David Thomas Broughton is one of a kind. His live outings and recorded material defy easy classification. His shows are an exhilarating mix of musical improvisation and performance art, underlined with raw unpredictability. His recorded material is dark but beautiful, marrying traditional folk with surrealist experimentation.
From the earliest gigs back in 2003, he quickly developed a reputation for engaging shows that incorporated field recordings, acoustic guitar and loop pedals, as well as less conventional musical aids like a rape alarm, a mobile phone and garden vegetables.
Over the past decade he’s toured extensively, playing shows as far away as China, Korea and the US, as well as some of the best UK and European festivals, including Primavera, Green Man and End of the Road.
In 2015 he became the subject of a documentary The Ambiguity of David Thomas Broughton that featured interviews with his friends, family and fellow musicians, including Sam Amidon, David Shringley and James Yorkston.
Released in three volumes by three labels in three countries, David Thomas Broughton’s latest album ‘Crippling Lack’ was born in 2016 as a trans-continental triple-vinyl album, with Song, By Toad as one of the labels involved in the project. It was recorded while David was living in Pyongyang, North Korea, with contributions from the likes of Beth Orton, Sam Amidon and Aidan Moffat.
Crippling Lack pt. 1 from David Broughton on Vimeo.
The 2017 Crippling Lack tour was conceived as an evolutionary step in the life of the album. Each show will enlist the help of different collaborators from diverse musical genres to help create different experiences for each and every performance. Some participants will be artists who took part in the making of the original album. Some will be new characters, adding their voices to the cast of Crippling Lack.
David Thomas Broughton explains: “This tour will continue to reinterpret my songs, offering unique takes on the album. The original recordings were put down relatively quickly, with a degree of spontaneity and not spending a lot of time composing. By exploring them more, I can see what they can become and what different groups of collaborators can spur in my own creative endeavour.”
With David Thomas Broughton currently based in South Korea, this tour represents a rare opportunity to witness one of England’s most eccentric and enigmatic performers.
TOUR DATES:
15th November – The Rose Hill, Brighton
16th November – Paper Dress Vintage (SOLD OUT)
17th November – Aces and Eights, London
18th November – The Printworks, Hastings
22nd November – The Cookie, Leicester
23rd November – The Maze, Nottingham
25th November – Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy
26th November – Edinburgh (Venue TBC)
27th November – The Hug and Pint, Glasgow
1st December – Regather (The Lamplight Club), Sheffield
2nd December – MIMA, Middlesbrough
4th December – The Cumberland Arms
5th December – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
7th December – Gullivers, Manchester
8th December – The Triangle, Shipley
13th December – Cafe Kino, Bristol
14th December – The Transport Club, Cardiff
