An Evening with Martin Stephenson and The Daintees Playing Acclaimed Album ‘Boat To Bolivia’ In Its Entirety

The renowned Martin Stephenson with The Daintees have announced a UK tour performing their acclaimed and most celebrated album ‘Boat To Bolivia’ in its entirety, 26 years since its debut.

County Durham singer-songwriter Martin Stephenson’s has an impressive reputation for hearty live shows and this tour follows the success of when Martin and The Daintees performed ‘Boat To Bolivia’ in full at two sold out shows the Jazz Café three years ago.

Martin Stephenson’s early love of literature and music led to the formation of the first Daintees line-up in his early teens. After becoming something of a busking sensation, Newcastle record label Kitchenware signed Martin and The Daintees and sent them into the studio.  After two singles, notable among which was 1982's intoxicating "Roll On Summertime", a debut album was embarked upon. The Daintees line-up at this time comprised Stephenson (guitar, vocals), Anthony Dunn (bass, acoustic guitar, vocals), John Steel (keyboards, harmonica, bass, vocals) and Paul Smith (drums, percussion).

‘Boat To Bolivia’ was released in 1986, was praised by the New Musical Express because it "builds bridges between love and hate, between cradle and grave, between folk and pop, between the past and present". The candidness and honesty of Martin Stephenson's lyrics were best portrayed on songs "Caroline" and "Crocodile Cryer". He also revealed his appreciation of the folk/blues rag guitar style with "Tribute To The Late Reverend Gary Davis" as well as regular live performances of Van Dyke Parks' "High Coin".

Martin Stephenson and The Daintee’s followed up ‘Boat to Bolivia’ with three albums on the Kitchenware label before Stephenson embarked on a solo career with a series of acclaimed releases for Demon Records. In the new millennium, he released a series of mail-order only acoustic projects. He also records and tours with his swing outfit the Toe-Rags and, from time to time, a new line-up of the Daintees.

This will be Martin Stephenson and The Daintees first full tour in 20 years and are not to be missed.

April 2012

Saturday 7^th                        Gateshead Sage 2                                            0191 443 4661

Sunday 8^th                           Leeds City Varieties Music Hall                 0113 243 0808

Tuesday 10^th                      Liverpool O₂ Academy2                          0844 477 2000

Wednesday 11^th                                Salford Lowry Quays Theatre                    0870 787 5796

Friday 13^th                           London Union Chapel                                   0207 403 3331

Saturday 14^th                      Brighton St Georges Church                       01273 325 440

Sunday 15^th                        Oxford O₂ Academy2                                     0844 477 2000

Monday 16^th                       Bristol St Georges                                           0845 4024 001

Tickets are £19.50 (£23.50 London) and go onsale Friday 10 February at 9AM

Available at www.gigsandtours.com/ 24 hr cc hotline 0844 811 0051

www.martinstephenson.me.uk