Six years, six albums and countless singles, EPs and collaborations later, and finally our favourite royal, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, returns!
Born Will Oldham in Kentucky USA some 40 years ago, Oldham took on the Bonnie mantle after the dissolution of his previous outfit(s), the hugely influential alt-country bands Palace Brothers and Palace Music. Since then Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy has amassed a catalogue of some 12 studio albums, all weirdly inventive takes on the roots genre: country-western, bluegrass, Appalachian folk, and which has seen cover versions from the likes of Johnny Cash, Cat Power and Mark Lanegan, while the list of renowned public admirers would fill a press release on its own.
His most recent release, Wolfroy Goes to Town, continues in his own unique tradition but in true maverick style moves ever sideways from expectation, this time with the addition of vocalist Angel Olsen – a solo performer in her own right – and guitarist Emmett Kelly, Billy’s most recent consistent collaborator and the one-man band known as the Cairo Gang. It is these performers plus drummer Van Campbell who will be joining Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy on this Australian tour. Aided by vocalist Angel Olsen, Wolfroy Goes to Town is perhaps his strongest and most consistent collection for years. In fact, the entire thing is an absolute, unerring joy. Hotel Great Northern on Saturday.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBJ4ekzclPk&w=560&h=315]
