Noah and The Whale have made quite a name for themselves on the indie-circuit as of late. ‘Twee’ is a word often used to describe their own specific brand of romantic anti-folk: a description hardly surprising when debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down boasts a ukulele, hand-claps, trembling violin strings, romantic folk tales, whistling, a cowbell and fellow anti-folk artist Laura Marling on backing vocals.

Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down is a collection of simple and uplifting songs about love, death and time. Penned and demoed in dark bedrooms in Twickenham and Manchester this album is anything but dark. Despite tales of awkward and isolated love, the melodies are instantly uplifting and reassuring. Continue Reading

One of the most talked about bands at the moment (rightly so?) Noah and The Whale have announced their biggest headline tour to date in support of the soon to be released debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down (review coming next week). Me? I like ‘em. And I’m suprised at how much I enjoyed the album as I’d almost convinced myself that it wouldn’t live up to the singles that preceeded it - kinda like Los Campesinos!. Although there is something that slightly irritates me about Noah.. and I can’t really put my finger on what it is. I find them all a little smug..perhaps that’s it. Or maybe it’s because Charlie sounds a bit like Kermit the Frog and I really fucking hate The Muppets. Who knows! Enough of my waffling. Here are those dates.

Oh - and look out for a superb live review of the band on Monday where you can see more stunning photos like the one above.

October
20th - OXFORD, Zodiac @ The Academy
21st - YORK, Duchess
22nd - LEEDS, Cockpit
24th - DUNDEE, Fat Sam’s
25th - GLASGOW, Stereo
27th - MANCHESTER, Academy 3
28th - DUBLIN, Whelans
29th - BELFAST, Limelight
31st - LIVERPOOL, MTV Liverpool Music Week @ Bumper (Liverpool Music Week)

November
1st - NOTTINGHAM, Rescue Rooms
2nd - EXETER, Phoenix
3rd - PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms
4th - NORWICH, Waterfront
6th - LONDON, KOKO
7th - BRIGHTON, Concorde 2
8th - COVENTRY, Kasbah
9th - BRISTOL, Thekla
10th - CAMBRIDGE, Junction
11th - BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club
12th - SHEFFIELD, Leadmill
13th - BOURNEMOUTH, Old Fire Station