ben-watt

Everything But the Girl's Ben Watt releasing new book & LP, playing NYC & LA w/ Bernard Butler (dates/streams)

by Bill Pearis

Ben Watt

Everything But the Girl’s Ben Watt will have a busy 2014. Next week (2/13), he’ll release his second book, Romany & Tom, which is about his parents in post-war England. His last book was 1996’s Patient, which chronicled his ordeal with Churg-Strauss syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that nearly killed him, which is fantastic and is being republished next week as well.

On April 29 Ben will release Hendra, his first solo album in 30 years, which will come out on his new imprint, Unmade Road. You can stream live versions of three new songs which were taped for BBC 6 Music back in October, including the album’s title track, below.

Ben will be coming to North America the first week of April for a few live dates, his first non-DJ American performances ever. (Everything But the Girl last played here 15 years ago.) For these shows, Watt will be accompanied by former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. There are two NYC shows: April 1 at Joe’s Pub and April 2 at Rough Trade. Tickets for Joe’s Pub go on sale Thursday (2/13) and tickets for Rough Trade go on sale Friday, Febraury 14 at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wedensday (2/12) at noon.

He’ll be playing LA on April 4 at The Echo. All dates, plus song streams, below…

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Ben Watt – 2014 Tour Dates
FEB 13 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ Launch, reading + Q&A, hosted by Andrew Collins – London, Rough Trade East
FEB 20 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – London, Waterstone’s
FEB 23 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – London, St Pancras Old Church
FEB 24 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – London, St Pancras Old Church
MAR 2 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Bath, Literature Festival, Mineral Hospital
MAR 4 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A, hosted by John Niven – London, Lutyens and Rubinstein
MAR 28 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – London, Word in Your Ear, The Slaughtered Lamb
APR 1 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – New York, Joe’s Pub
APR 2 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – New York, Rough Trade
APR 4 2014 6Mix hosted & mixed by Ben Watt – BBC Radio 6Music, 10pm – Midnight (GMT)
APR 4 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Los Angeles, The Echo
APR 11 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Glasgow, Aye Write! Festival
APR 15 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Sheffield, The Greystones
APR 16 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Newcastle, Cluny 2
APR 17 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Liverpool, East Village Arts Club
APR 18 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
APR 19 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Cambridge, Junction 2
APR 19 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – London, Rough Trade East
APR 21 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Nottingham, Bodega
APR 22 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Guildford, Boileroom
APR 23 2014 Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – Norwich, Arts Centre
MAY 7 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Brighton, Brighton Festival
MAY 10 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Bristol, Festival of Ideas, venue to be arranged
MAY 22 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Lewes, Charleston Festival
MAY 24 2014 ‘Romany and Tom’ reading + Q&A – Hay-on-Wye Festival, venue to be arranged