ALESSI’S ARK + TINA BOONSTRA + MICHAEL KING (BOAT TO ROW)

Start: Sunday, May 9, 2021 12:00AM
End: TBD

It’s been a gradual burning, shimmering process for the remarkable Alessi’s Ark. A name and cinematic voice which has been built upon years of experimentation, travel, resilience and triumph. Alessi has since toured extensively in the UK, Europe, US and Japan in support of her releases with M.Ward, Jenny Lewis, Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, Sharon Van Etten and John Grant, amongst others.

Her releases have won acclaim and support from Gary Crowley and Robert Elms at BBC London, Cerys Matthews and Steve Lamacq at BBC 6, Tom Robinson at BBC Introducing, John Kennedy at XFM, WFMU, DubLab, KEXP and previous LP ‘Love Is The Currency’ was warmly welcomed by MOJO, Guardian, Best Fit, Clash, The 405.

Alessi’s Ark returns with ‘Sacred’, a track that was recorded in a cabin on the South East coast with additional recording at Arch 79 in East London. The two very different environments are reflected in the song, which discusses the pushing and pulling of love and relationships and is a kind of prayer for the ability to balance all with grace.

After playing numerous highly sought-after venues and festivals, Alessi’s journey continues to blossom. With her new single set to be released September 27th and performance lined across the UK in October and November, 2019 is looking to be a year in which the Ark will take on new and greater heights.

Alessi’s Ark Links: SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram

Watch the official music video for ‘Veins Are Blue’ below:

As a songwriter in a missionary family, Tina expected her songs to find their home in the church halls she grew up in. But it wasn’t until she began performing on the London open mic circuit that she cut her teeth as a performer and honed her craft into a treasure trove of songs with a depth and emotional intensity reminiscent of PJ Harvey, Wolf Alice and John Mark McMillan.

Featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday and Mellow Pop playlists, BBC Introducing London, Hoxton Radio and Sounds Magazine, her latest EP is described as ‘a collection of moving, honest, brave songs that will school its listeners in empathy and introspection.’ (Get In Her Ears).

After clocking up over a million Spotify streams, this year saw Tina embark on her first UK headline tour and make appearances at UK festivals including ‘The Big Festival’, ‘Big Church Day Out’ and ‘The Great Escape’, as well as play support slots to Zach Winters, Joshua Luke Smith and Danny O’Callaghan.

Heart, Teeth, Hands was released on 27 September and is the final song in the ‘Underrated Animals.’ She’s currently working on a new EP.

Tina Boonstra Links: Website | Facebook | Spotify

Michael King, is the front man and chief songwriter and frontman of Birmingham band, Boat to Row. The beginnings of a song can occur in a variety of forms, and although there isn’t a set formula, writers find what suits them best and for Michael, this means to be alone, usually in his bedroom, building a song solely around voice and his Martin guitar. Citing influences such as Bill Callahan, Bonnie Prince Billy, Bert Jansch and Judee Sill and having shared the stage with the likes of Jessica Pratt, Ryley Walker, Michael Chapman and The Low Anthem; Michael set with old friend Alessi will be filled with songs in their most intimate and stark form

Michael King (Boat To Row) Links: Facebook | Twitter | Youtube 

Watch ‘Handsome Beats’ here: