News

Roddy Hart And the Lonesome Fire: New Single and US TV Residency

• 21st Feb 2014

Produced by Danton Supple (Coldplay, Morrisey) and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, The Killers), Bright Light Fever/High Hopes is the new, double A-side single from one of Scotland’s most industrious and respected bands, Roddy Hart And The Lonesome Fire. Due for release on March 10th 2014, on Middle of Nowhere Recordings, the tracks are taken from the bands eponymous debut, released to critical acclaim in September 2013.

The first single, Bright Light Fever, effortlessly balances Hart’s gift for the Scottish vernacular and big, ballsy anthems. The video even sees cameos from legendary country music star Kris Kristofferson as well as actor and Sunshine On Leith director Dexter Fletcher who invited Roddy and the band to feature in the 2013 film. The second A-side single, High Hopes, sees the band take a slow-burning, tender direction on the album’s soundtrack.

Hart took a leap of songwriting faith on the album – visiting themes of death, desolation, religion and loss- underpinned by the hopeful romanticism characteristic of his earlier work. Connecting with his band The Lonesome Fire, the result is a vividly widescreen sonic landscape; dark, brooding and atmospheric, but shot through with moments of beauty and hope, given life by the producer of Coldplay’s multi-million selling album X&Y. The album was recorded in locations as diverse as a Glasgow church, the band’s own rehearsal room in Govan Town Hall (once home to Franz Ferdinand), and the legendary Dean Street Studios in London (the birthplace of albums by David Bowie and The Smiths).

Roddy Hart has since toured again with Kris Kristofferson and performed at this year’s Celtic Connections. The band also made history last October when they were the first act to play at Glasgow’s new epic venue The Hyrdo, as support for Glasvegas and The Proclaimers.

Most recently, Roddy Hart And The Lonesome Fire wowed audiences in the US in February 2014 with a special performance of Bright Light Fever on The Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS. The band have now been invited back for a week-long residency on the show from 24th February, playing tracks from their self-titled debut album.