Willie J Healey shares new single ‘Little Sister’ and 2023 headline UK tour dates
Willie J Healey | Photo credit: Hollie Fernando
"I’ve completely fallen in love with his music, it’s very bright, clever, excellent soul-y funk music with a keen sense of humour… my new favourite artist" - Guy Garvey, BBC 6 Music
“I just love the sounds that Willie is coming out with, I think this is gonna blow a lot of people away” - Matt Wilkinson, Apple Music
“WJH is a completely brilliant singer songwriter” - Greg James, BBC Radio 1
“The word is starting to spread about our boy WJH, not gonna lie, we really love to see that.” - Jack Saunders, BBC Radio 1
“This ['Thank You' feat. Jamie T] is by Willie JH. I’ve always liked the way Willie has followed his own path away from the music scenes, he seems to have wandered through the past few years, oblivious to where the zeitgeist might be, and he’s done it again here.”– Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
Willie J Healey's new music as also found early support from the likes of Clash, DIY, Dork, The Independent, The Line of Best Fit, NME + more.
Willie J Healey has today announced the release of his latest standout single ‘Little Sister’ (as premiered by Steve Lamacq) and a 2023 headline UK tour beginning this November, including his biggest London show to date at Brixton’s iconic Electric venue.
These November headline shows offer fans the first chance to see Willie perform tracks from his eagerly anticipated forthcoming LP Bunny; including recent fan favourites and 6-music playlisted tracks ‘Tiger Woods’, ‘Dreams’, ‘Sure Feels Good’ and ‘Thank You (featuring Jamie T)’.
'Little Sister' is another uniquely brilliant fusion of Philly soul, rock and R&B, taking its sonic cues from boundary breaking Fresh-era Sly and The Family Stone whilst fusing Willie’s love of Beck, Outkast and the more unusual influence of David Bowie’s relatively undiscovered The Gouster – an album of the Thin White Duke at his funkiest.
Willie says “The whole era is something that I love. Long before making ‘Twin Heavy’, I had always listened to funk, soul and R&B, but for some reason it never translated into my own music. Really my inspiration was just the feel of things.’’
He goes on to say about ‘Little Sister’ specifically "We recorded it in New York, just one take, it was magical. I remember spending a couple of hours learning and messing around with it and then it was done. I really just enjoy playing music that makes you feel really good.”
Following the breakout release of his Neil Young-meets-The Beatles-meets Elvis Costello charms of 2020 album ‘’Twin Heavy’’, Willie J Healey has garnered a reputation for being your favourite artists’ favourite artist.
Alex Turner, Joe Talbot of IDLES, Jamie T, Florence Welch and Orlando Weeks are among those who have hailed Willie J Healey as a unique talent. Having completed a run of support dates with Florence + The Machine this past January, Willie is set to perform as special guest on dates this summer with Jamie T at his Finsbury Park show and Arctic Monkeys throughout Europe.
Produced by Loren Humphrey (Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey), and showcasing his most accomplished and ambitious work to date; Bunny is set for release on August 25th via Yala! Records and is available to pre-order now on standard black vinyl and very limited-edition pink gatefold vinyl here.
A transparent vinyl edition will be available via key indie stores and HMV, while a Rough Trade edition features exclusive alternate artwork.
Very limited tickets are available to see Willie perform tracks from Bunny in a unique stripped back setting during week of release as part of his instore dates. See here for more information.
2023 headline tour dates below. Go to williejhealey.com for further details.
UK HEADLINE TOUR DATES
November
9th Chalk, Brighton
10th O2 Academy, Oxford
11th Hangar 34, Liverpool
12th Whelan’s, Dublin
14th Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
15th The Cluny, Newcastle
16th St Lukes, Glasgow
17th The Mash House, Edinburgh
18th Band On The Wall, Manchester
20th Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
21st Castle & Falcon, Birmingham
22nd SWX, Bristol
23rd Electric Brixton, London
In addition to –
May
11th The Great Escape
June
30th Jamie T Finsbury Park support
July
4th Luxexpo Open Air Luxembourg - Arctic Monkeys support
5th Musilac Festival, France – Arctic Monkeys support
10th WiZink Center Madrid, Spain - Arctic Monkeys support
11th WiZink Center Madrid, Spain - Arctic Monkeys support
13th Festival de Nimes Nimes, France - Arctic Monkeys support
15th I-Days Milano Milan, Italy - Arctic Monkeys support
16th Rock in Roma Rome, Italy - Arctic Monkeys support
18th Release Athens Festival Athens, Greece - Arctic Monkeys support
19th Release Athens Festival Athens, Greece - Arctic Monkeys support
August
5th Haldern Pop Festival, Germany
10th Musicfestwochen, Switzerland
Willie J Healey - Bunny
Out 24th March 2023 via YALA! Records
Tracklist:
1. Woke Up Smiling
2. Dreams
3. Tiger Woods
4. Thank You - featuring Jamie T
5. Bumble Bee
6. Black Camero
7. Sure Feels Good
8. Chrome
9. Late Night Driving
10. Little Sister
11. Morning Teeth
12. Reprise
13. Blue Bird
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