Villagers – BBC 6 Music Festival, Liverpool – March 30, 2019 – BBC 6 Music –
Villagers tonight, from their concert last weekend at The BBC 6 Music Festival in Liverpool and recorded on March 30th by the venerable BBC 6 Music.
Villagers are an Irish indie folk band from Dublin, formed in 2008. As well as songwriter and vocalist/guitarist Conor O’Brien, the band currently consists of Danny Snow (bass, upright bass), Cormac Curran (keyboards), Gwion Llewelyn (drums, flugelhorn) and Mali Llywelyn (harp).
The band came to prominence in 2010 with the release of their debut album, Becoming a Jackal. Released to critical acclaim, the album was shortlisted for the 2010 Mercury Prize and the Choice Music Prize. The band’s second studio album, {Awayland} was released in 2013. It won the Choice Music Prize that year and was also shortlisted for the 2013 Mercury Prize. In 2015 they released their third album, Darling Arithmetic, and the following year Where Have You Been All My Life? – a compilation of live reworkings of some of the band’s best-known tracks. In May 2016 Darling Arithmetic won the Ivor Novello award for Best Album.
Villagers have performed at several music festivals and toured with Grizzly Bear, Tracy Chapman, Bell X1, Tindersticks and Elbow.
In September 2012 the band announced the release of “The Waves”, the first single from their follow-up album. While at the time the name of the album wasn’t announced, the details for {Awayland} were released soon afterwards alongside news of a headline tour in February 2013. The band were just about to start a tour supporting Grizzly Bear in October 2012. A second single, “Nothing Arrived”, was also announced in December 2012 with a release date set for 14 January 2013 in conjunction with the launch of {Awayland}.
Whilst on tour supporting {Awayland}, the band debuted two new songs; “Occupy Your Mind” and “Hot Scary Summer”. On 7 February 2014 “Occupy Your Mind” was released as a single, produced and mixed by James Ford. As part of Record Store Day 2014, a limited edition clear 7″ vinyl version of “Occupy Your Mind” was released.
In early February 2015 the release of their third LP Darling Arithmetic was announced for the 10th/13th/14 April in Ireland, the U.K/Europe and the U.S.A respectively. The new album was written, recorded, produced and mixed by Conor O’Brien at his own home, with him playing all instruments on the record, similar to Becoming A Jackal. A tour was announced, with several dates in Ireland, the U.K and throughout Europe, and a show in New York supporting Laura Marling. In March 2015, when promoting the band’s upcoming album and tour in Ireland, O’Brien spoke to GiggingNI.com about the songwriting process on Darling Arithmetic as well as addressing love and the issue of homophobia.
On 8 January 2016, the band’s fourth album – mostly consisting of live versions of previously released songs – was released under the title Where Have You Been All My Life? The band toured worldwide throughout 2016 supporting the album.
In August 2018 new album The Art of Pretending to Swim was announced for a 21 September release and new song, FOOL and accompanying music video was unveiled.
Hit the play button and listen for yourself.
