Pavey Ark are a fast-rising alternative folk band from Hull, fronted by singer and songwriter Neil Thomas. Formed in 2016, their debut album “Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing” – coming March 20th, 2020 – is an exquisite record that displays the talent of each individual masterfully into one cohesive voice, an impressive feat for a group that have found their stride remarkably quickly.
The band have played several major UK festivals including Glastonbury, Cornbury, and in 2019 Bearded Theory, which lead Under The Radar to pick their “experimental folk” set as one of the stand outs of the entire festival. Since their short time as a group together they’ve supported names like Badly Drawn Boy, Steve Mason, and Rozi Plain. Songwriter Neil Thomas has had previous experience in the field as a solo artist, and in 2016 he supported notable names such as This Is The Kit, Billie Marten, as well as the now split, Wild Beasts.
Pavey Ark’s debut album, “Close Your Eyes and Think of Nothing”, intertwines reflections on internal and external life, with Thomas musing on topics including the enormity of first-time fatherhood, dreams of escaping the rat race, the push and pull of relationships past and present, all while conveying a sense of tentative hope for the future.
The band cite classic influences like Nick Drake, Love, Jackson C. Frank, Michael Chapman and Rodriguez, as well as artists like Aldous Harding, Father John Misty, This Is The Kit, and Dark Dark Dark, as being essential to the overall sound and style of production on the record. Thomas’ poetic observations on the album are often cradled with intricate guitar lines, melodic bass, resplendent strings, and warming drum brushes, all delicately balanced to capture the tiny revelations that emerge throughout our lives.
Confirmed live dates for 2020:
March 31st – Sheffield, The Greystones
April 13th – Leeds, Oporto
April 17th – London, Green Note
May 18th – Uttoxeter, The Acoustic Festival of Britain
June 20th – Lincolnshire, Cabourne Folk & Blues Festival
August 15th – Hampshire, Boomtown Fair
