Photo Credit Gus Gregory
PAUL HEATON
NEW ALBUM ‘JENIUS’ RELEASED TODAY
UK ARENA TOUR SOLD OUT
“It’s a whip-smart re-statement of what makes Heaton special…” MOJO
“…crammed with characteristically witty earworms…” Uncut
“A testament to the confidence from his solo success, Paul Heaton and producer Ian Broudie fashion several new and unexpected moves – which have catchiness in common…” Classic Pop
“…Heaton’s lyrics are as consistent as ever. On the one hand, he’s our Smokey, such is his determination to find new ways to write about love…. On the other, he’s barbed and uncompromising on the state of the nation… Vocally, too, his power is undiminished. Jenius? Maybe.” Record Collector
Paul Heaton’s fabulous new album ‘Jenius’ is released today (Friday, August 21st). Produced by legendary producer Ian Broudie of Lightning Seeds and recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, ‘Jenius’ features 15 new original songs, performed by Paul and his band with his regular live vocalist Rianne Downey. ‘Jenius’ is Paul’s 23rd album and comes almost exactly 40 years since his first, The Housemartins’ era-defining ‘London 0 Hull 4’.
The album’s title is a symptom of Paul’s modest style. “If anybody ever calls me a genius,” he explains, “I always say, ‘What?! With a J?!’ The spelling would obviously be wrong.” Fans who tuned in to the BBC’s ‘Paul Heaton Night’ in their droves on Saturday 8th August might beg to differ; viewing figures topped 800,000 and social media was littered with the word ‘genius’ spelled with a ‘g’!
Paul’s songs, both on Jenius and throughout his career, of love and loneliness, pubs and booze, community and counsel, a nod to football, the state of the nation, and the overall wisdom of kindness – are distinguished by his notably tender voice, his enchanting melodies and a meticulous, effortless craft. “If I can get a variety of people of all sorts of backgrounds to say, ‘Oh, that could be about me or you,’” he says, “then I’ve been successful”.
The full tracklisting of ‘Jenius’ is:
- Can’t Get Next To You
2. Favourite Kind Of Idiot
3. I Want The Job
4. Sad Songs And Lawsuits
5. She Ain’t Pretty
6. One Eye Open
7. Send In The Clowns
8. Do Not Ask Me
9. Don’t Lean On Me
10. Jet Black Sky
11. The Whisky Did
12. Before Before
13. Good For The Bees
14. Go Upstream
15. A Son A Father
Heaton’s previously announced UK arena tour is almost completely sold out. Paul will be performing songs from throughout his career including classic tracks by The Beautiful South and The Housemartins. Special guests on all dates will be Lightning Seeds. All tickets are priced at an affordable £39.50 (plus ticket fees). Last few tickets are available here www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.gigsandtours.com. The full list of dates is:
OCTOBER
Thurs 29 NEWCASTLE Utilita Arena [SOLD OUT]
Fri 30 GLASGOW OVO Hydro [SOLD OUT]
Sat 31 LEEDS First Direct Bank Arena [SOLD OUT]
NOVEMBER
Mon 02 CARDIFF Utilita Arena [SOLD OUT]
Tues 03 PLYMOUTH Arena [SOLD OUT]
Fri 06 SHEFFIELD Utilita Arena [SOLD OUT]
Sat 07 LONDON The O2 [SOLD OUT]
Tues 10 NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena
Wed 11 LIVERPOOL M&S Bank Arena [SOLD OUT]
Fri 13 BIRMINGHAM Utilita Arena [SOLD OUT]
Sat 14 MANCHESTER Co-op Live [SOLD OUT]
Paul Heaton’s songwriting genius was recognised at the prestigious Ivor Awards in 2022. Heaton is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters, with five No 1 albums and some 15 million album sales under his belt. He first came to prominence in the early 80s as front man of The Housemartins (the same group that gave us Norman ‘Fatboy Slim’ Cook). The Housemartins released two albums ‘London 0 Hull 4’ (’86) and ‘The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death’ (’87). In ’88 Heaton formed The Beautiful South, who released 10 hugely successful albums – ‘Welcome To The Beautiful South’ (’89), Choke (’90), ‘0898 Beautiful South’ (’92), ‘Miaow’ (’94), ‘Blue Is The Colour’ (’96), ‘Quench’ (’98), ‘Painting It Red’ (2000), ‘Gaze’ (’03), ‘Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs’ (’04) and ‘Superbi’ (’06). In 2001 Heaton took a break from The Beautiful South and released his first solo album ‘Fat Chance’. The Beautiful South called it a day in 2007 citing ‘musical similarities’. Paul Heaton went on to release two further solo albums: ‘The Cross-Eyed Rambler’ (’08) and ‘Acid Country’ (’10). In 2011 Heaton wrote a musical called ‘The 8th’ based on the Seven Deadly Sins and asked former Beautiful South singer Jacqui Abbott to perform in it. Paul and Jacqui went on to record five acclaimed albums as a duo: ‘What Have We Become’ (’14), ‘Wisdom, Laughter and Lines’ (’15), ‘Crooked Calypso’ (’17), ‘Manchester Calling’ (’20) and ‘N.K-Pop’ (’22). 2024’s ‘The Mighty Several’ saw Paul back in solo mode (with various guest singers). In 2019 Paul released a career spanning compilation of his biggest hits entitled ‘The Last King Of Pop’.
PRE-ORDER PAUL HEATON’S NEW ALBUM ‘JENIUS’ HERE: https://PaulHeaton.lnk.to/Jenius
UK TOUR TICKETS HERE: www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.gigsandtours.com
