Starsailor

Thursday 28th November 2024
Doors 7pm | Curfew 11pm
Ages 14+ (U18s to be accompanied)
Advance Tickets | £27.50 + Fees
The audience for this show will be standing

Where The Wild Things Grow, the new album – produced by Rick McNamara - from Starsailor is one of the natural wonders of the world. Of course, if you’re unsure as to the veracity of this conjecture, you should be aware that I am including certain recordings by Nick Drake and Teenage Fanclub and Tim Buckley amongst these worldly treats, as well as more traditional landmarks like the Great Wall Of China, The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the food delivery services of middle England. Indeed, so effortlessly beguiling is Where The Wild Things Grow, you may find yourselves, flicking through your record collection to check whether this bunch of songs has been knocking about your house for years. Of course, this turns out to be a wild goose chase, although Starsailor have been releasing ever-increasingly brilliant records for so long now, that we should be easily forgiven such folly – but herein lies a tale.

Formed in Wigan at the turn of the millennium, Starsailor comprises James Walsh (guitar, vocals), James Stelfox (bass), Barry Westhead (keyboards), and Ben Byrne (drums). They have released five albums, including the notable "Love Is Here" (2001), which sold over a million copies and peaked at No.2 in the UK. Their debut was lauded by critics, with the Guardian calling it “an intricately produced tempest of a record.”

Their second album, "Silence Is Easy" (2003), featured production work by Phil Spector, resulting in hits like the title track. Despite difficulties, the album reached the UK Top Ten. Subsequent albums "On The Outside" (2005), "All The Plans" (2009), and "All This Life" (2017) continued to build their reputation.

In 2022, Starsailor celebrated the 20-year anniversary of "Love Is Here" with a UK tour, performing the album in full and debuting a new song, "Heavyweight." This song, and the album as a whole, showcase a range of influences from Chameleons to Steely Dan, blending rock, folk, and prog elements.

"Where The Wild Things Grow" features additional guitar work from Rick McNamara and Travis’s Andy Dunlop, and backing vocals by Lucy Joules. Rick McNamara, who produced the album, is considered the unofficial fifth member of the band, pushing them creatively.

Starsailor’s music has drawn comparisons to Neil Young, Van Morrison, The Verve, and more. "Where The Wild Things Grow" stands up to repeated listens, revealing layers of observations and reflections on life and love. It's an album that defies expectations with its quality and depth.

Advance Tickets go on sale Wednesday 5th June at 10am, priced at £27.50 + fees. The age requirement for this event is 14 plus (U18s to be accompanied).

Our ticket sales are handled by Seetickets.com. Seetickets’ policy is that all tickets are non-refundable unless, during the checkout process, you pay extra to protect your tickets. In this event, you may be able to claim a refund from Seetickets, if your reason for cancellation is covered by their terms and conditions. Docks Academy is unable to process refunds in all circumstances. Please note this event is for people aged 14 and over. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Anyone aged under 14 will be refused admission and no refunds will be issued for tickets purchased for under 14s, whether or not ticket protection has been paid for.

Accessibility:

Docks Academy has a wheelchair-accessible lift which provides access to the first floor. We are committed to making the venue accessible to everyone and we endeavour to accommodate all access requirements within the constraints of our historic building, and health and safety regulations. Please do contact us prior to your visit so we are aware of your access needs. Email tickets@docksacademy.com.