Award-winning band, the John Butler Trio have announced a brand new UK Tour this Autumn coming to the Great Hall, Exeter, in support of their forthcoming studio album HOME on September 28th 2018 via Because Music. Title track ‘Home’ (out August 3rd) captures the emotional and sonic landscape that would become the bedrock of this album. Buy tickets here: https://www.seetickets.com/tour/john-butler-trio 

These brand new shows sees the expansion of the live Trio to a five-piece, in the form of JOHN BUTLER TRIO +. After a successful tour of Australia showcasing the new live format, European audiences will be treated to a bigger and more dynamic live show with additional percussion and keys, capturing tunes from the new album as well as reinventing classics such as ‘Betterman’, ‘Zebra’ and ‘What You Want’.

While continuing to create as a trio, the album HOME was largely recorded and produced in a more solo format with long-time friend and producer Jan Skubiszewski and reflects the deeply personal, critical yet redemptive nature of the inner and outer worlds Butler was experiencing and observing during this latest chapter of his life.

“I’ve been dealing with anxiety on and off for ages. I hadn’t always been able to name it. It was in this fractured state that I started trying to wrangle this new mob of songs - wild horses I’d met over the last four years. Songs about family life, love, what it means to be a modern man and personal insights into dealing with my anxious projections. Songs have always been my friends. No matter what I’m going through they help me convey the things my heart feels but my brain is too afraid to say. But grappling with this herd in this state would prove uniquely tricky. As things turned out that journey would actually be critical in helping me deal with my shit. In the meantime though, I was lost and somehow I had to find my way home. There was no choice. Like that classic children’s book, ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’ says; “Can’t go under it. Can’t go over it. Can’t go around it. MUST go through it,” says Butler.

Whilst exploring this inner world Butler also traverses new sonic territory, amalgamating his love of electronic and hip hop production with the folk and country instrumentation and song writing traditions that he has for so long been inspired by.

“Throughout the years that it took to make this album, there were tears and frustration, confusion and chaos. But there was also family and friends, honesty and vulnerability, gardens and harvest, service and surrender. And in amongst it all, ultimately, there was joy,” says Butler. Adding, “It turns out that breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs if you’re willing to get under the hood and get your hands dirty.”