication of the city we’ve called home; a giddy brew of balladry, jazz, rock, blues, minimalism, you name it. It’s poignant for me since I’ve recently moved back to London where I’m raising my baby daughter. Some of the songs almost sound like a farewell.

Spottiswoode & Dear Joy: show @ The Green Note in London

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode and Danish singer Dear Joy will perform @ The Green Note in London on December 10. Duets are likely to happen.

» Spottiswoode & His Enemies on Facebook
» Dear Joy on Facebook

HCTF review of English Dream.

Spottiswoode: shows in Germany w./ Matti Müller & NYC w/ His Enemies

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in Hildesheim on March 25th. He will be sharing the stage with Matti Müller. The show is part of the Honky Tonk Festival.

ON May 11th Spottiswoode & His Enemies will perform a hometown show @ Rockwood 2 in New York.

Spottiswoode w/ Kenny White & Matti Muller: house concert in Brussels

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in Brussels on March 23rd. He will be sharing the stage with Kenny White and Matti Müller.

For more info and to reserve a ticket contact ThreeArtistsBxl@outlook.com.

Spottiswoode: acoustic show in London w/ Matti Muller

NYC based English singer-songwriter Spottiswoode has a gig in London on January 4th. He won't be accompanied by his Enemies, but will be sharing the stage with Matti Müller for an acoustic set. Singer Dear Joy is the support act.

Live date:

• 01/04 London, UK @ Spiritual Bar