FRETSORE RECORDS: PRESS RELEASE
4 JUNE 2021
John Jenkins
reimagines ‘Kathleen’ on new single
Photo Credit: Adrian Wharton
Liverpudlian artist John Jenkins returns with a brand new single, ‘Kathleen’, his take on the Townes Van Zandt-composed gemstone. The track is available on digital services worldwide via Fretsore Records.
‘Kathleen’ is taken from Jenkins’ upcoming album 'If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love', due for release on 6th August ahead of a 10-date national tour.
The album also features the critically-acclaimed single ‘Desert Hearts’ and upcoming track ‘Strangers On A Train’, a duet with Alison Benson.
On taking on an alt-country classic, Jenkins states "I feel like I have a cooler older brother when I hear Townes Van Zandt songs. He's a songwriting genius and listening to him has opened a door into a world I might have missed without his music. John Prine, Guy Clark, Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter all set the bar to which I aim as a songwriter, but Townes Van Zandt speaks directly to me.
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‘Kathleen’ is one of his best songs and I love the string arrangement... so, when I was working on some of my own compositions with Merseyside violinist and arranger Amy Chalmers, I decided it would be a great one to cover. We've given it a touch of the blues, but all the best bits of Townes are still present.
It's funny, when Texas singer Sam Baker told me a song I'd just performed at the AMAUK Awards & Conference a couple of years ago reminded him of Townes Van Zandt, I was embarrassed to say I'd not got on board as a big fan of Townes. It just goes to show you, it's never too late to find out about great music."
‘Kathleen’ and the upcoming album 'If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love' will be promoted via a UK Tour kicking off on August the 18th.
Full Dates:
Aug 18th Shrewsbury - The Old Post Office
Aug 19th Worcester - The Sociable Beer Company
Aug 20th Oxford - The Mad Hatter
Aug 22nd London - The Gladstone Arms
Aug 23rd Bath - The Bell Inn
Aug 24th Cambridge - The Unitarian Church
Aug 25th Birmingham - The Wellington Pub
Aug 28th Thornton Hough Village Club
Aug 30th Leek - The Cock Inn
Aug 31st Sheffield - The Shakespeare Pub
Sep 1st Liverpool - The Philharmonic Dining Room
The upcoming release follows Jenkins 2020 album ‘Growing Old – Songs from my Front Porch’ which received critical acclaim in the likes of Maverick Magazine, RnR, Americana UK, Fatea and Liverpool Sound and Vision.
“One to watch”
NSAI – Nashville Songwriters Association International
As a member of his own James Street Band, along with performances with The Persuaders and Come in Tokio, John Jenkins has shared stages with the likes of Elvis Costello, Chris Difford (Squeeze), Echo and The Bunnymen, The Beat and Jarrod Dickenson.
‘Kathleen’ was co-produced by John Jenkins and Jon Lawton (Sami Yusuf, Two Black Sheep) and mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, U2, Patti Smith). Fans can add the track to their music libraries HERE.
More on John Jenkins
The ex-Persuaders and Come In Tokio man - a veteran of John Peel sessions and 80s post-punk - is carving out a path for himself as a renowned singer/songwriter on the UK folk, country and Americana scene. Jenkins is a master of melody, understated lyrics and deft chord changes, while his songs have been hailed wherever music is written about. He was also asked to support Squeeze legend Chris Difford during a pre-pandemic tour.
John Jenkins on Social Media:
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For more information and interview requests contact
brendan@fretsorerecords.com
JohnJenkinsMusic.com // FretsoreRecords.com
FretsoreRecords.com