PAUL HEATON and Jacqui Abbot, the dream team vocalists of The Beautiful South and now a successful duo, have announced a Galway concert as part of their upcoming Irish tour in October.
Paul and Jacqui play the Radisson Blu Hotel on Thursday October 26, performing songs from their forthcoming new album Crooked Calypso, out July 21, as well as from their previous albums, Wisdom, Laughter and Lines (2015 ) and What Have We Become? (2014 ), and hits by The Beautiful South and The Housemartins.
One of Britain's finest and most consistent songwriters, Paul Heaton first came to attention as vocalist with The Housemartins in the 1980s, scoring hits with 'Happy Hour' and 'Caravan Of Love'. By the late 1980s, Paul had formed The Beautiful South, whose albums and singles enjoyed huge success throughout the 1990s and noughties. The band had a number of co-vocalists, but Jacqui Abbot became the definitive female voice of the band, singing lead on two of the Beautiful South's best loved songs - 'Rotterdam' and 'Don't Marry Her'.
After the Beautiful South broke up, Paul released a number of excellent solo albums, but his reconnection with Jacqui has seen Act III of his career take on a whole new momentum, with critical acclaim, commercal success and regular tours.
Speaking about the new album Crooked Calypso, Paul said: "I won’t lie to you, this album was good fun to write. The whole process of songwriting for me has become easier, more enjoyable. I used to go away to write songs, and put myself in a deliberate rut in pursuit of melancholy. I don’t do that anymore. I suppose it’s been a good few years for me. There’s a sense that people are happy to see us again. That’s made me more confident, and I suppose you can see that in the writing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still grumpy, but I’m content in my grumpiness now. I’m no longer frothing at the mouth.”
Says Jacqui: “Singing was something I was never going to do with my life. I just sort of fell into it, an accident, the result of me being in the right place at the right time. But I’ve always loved singing Paul’s songs, and I love them even more now. I’m biased, of course, but he’s just becoming better and better. It’s an honour to sing alongside him.”
The concert is a 'Monroe’s presents...' event. Tickets are on sale on Friday July 7 at 9.30am from www.monroes.ie or www.ticketmaster.ie
