Damian Lewis
Palace Theatre
10th March 2024
A Rocking Good Night with Damian Lewis
Palace Theatre
10th March 2024
A Rocking Good Night with Damian Lewis
Who knew that Damian Lewis could sing? The actor best known for his work on Wolf Hall and Homeland amongst others can really rock it with the best of them. He also plays a mean acoustic guitar. Apparently, before he was famous he busked around Europe with a rucksack and a tent, so has had plenty of experience. This time he is on the second part of a tour to advertise his debut album Mission Creep.
However, before he arrived Amelie, a young singer songwriter, treated us to a set. She demonstrated her talents singing, playing the guitar and keyboards. One song The Night We Called it a Day was co-written with Guy Chambers who co-wrote many Robbie Williams songs. She announced that she would be having an EP album out later in the year.
Good as she was, it was Damian that the audience had come to see. He zoomed on to the stage, looking very different to his slick screen image, dancing around the stage in jeans and a waistcoat, clutching his guitar and being every inch a rocker. He then launched into a soulful rendition of the first song on the album Down on the Bowery, following this with a bluesy number Soho Tango.
Backed by a four-piece band and accompanied by Amelie, he went through most of the songs on the album. They covered various genres. Some were Rockabilly, some jazzy and bluesy and we were even treated to a Chuck Berry duck walk. As one song ended, another started his voice adapting to smooth ballads, growly rocks, and high-pitched blues, to cover every style that his skills as an actor could bring to the song. Wanna Grow Old In Paris, had a haunting quality, Little One with the bluesy harmonica, was in the style of Dr. Feelgood, then there was the beautiful She Comes. This was apparently written as a tribute to his late wife Helen Macrory, but he just called it a song about a ghost.
He occasionally interacted with the audience with a few jokey remarks, but as the songs were new to most people and mainly autobiographical, it would have helped if he had explained a little about them and included some anecdotes. Some of the songs were covers but most of the album is original material written by Lewis paying tribute to his influences such as JJ Cale, Dr. John, Jelly Roll Morton and Neil Young. Neil Young’s Harvest Moon, Damien announced that it was the best song ever written as he then sang a soulful version. Some songs were romantic and some had jokey lyrics such as Never Judge a Man by his Umbrella.
He also included some songs in the set that are not on the album, such as Love Bomb, a funky blues number a new song Grey at the Temple, and one was even about a Vampire.
Many actors have a yen to perform with bands and to a greater or lesser degree have not had much success, Bruce Willis and Russell Crowe come to mind. However, Damian has actually cracked it. His set was nearly two hours long and he returned for an encore of three songs. The audience joined in at his request waving their arms in time with the music and clapping along, and as his performance ended, the audience left the theatre smiling.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Tour continues:-
UK TOUR 2024
March
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – The Palace, Watford – 20 Clarendon Rd, WD17 1JZ, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 22, 2024 – O2 Academy 2, Oxford – 190 Cowley Rd, OX4 1UE, UK – 6:30 p.m. (tickets on sale December 22)
Sunday, March 24, 2024 – Sub Rooms, Stroud – George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE, UK – 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 25, 2024 – Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Poole – The Theatre, 21 Kingland Rd, BH15 1UG, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 – Epic Studios, Norwich – 112-114 Magdalen St, Norwich, NR3 1JD, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – Junction, Cambridge – Junction 1, Clifton Way, CB1 7GX, UK – 7:00 p.m.
However, before he arrived Amelie, a young singer songwriter, treated us to a set. She demonstrated her talents singing, playing the guitar and keyboards. One song The Night We Called it a Day was co-written with Guy Chambers who co-wrote many Robbie Williams songs. She announced that she would be having an EP album out later in the year.
Good as she was, it was Damian that the audience had come to see. He zoomed on to the stage, looking very different to his slick screen image, dancing around the stage in jeans and a waistcoat, clutching his guitar and being every inch a rocker. He then launched into a soulful rendition of the first song on the album Down on the Bowery, following this with a bluesy number Soho Tango.
Backed by a four-piece band and accompanied by Amelie, he went through most of the songs on the album. They covered various genres. Some were Rockabilly, some jazzy and bluesy and we were even treated to a Chuck Berry duck walk. As one song ended, another started his voice adapting to smooth ballads, growly rocks, and high-pitched blues, to cover every style that his skills as an actor could bring to the song. Wanna Grow Old In Paris, had a haunting quality, Little One with the bluesy harmonica, was in the style of Dr. Feelgood, then there was the beautiful She Comes. This was apparently written as a tribute to his late wife Helen Macrory, but he just called it a song about a ghost.
He occasionally interacted with the audience with a few jokey remarks, but as the songs were new to most people and mainly autobiographical, it would have helped if he had explained a little about them and included some anecdotes. Some of the songs were covers but most of the album is original material written by Lewis paying tribute to his influences such as JJ Cale, Dr. John, Jelly Roll Morton and Neil Young. Neil Young’s Harvest Moon, Damien announced that it was the best song ever written as he then sang a soulful version. Some songs were romantic and some had jokey lyrics such as Never Judge a Man by his Umbrella.
He also included some songs in the set that are not on the album, such as Love Bomb, a funky blues number a new song Grey at the Temple, and one was even about a Vampire.
Many actors have a yen to perform with bands and to a greater or lesser degree have not had much success, Bruce Willis and Russell Crowe come to mind. However, Damian has actually cracked it. His set was nearly two hours long and he returned for an encore of three songs. The audience joined in at his request waving their arms in time with the music and clapping along, and as his performance ended, the audience left the theatre smiling.
Review: Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Tour continues:-
UK TOUR 2024
March
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – The Palace, Watford – 20 Clarendon Rd, WD17 1JZ, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 22, 2024 – O2 Academy 2, Oxford – 190 Cowley Rd, OX4 1UE, UK – 6:30 p.m. (tickets on sale December 22)
Sunday, March 24, 2024 – Sub Rooms, Stroud – George Street, Stroud GL5 1AE, UK – 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 25, 2024 – Lighthouse Centre for the Arts, Poole – The Theatre, 21 Kingland Rd, BH15 1UG, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 – Epic Studios, Norwich – 112-114 Magdalen St, Norwich, NR3 1JD, UK – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – Junction, Cambridge – Junction 1, Clifton Way, CB1 7GX, UK – 7:00 p.m.
Damian Lewis Announces New UK Tour Dates Ahead of New Album
Sun 10th March
Southend Palace Theatre
Sun 10th March
Southend Palace Theatre
Following his sell-out debut UK tour, Damian Lewis has announced an eight-date tour for March 2024 and teased plans for a new album later this year.
Lewis, who released his highly acclaimed debut album ‘Mission Creep’ last summer, will begin his latest run of tour dates on 8th March at the Trading Boundaries venue in East Sussex, before playing dates in Southend, Watford, Oxford, Stroud, Poole and Norwich before ending at The Junction in Cambridge on 28th March.
Again backed by his incredible band, Lewis’ new dates follow the success of his first ever tour, which took place throughout last autumn to glowing reviews.
Looking ahead to his new tour dates, Lewis said, “Dry January at home? You’ll be itching for some live music by March. I’m here to help. Me and the band are hitting the road again in March for The Mission Creep Tour Part 2. Can’t wait. Come!”
Lewis has also revealed plans are underway to release the follow-up to Mission Creep, saying. “I’ll be playing my album Mission Creep, sure, but also sneaking in songs from my second album which will be out later this year. That’s right: new year, new pants, new songs. See you there.”
Having first announced his plans to record and release his debut album back in 2022, Lewis performed a series of sold-out shows across London and made festival appearances at Wilderness and Black Deer Festival to acclaim from the likes of The Times and The Telegraph, before heading into the recording studio to put the finishing touches to Mission Creep.
Lewis wrote all of the original songs on the album during the first lockdown of the pandemic, allowing the continuation of a story that first began when Lewis, after leaving school, took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience has stayed with Damian ever since and is reflected on the album.
While Lewis’ acting career of course took over, he never stopped playing, occasionally performing at wrap parties as part of a scratch band. But with lockdown affording Lewis time and space away from a busy acting schedule he was able to throw himself into playing and writing songs and, with the additional maturity and experience that an eventful life has given him, the ideas started to flow.
Once the songs were complete, Lewis presented them to his friend Giacomo Smith, one of today’s most exciting jazz musicians. Smith liked what he heard and gave Lewis all the encouragement he needed, offering to produce the album. Led by Lewis, the pair then set about putting a band together, with Smith introducing Lewis to an array of brilliant musicians, many of whom had played with Smith in the hugely loved and admired Kansas Smitty’s House Band.
On its release, Mission Creep received highly favourable reviews, with The Daily Telegraph describing it as “Romantic, offbeat, witty, wise, very touching and unarguably accomplished”. Elsewhere, The Line Of Best Fit concluded “Lewis’s songs are beautifully written and performed”, while Blues & Soul happily advised its readers to “be prepared for something very special.”
Tickets for Damian Lewis’ tour dates are on sale now, available directly from the respective venues, with the full list of dates as follows:
March 2024
Fri 8th East Sussex Trading Boundaries Tickets
Sun 10th Southend Palace Theatre Tickets
Wed 20th Watford Palace Theatre Tickets
Fri 22nd Oxford Academy 2 Oxford Tickets
Sun 24th Stroud The Sub Rooms Tickets
Mon 25th Poole Lighthouse Tickets
Wed 27th Norwich Epic Studios Tickets
Thu 28th Cambridge The Junction Tickets
Lewis, who released his highly acclaimed debut album ‘Mission Creep’ last summer, will begin his latest run of tour dates on 8th March at the Trading Boundaries venue in East Sussex, before playing dates in Southend, Watford, Oxford, Stroud, Poole and Norwich before ending at The Junction in Cambridge on 28th March.
Again backed by his incredible band, Lewis’ new dates follow the success of his first ever tour, which took place throughout last autumn to glowing reviews.
Looking ahead to his new tour dates, Lewis said, “Dry January at home? You’ll be itching for some live music by March. I’m here to help. Me and the band are hitting the road again in March for The Mission Creep Tour Part 2. Can’t wait. Come!”
Lewis has also revealed plans are underway to release the follow-up to Mission Creep, saying. “I’ll be playing my album Mission Creep, sure, but also sneaking in songs from my second album which will be out later this year. That’s right: new year, new pants, new songs. See you there.”
Having first announced his plans to record and release his debut album back in 2022, Lewis performed a series of sold-out shows across London and made festival appearances at Wilderness and Black Deer Festival to acclaim from the likes of The Times and The Telegraph, before heading into the recording studio to put the finishing touches to Mission Creep.
Lewis wrote all of the original songs on the album during the first lockdown of the pandemic, allowing the continuation of a story that first began when Lewis, after leaving school, took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience has stayed with Damian ever since and is reflected on the album.
While Lewis’ acting career of course took over, he never stopped playing, occasionally performing at wrap parties as part of a scratch band. But with lockdown affording Lewis time and space away from a busy acting schedule he was able to throw himself into playing and writing songs and, with the additional maturity and experience that an eventful life has given him, the ideas started to flow.
Once the songs were complete, Lewis presented them to his friend Giacomo Smith, one of today’s most exciting jazz musicians. Smith liked what he heard and gave Lewis all the encouragement he needed, offering to produce the album. Led by Lewis, the pair then set about putting a band together, with Smith introducing Lewis to an array of brilliant musicians, many of whom had played with Smith in the hugely loved and admired Kansas Smitty’s House Band.
On its release, Mission Creep received highly favourable reviews, with The Daily Telegraph describing it as “Romantic, offbeat, witty, wise, very touching and unarguably accomplished”. Elsewhere, The Line Of Best Fit concluded “Lewis’s songs are beautifully written and performed”, while Blues & Soul happily advised its readers to “be prepared for something very special.”
Tickets for Damian Lewis’ tour dates are on sale now, available directly from the respective venues, with the full list of dates as follows:
March 2024
Fri 8th East Sussex Trading Boundaries Tickets
Sun 10th Southend Palace Theatre Tickets
Wed 20th Watford Palace Theatre Tickets
Fri 22nd Oxford Academy 2 Oxford Tickets
Sun 24th Stroud The Sub Rooms Tickets
Mon 25th Poole Lighthouse Tickets
Wed 27th Norwich Epic Studios Tickets
Thu 28th Cambridge The Junction Tickets