Joel Stoker releases acoustic album & announces February tour
JOEL STOKER
THE ACOUSTIC VERSION OF HIS ACCLAIMED DEBUT ALBUM
‘THE UNDERTOW’ IS OUT NOW - LISTEN HERE
FEATURING THE FOCUS TRACK ‘MY WAR’
FEBRUARY 2024 HEADLINE TOUR ALSO ANNOUNCED
INCLUDES A LONDON SHOW AT THE 100 CLUB
PRAISE FOR ‘THE UNDERTOW’:
“Taking inspiration from soul, Americana and indie… Fantastic.” - Clash
“Deeply personal.” **** - The Sun
“A solo debut that’s more heartfelt than fans of The Rifles might have expected. Indie guitar riffs are subbed out for piano-filled ballads, brass-blasted openers and softer, more purposeful vocals. that are more lyrically driven than ever. It is a surprising turn, and makes for a mature, well-realised debut album.” - The Upcoming
“The Rifles frontman is embracing a completely new level of creativity, lifting the artistic bar higher than he ever has before and creating something truly astonishing in the process.” - Gigwise
“The debut solo release from The Rifles frontman is a stomping indie-soul gem.” - This Feeling
“It’s always wonderful when painful themes that concern us all come with such a personal stamp. That’s Joel Stoker all over; that’s The Undertow all over.”- Indie Is Not A Genre
“Beautiful, intimate songs.” - Louder Than War
“Delivering an album of the year contender should be used as a case study of hope to all who need it.” - Traveller’s Tunes
Joel Stoker today releases the acoustic version of his critically acclaimed debut solo album ‘The Undertow’, which is available HERE as either a standalone CD or as part of the digital deluxe version of the original album. It follows the recent news that The Rifles’ frontman will continue his solo touring in support of the album with a new run of dates in February 2024. The album is released alongside the focus track, the acoustic version of ‘My Own War’.
The original version of ‘The Undertow’ made quite an impact, earning a wealth of critical adoration (see above) as well as landing Top 10 positions on the UK Official Independent Albums and Record Store Charts. This new acoustic collection replicates the original tracklist and takes the songs back to their very earliest incarnations, when Joel started writing them alone in his studio located at the end of his garden. Taking the songs back to basics, with Joel’s emotive voice supported only by plaintive acoustic guitar, the result heightens their vulnerability and soulful intensity, and also demonstrates that Joel’s writing excels far outside of the raucous rock ‘n’ roll of his work with The Rifles.
Joel says, “As a music fan I always enjoy listening to acoustic versions of any song. I feel it’s important to hear the song in its rawest form. I always stand by the rule that if the song works with just an acoustic guitar and a vocal then it’s a good song.”
The focus track, ‘My Own War’, is Joel’s confessional take on battling anxiety. As he explained in an interview with NME: “I’ve had it since I was young. It gets you down. It seems like everyone’s suffering with mental health at the minute and I didn’t want to be jumping on that bandwagon, but at the same time, I feel like it’s important to talk about it and bring it up because the more you talk about it, the more you realise a lot of other people do have certain things that they struggle with. As soon as you speak about it, it makes it easier instantly.”
Fans who have yet to explore Joel’s solo work can visit his official store to pick up a bundle featuring the original album on blue vinyl, the acoustic recordings on CD and a signed A4 art print.
Since releasing the original version of ‘The Undertow’, Joel has taken the record into the live environment too, starting with a special packed show at KOKO as special guest to Liam Gallagher. Since then he has played select headline gigs, the last of which this year will be at Le Pub in Newport on November 2nd and the West End Centre in Aldershot on November 16th. Those gigs have proven to be sufficiently popular that Joel will now play a second headline tour in February 2024 that includes a London show at The 100 Club as well as a gig at The Libertines’ Albion Rooms in Margate.
The tour dates are listed below, and tickets are available HERE:
FEBRUARY 2024
1st - Hove, The Brunswick
2nd - London, The 100 Club
8th - Plymouth, The Underground
15th - Camberley, Login Lounge
29th - Lowestoft, The Seagull Theatre
MARCH 2024
14th - Southampton, The Joiners
21st - Darlington, The Forum Music Studios
28th - Margate, Albion Rooms
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