Billie Marten‘s fourth studio album, Drop Cherries, is a beautiful, tender offering, ideal to be supported by a record store tour across the UK. Removing barriers between artist and audience, instore shows offer an intimate connection, particularly suited to acoustic music, in the naturally welcoming environment of a vinyl record shop. Billie said “I love vinyl, I love vintage, and I love you all”. We caught Billie‘s show half way through the nine show run at Vinilo record store in Southampton, UK.
There were around 35 people in the shop, a good turn out for a lunchtime show on Easter Sunday, the majority with the newly purchased album waiting to be signed. The initial intensity of the closeness between fans and artist was dispelled as Billie encouraged those that wanted to, to sit and get comfy. It was a perfect chilled Sunday vibe.
As well as songs from the new album, including the lovely “Arrows”, Billie also included some oldies, and encouraged requests from the crowd; a favourite of which was “Live” from her debut 2016 album Writing of Blues and Yellows. The final song was a treat to hear live, played on her tiny Casio keyboard (named “Timmy”), from the new album, the delicate “I Bend to Him”.
Drop Cherries album was recorded entirely on tape in Somerset and Wales late summer 2022, and released on 7th April 2023. Billie wrote and co-produced (with Dom Monks) the album.
Billie Marten is touring in May with an eleven date run across the UK and Ireland, the final two dates in London already sold out.
Photos and words by Tony Palmer (Website, Instagram, TikTok).
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