Cardinal Black, the Welsh-formed trio of frontman Tom Hollister, guitarist Chris Buck, and drummer Adam Roberts â take their next monumental step with the announcement of their new album, âMidnight At The Valenciaâ - out May 23rd on Thirty Tigers.
The resplendent Midnight At The Valencia is a testament to the bandâs self- carved path, from their humble beginnings in university dive bars to sharing stages with legends like Peter Frampton, at his sold-out Royal Albert Hall show, as well as Joe Bonnamassa and Myles Kennedy. Produced by Cyrill Camenzind (James Morrison, Alain Clark) at Powerplay Studios in Zurich, the album is a rich tapestry of love, loss, grief, and hope, brought to life by vintage analogue equipment and the bandâs undeniable chemistry. With âMidnight At The Valenciaâ, the band set out to create a record that represented their â10,000 hoursâ of work, having played in just about every backwater dive bar and neon-soaked club theyâd come across: âItâs a long, shared history we have,â Hollister says. âWe feel like weâve paid our dues, and this album is the culmination of all that effort.â
Now, Cardinal Black have honed their sound into a powerful, genre-defying statement.
From the haunting introspection of âPush/Pullâ, written in the wake of Buckâs fatherâs passing, to the Americana-infused uplift of âNeed More Timeâ, the album is a masterclass in storytelling and musicianship. Hollisterâs evocative lyrics and Buckâs virtuosic guitar work shine throughout, culminating in the rousing closer, âYour Sparkâ, a heartfelt tribute to Hollisterâs wife.
The road to success has been anything but conventional. Their story began when they
were tipped by Steve Winwood, who invited them to record at his own Wincraft Studios. Soon came the offer of a U.S. record deal and a collaboration with Guns Nâ Roses manager Alan Niven. Reality didnât match expectations, and the band went their separate ways before ever releasing an album. The bandâs paths diverged but never truly separated. Buckâs distinctive guitar playing earned him numerous accolades and praise from some of the most distinguished players in Slash and Jason Isbell. The band remained close, reuniting sporadically to play together until they decided to reform.
Nearly two years of writing, recording and rehearsing provided solid foundations, and
within 24 hours, their debut single âTell Me How It Feelsâ, caused an instant sensation,
knocking Noel Gallagherâs High Flying Birds from their perch at the top of the iTunes and Amazon Rock Charts.. Both their first EP and subsequent debut album also reached #1, and the band soon found themselves recording in Abbey Roadâs legendary Studio Two. âIt was a blessing and a curse, releasing an album while the world was still distracted in that way,â Buck says. âIt took a lot of the pressure off and enabled us to figure things out as we went along.â
Having cemented themselves as live powerhouses, Cardinal Black have embarked on tours across Europe, the UK, and the US, selling out iconic venues like Londonâs Shepherdâs Bush Empire, The Troubadour in L.A., and Basement East in Nashville. Their electrifying performances have earned them a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts today.
You may also like the following events from Cardinal Black:
- This October, 9th October, 07:30 pm, Cardinal Black | Opium, Dublin | Oct 9th in Dublin
- This October, 17th October, 07:00 pm, Cardinal Black | Stylus, Leeds | Oct 17th in Leeds
- This October, 19th October, 07:00 pm, Cardinal Black | Wylam Brewery, Newcastle | Oct 19th in Newcastle Upon Tyne
Also check out other
Music events in Glasgow,
Entertainment events in Glasgow.