English singer-songwriter Ben Howard took to Instagram yesterday to announce his upcoming North American tour with John Francis Flynn as the opener:

 

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"We’re finally returning to North America this summer and we’re lucky to be joined by Dublin’s finest, the formidable @johnfrancisflynnmusic."

After releasing his album IS IT? last June, Howard was originally scheduled to tour North America the following autumn but cancelled due to ‘personal reasons.’ "We are really sorry to let so many down but hopefully we can make it up to you all in 2024," Howard said at the time.

Yesterday, Ben Howard released the first wave of dates spanning seven cities—from Montreal to Denver—with more shows coming soon. The singer also mentioned his supporting act, John Francis Flynn, who opened for Howard in Cardiff last July.

2023 marked an important year in John Francis Flynn’s career with the release of his widely-acclaimed album Look Over The Wall, See The Sky in November which boasts rearrangements of traditional Irish songs. A central figure and preserver of the Dublin trad scene, Flynn was integral to the 'Save the Cobblestone' march in October 2021. Flynn’s latest record combines With an investment in social issues and tough realities, Look Over The Wall, See The Sky balances the beauty of Irish traditional airs with dark, reverberant arrangements which serve to haunt rather than . His post-punk interpretation of trad songs expresses current fears of economic inequality and social dislocation in a run-for-profit Dublin.

In an interview with Hot Press for Look Over The Wall, See The Sky, Flynn spoke about the record’s soundscapes and subject matter: "Although the album tracks sound quite different, with different kinds of themes, the unifying thread was that it was very much a Dublin album. Although the tracks aren’t all necessarily about Dublin, the spirit is about Dublin and Irish identity."

With similar electro-infused soundscapes that experiment with the organic and dreamlike, Ben Howard’s IS IT? navigates life’s darker hurdles with optimism and catharsis. It is an earnest departure from his earlier idyllic lyricism across forest paths lined with pine trees and shrubbery. IS IT? marks a new dichotomy in Howard’s repertoire, a dichotomy replete with bright, melodic optimism and raw, melancholic reflections.

The latest music from Howard and Flynn denotes a metamorphosis for the two musicians, and an upcoming summer tour is sure to celebrate and exemplify their unflinching virtuosity and harmonic prowess.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. EST (3 p.m. IST) and will be available for purchase here.