David Gray has shared details of his upcoming 17-date tour of the UK and Ireland, which kicks off later this month. The news comes the day before the release of his highly-anticipated album Gold In A Brass Age - his first album of new material in four years. The first single, 'The Sapling', is out now.

The upcoming tour will include four Irish dates, with shows Belfast's Waterfront on April 2, Mayo's Royal Theatre on April 4, and Dublin's Bord Gais Theatre on April 5 and 6.

Produced by Ben DeVries, son of producer and soundtrack composer Marius, Gold In A Brass Age finds Gray in renewed creative form, as he explores new electronic textures and production techniques.

Speaking about the creation of Gold In A Brass Age, Gray says:

“With this album, my default position was to do everything differently. I didn’t think ‘this would be a good hook' or ‘these lyrics could work for a chorus’. I was keen to get away from narrative. Instead of writing melodies, I looked for phrases with a natural cadence, so that the rhythm began with the words. I reimagined where a song might spring from and what form it could take.”

Gold In A Brass Age will be Gray’s 11th album in a career that spans over 25 years, several major award nominations, and three No.1 UK albums.

In the latest issue of Hot Press, the English singer-songwriter spoke to Ed Power about making peace with success, the electronic connection between his new album and his break-out White Ladder, and compares making a hit record to playing for Man United. Pick up a copy of the new issue here.

Take a look at the video for his new single, 'The Sapling', below:

Fri, 15 Mar        Cardiff            St David’s Hall Sat, 16 Mar        Cambridge        Corn Exchange Sun, 17 Mar        London            Royal Festival Hall Tue, 19 Mar        Brighton            Dome Wed, 20 Mar        Southend            Cliffs Pavilion Fri, 22 Mar        Manchester        Bridgewater Hall Sat, 23 Mar        Nottingham         Royal Concert Hall Sun, 24 Mar        Gateshead        Gateshead Tues, 26 Mar        Liverpool            Philharmonic Hall Wed, 27 Mar        Bournemouth        Pavilion Theatre Fri, 29 Mar        Birmingham        Symphony Hall Sat, 30 Mar        York            Barbican Sun, 31 Mar        Glasgow            Royal Concert Hall Tues, 2 Apr        Belfast            Waterfront Thur, 4 April        Castlebar            Royal Theatre Fri, 5 April        Dublin            Bord Gais Theatre Sat, 6 April        Dublin            Bord Gais Theatre