OXFORDSHIRE songsmith and former amateur boxing champion Willie J Healey is finishing a year of deserved musical resurgence on a seasonal note, as he drops the classicism of “Merry Christmas” for us to raid the selection box to with a wee refresher. Watch below.
Willie first glided into our minds back in 2017 when, after much ground roots buzz, he was picked up for the finely sculpted debut album, People And Their Dogs. But he was spat out again by Da Man after he didn’t meet key metrics or whatever it is major labels judge musical worth by. He’s said in interview of his reaction as being: “You idiots. I’m the next Paul McCartney.”
Have a listen to “Merry Christmas” and you’ll find tremendously acute songmanship stamped with the lushness of ’68 to ’73; Willie clearly loves All Things Must Pass, which is, after all, a rather excellent guiding star.
Because that casting aside left him just dusting himself down and forging forward; he released his second album, Twin Heavy, earlier this year via Yala! Records, and he’s swerved not a jot from his art of warmth and lushness.
“Merry Christmas” was recorded, and the accompanying video filmed, in New York.
The singer says of his little seasonal musical offering: “I’ve always loved Christmas.
“I wanted to write a song for all of the parents out there, working tirelessly to provide without glory or merit.”
Willie is, hopefully, hitting the road in late spring, and has announced the following dates:
April 23rd, 2021, Liverpool, Phase One;
April 24th, Leicester. The Cookie;
April 25th, Birmingham, Hare and Hounds;
April 27th, Newcastle, Think Tank?;
April 28th, Glasgow, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut;
April 29th, York, The Crescent;
May 1st, Coventry, Central Library;
May 2nd, Bedford, Esquires;
May 3rd, Brighton, CHALK;
May 4th, London, Lafayette;
May 6th, Manchester, YES, The Pink Room;
May 7th, Oxford, Jericho Tavern (sold out), and
May 8th at the same venue.
To find out more about the dates, check out Willie on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
