INTERGALACTIC SAILOR BY JAMES MCARTHUR AND THE HEAD GARDENERS
An immersive live music event
Date
Friday 11th October 2019
Location
On a roof top in London Bridge, London, SE1
“Strong and beautifully articulated, sometimes evoking the feel of Nick Drake’s Pink Moon.”
To celebrate the release of James McArthurs & the Head Gardeners new Album; Intergalactic Sailor, Illuminate Productions showcased a live performance of songs from the album on a roof top whilst the sun was setting.
The intimate and ephemeral live show, enabled the audience to see the band up close and personal, whilst also experiencing the impermanence of sky light and the London skyline (The nine storey building, opposite the Shard in London Bridge, central London, will be demolished shortly).
McArthur always retains his connection to the natural world and our relationship with the environment. Integrating nature and nurture, McArthur invites you to interact with the living landscape, unite and connect with each other and, consider our place in the world.
Intergalactic Sailor demonstrates McArthur’s, now signature, intricate plucked guitar lines and hushed vocals that are beautifully accompanied with yearning violin from Jim Willis and haunting pedal steel guitar from Johnny ‘O, who make up The Head Gardeners. Throughout his career, McArthur has valued the overall listening experience. Past live performances include alongside ambient DJs at the Tate Modern, live shows on the top of a mountain and miniscule gigs in a vintage golden caravan, his devotion to creating the perfect atmosphere is key to the beautifully intimate feel in his music.
Intergalactic Sailor
Featuring guest appearances from brothers Joel and Liam, of Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller-collaborators Syd Arthur, Intergalactic Sailor follows McArthur’s previous album Burnt Moth, which was released to critical acclaim in 2017. Intergalactic Sailor was recorded at East Wickham Farm, the nearly 400-year-old building bordering Kent and South-East London that was the childhood home of Kate Bush and is still owned by the family today.
In collaboration with label Wonderfulsound, a double A side 7” vinyl of tracks “Tourist Town” and “Plane Sailors”, which McArthur describes as being about “forest fires, climate change, and community”, will be released as part of their bi-monthly singles club Wonderfulsevens as well as a commercial release.
“Bucolic melodies, intricate acoustic guitar-picking and lazy, dusty vocals...a British answer to Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam.”