Plus Special Guests THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE

Brighton based multi-instrumentalist John J Presley returns in 2023 after a 3-year hiatus with a news of a new album Chaos & Calypso - coming through God Unknown Records on October 20th 2023.

The first cut to arrive from the long player is Sinnerman - a brooding, hypnotic track featuring a vocal collaboration from Blood Red Shoes singer and guitarist Laura-Mary Carter. It’s a slight shift in sound for Presley - with use of drum machines, synths and pedal steel too but still as ever possesses his trademark guitar tone which every guitar player watches open mouthed. Early support from 6 Music, Radio X, Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos and more confirm that Presley is back for the next chapter.

The new album features more collaboration too - with The Invisible’s Tom Herbert on bass and Terry Edwards on horns (PJ Harvey). After touring for most of the spring with Radiohead’s Philip Selway and Gaz Coombes - at the artists’ invitations, Presley is firming up the summer season with many more live dates to come.

John J Presley writes music that can paint a thousand pictures. Soaring soundscapes, to instant future garage rock classics to meditative studies, his palette is huge. You can hear the inspiration: Coltrane, Mingus and Waits; The Kills to The Dirty Three. Presley’s playing sees him in demand too and has recently joined the line ups for Duke Garwood, Smoke Fairies, Nadine Shah, Laura-Mary Carter and Juanita Stein. "…a searing, soulful touch, an oasis of calm amid the torrent of noise" - The Times

Support comes from The Pursuit of Pleasure who play a particularly British strain of Americana. Their blend of alt-country and indie-folk is built around the dual harmonies of Wit & Rox. Melodic pop melodies are interspersed with darker, more introspective lyrics and the songs have a deeply personal honesty to them. Joined live by multi-instrumentalists Tim & Cal, the band draw influence from artists like First Aid Kit, Keaton Henson, Jenny Lewis & Kings of Convenience.