aaamusic | On 12, Oct 2010

 

Sparrow and the Workshop have released their stunning new video for forthcoming single ‘Black To Red’. The Glasgow-based Americana trio are currently mid-way through a full UK headline tour, headlining London’s Borderline tonight (12th October).

Watch the striking performance clip, which sees the band surreally replicating the effects of 3D in glorious 2D:

The new single is released on the 1st November via Distiller Records, and sees Sparrow and The Workshop taking a heavier direction to previous material, reminiscent in parts of Black Mountain. 

‘Black To Red’ is the first new song to be released since their recent critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Crystals Fall’. The band are currently working on their follow-up album, which is due to be released early next year. 

The band comprises of Belfast born, Chicago-raised Jill O’Sullivan (vocals/guitar/violin), Welshman Nick Packer (guitar/bass) and Scotsman Gregor Donaldson (drums/vocals.) Jill’s voice has developed into a powerhouse of flexibility, allowing her to soar from keening Sandy Denny-esque tones to peaks evocative of PJ Harvey. They have also slowly incorporated subtle elements from metal, grunge, doo-wop and country into their songs, leading a friend of the band to recently describe one new song as ‘Joanna Newsom backed by Black Sabbath‘. 

The band has had an extremely busy and successful year. After a couple of tours with Idlewild and shows with British Sea Power, Anton Newcombe (Brian Jonestown Massacre) personally invited them to be the special guests on their European tour. Then they headed across the Atlantic for the first time to perform three New York shows, the first of which was again supporting the BJM. In addition to numerous shows across Europe, the band has put in some stella festival performances at T in the Park, Bestival, and The Green Man Festival. The latter set prompted Observer newspaper music critic Ally Carnwath to call them his best discovery of the festival. 

There is something gloriously new about the way Sparrow flit from the most delicate Americana to crashing post-rock crescendos at the drop of a hat. They might be folk but there’s certainly nothing traditional about this band. 

UK live dates: 

October
Tue 12, London Borderline
Wed 13, Birmingham O2 Academy 3
Thur 14, Oxford O2 Academy 2
Fri 15, Bath Moles
Sat 16, Brighton The Hope
Mon 18, Southampton Joiners