In support of his newly released, critically acclaimed debut album, singer songwriter Harper Simon is set to release the breezily beautiful Wishes And Stars as a single. The track is one of two on the album that were co-written by the acclaimed Nigerian author and Booker Price winner Ben Okri, who Simon met at a party and became a friend and fan of.
Harper Simon is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles and New York, and a former member of UK band Menlo Park. Released in April (artwork by friend Tracey Emin), Simon’s eponymous debut has won plaudits across the board for its taut songcraft. It was recorded in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles with the help of an impressive and decidedly eclectic, multigenerational group of musical collaborators – famed producer Bob Johnston (the man behind classic recordings from Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen), an all-star group of veteran first-call Nashville session players, an impressive group of contemporary young singer-songwriters, friends, and yes, even Harper’s own father, the legendary Paul Simon.
Wishes and Stars
But for all the crucial musical support he received from so many great musicians, Simon himself is everywhere. He sings most of the gorgeous and evocative harmonies on the album, as well as playing the majority of the stunning guitar parts as well as co-arranging both the memorable string and horn arrangements that bring such unforgettable shading of musical colours to the album. He has taken time and care to make an album built to last. And this is only the beginning.
Harper Simon will be returning to the UK and Ireland in the summer for a string of dates and festivals<
June
Wed 23 Dublin Grand Canal Theatre (supporting Marianne Faithfull)
July
Sun 18 London Apollo Victoria, UK (with Tori Amos)
Sat 24 Port Elliot Festival, UK
August
Sun 1 Cambridge Folk Festival, Cambridge, UK
Fri 6 Belladrum Festival, Inverness, Scotland, UK
Sun 8 Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington, UK (Part of Pocklington 10th Anniversary music festival)
Fri 14 Leicester Summer Sundae, Leicester, UK