John Douglas - Oranges & Apples
Acclaimed Scottish troubadour John Douglas, whose songwriting and artistry have been integral to the enduring legacy of Trashcan Sinatras, presents an intimate video for Trashcans classic 'Oranges & Apples'. This is one of 11 tracks on his eponymous debut album, released via Reveal Records.
It's been a fine year for Douglas, including a UK headlining tour, UK Top-40 charting of Trashcan Sinatras' reissued debut album 'Cake' (33 years since its original release), and a new Trashcan Sinatras documentary, produced by award-winning Irish journalist Ken Sweeney. Tracing their 35-year story, it features first-hand accounts from band members, explores dramatic moments in their history, and includes acoustic performances by Douglas of some of the Trashcans' most-loved songs.
Now Douglas announces his 'Lost in North America Tour - Part One', taking his craft on the road throughout October.
"I am so excited to be coming to the USA and Canada this year to debut my solo shows. It’s me, my guitar and many songs.. some new and some old with a new lick of paint. I will get lost in song and story and look forward to conjuring up the good stuff in North America," says John Douglas.
One of Scotland’s finest songwriters, Douglas will be joined for his West coast and Midwest dates by Lily Vakili of Vakili Band, a savvy street poet who finds the sweet spot between Patti Smith, Grace Slick and Janis Joplin. For East coast dates, he will be joined by singer-songwriter Lauren Calve, whose new album 'Shift' earned her the 2024 Wammie Award for Best Country/Americana Album. Together, these artists will treat listeners to an intimate series of masterclasses in musical storytelling.
Part of the 'Me & Midnight Sessions', 'Oranges & Apples' follows the first acoustic video filmed in Hyndland, Glasgow - 'I Just Want To Go Home'. Earlier, Douglas shared videos for album tracks 'Lost', 'I'm Not The Fella' and 'Always', plus Trashcans classics 'Leave Me Alone' and 'Weightlifting'.
John Douglas shares, "'Oranges & Apples is a song very close to my heart. It’s a love song to a fellow artist… the late Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. He ploughed his own furrow and showed all who followed how to be your eccentric, individual, glorious self. Stay true to you. Paint, sing, write, sculpt, carve, dance your own way through this playground. Hang on to your wonder at this world. Syd did. He’s away now… gone, but resonating on. As the song says.. now everything is enhanced by him".
His debut album presents an intimate snapshot of the talent, charisma and depth of this celebrated songsmith, recorded live at Kyoti Studio in Glasgow with renowned producer Mark Freegard (New Model Army, Lush, The Breeders, Del Amitri, Marillion). Reflecting Douglas' candor, this 11-track collection features original material and new recordings of fave Trashcan Sinatras' material, plus his own rendition of the Prefab Sprout classic ‘We Let The Stars Go’.
Apart from touring with his partner Eddi Reader’s band, the past few years have seen Douglas perform around the UK and Ireland, sometimes joined by friends like Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jill Jackson, Withered Hand, James Grant (Love & Money), and even Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout), with whom he first toured in 1990 for the Trashcan Sinatras / Prefab Sprout double bill.
John Douglas' debut album is available on CD and digitally via Bandcamp, as well as from fine online platforms. US fans are also in luck as he'll be on his first headline tour in October.
TOUR DATES
October 1 LOS ANGELES - Hotel Cafe *
October 2 SAN FRANCISCO - The Lost Church *
October 4 PORTLAND - Mission Theater *
October 5 SEATTLE - Ballard Homestead, Fremont Abbey *
October 7 SALT LAKE CITY - The Beehive *
October 8 DENVER - Mercury Cafe, Jungle Room *
October 10 KANSAS CITY - Knuckleheads *
October 11 MINNEAPOLIS - Icehouse MPLS *
October 15 TORONTO - The Monarch **
October 16 CLEVELAND - Beachland Tavern **
October 17 COLUMBUS - Natalie's Grandview **
October 19 BOSTON - City Winery Boston **
October 20 NEW YORK - Cafe Wha? **
October 21 PHILADELPHIA - City Winery Loft **
* with Lily Vakili of Vakili Band
** with Lauren Calve
