Will Varley
WILL VARLEY
When the late, great Phil May of The Pretty Things (cited as a major influence by both David Bowie and Jimmy Hendrix) began curating songs for what would become the band’s final studio album, amongst covers of songs by Muddy Waters, Sheryl Crow and Robert Johnson, May included a song by British singer-songwriter Will Varley. In becoming an avid fan of the troubadour from Kent he joined an army of followers that has been growing steadily across the globe for last ten years and includes the likes of Billy Bragg, Skin from Skunk Anansie and Adam Duritz from Counting Crows, all of whom consider Will to be one of the best songwriters of his generation.
In recent years Will has become a regular collaborator in the writing rooms of Nashville and Los Angeles, co-writing songs with Grammy award winning and CMA winning artists from the heart of the country music world. But over the last few months he has been holed up in his ramshackle studio, deep in the Kentish wilderness, working away on his latest offering – a new album now firmly on the horizon.
There is a sheer depth to Will’s writing that sets him apart, and has propelled his music far and wide. From the Dylanesque, post-apocalyptic dystopia of 2021’s “Dreamland” to the captivating and ambitious “Weddings and Wars,” in which he endeavours to compress the entire history of the world into four minutes, Varley’s songs seem to transcend themselves, marrying vivid imagery, emotion and surrealism to capture his musings in a way that is quite remarkable.
When the world ground to a halt during the pandemic, Varley refused to stand still. As well as writing his first novel, Will honed his skills in the studio, producing ‘Hit And Run’ for multi platinum artist Eagle Eye Cherry. He also entered Nashville’s International Songwriting Competition (Judged by Tom Waits and Coldplay amongst others), sending in his entry after a night of lockdown drinking. Out of over 20,000 entries Will’s song came 3rd.
The stage has been Varley’s constant companion, from the open mics of south London to Shepherds Bush Empire and The Albert Hall. Over the years he has toured relentlessly, selling out shows across Europe and America, and opening for Frank Turner, Valerie June and The Proclaimers. Further high praise from the likes of Tim Minchin, Donovan, and Simon Nicol of Fairport Convention have helped fan the flames, as his audience continues to grow both on the road and online. His self made music videos have clocked up millions of views on YouTube and his catalogue of recorded albums has surpassed a staggering 30,000,000 streams on Spotify alone.
In 2023 Will signed a worldwide record deal with US label MNRK Music Group, who over the years have been home to the likes of Chuck Berry, Townes Van Zandt and The Lumineers. With a new team behind him and touring plans being hatched for this summer and beyond, Will is poised for an enormous 12 months ahead, as he gears up for the release of his seventh studio album.
Line Up
WILL VARLEY Q Magazine “Excellent... blew me away...” The Independent “Powerful, political and pertinent” Rambling folk singer Will Varley, has travelled further than ever since a 500 mile walking tour along England's south coast. Third album Postcards From Ursa Minor has whisked him from Kent to sold out gigs at London's Scala, then upon a ship full of music, friends and fans before a huge US tour with labelmates Skinny Lister and Beans on Toast. Scottish legends The Proclaimers loved him so much they invited him back for 25 dates of their summer 2016 tour, as did Bestival organisers who have booked him again for this year’s event. It's no wonder. The stellar ambition both hinted at in tone and explicitly expressed in title of Postcards has left listeners in awe. Produced by Tristan Ivemy and mastered at Abbey Road by Frank Arkwright (Arcade Fire, Blur) it is a master-class in song-writing that pushes the boundaries of the ‘one man and a guitar’ format. The elegant, aching poetry brought alive through innocuous guitar and his warm timbre has both gained followers and gradually increased in volume as his disciple numbers grow. And it has accelerated fast. It's hard to pinpoint just where things began to get out of control. A 2015 autumn tour with The Proclaimers? Supporting Frank Turner at the Royal Albert Hall in support of Teenage Cancer Trust? Being played by Radio 2 , 6Music and Radio X? Perhaps it was just the enormous impact of the album that made people realise they were dealing with an unassuming master of his craft?
Whatever it was, it hardly matters now. Like his songs, his journey has been compelling, poetic and striving for more. 2015 closed with a month-long Frank Turner tour support culminating at London’s Alexandra Palace, where Will firmly cemented himself in the hearts and minds of the adoring crowd. 2016 has started with Will’s largest solo UK tour where many shows sold out; a collision of sound and heart on the Xtra Mile Recordings US tour; and a continually respondent crowd unwilling to leave without one final yelled chorus. From rowdy drinking songs with sprawling chaotic arrangements to his sparse solo performances, Will covers a range of subjects with his trademark sprinkling of social commentary, politics and wry humour. And it's this that has brought him all the success he's had so far.
He's a man who is autonomous. He makes his own videos – including clips for 'Seize the Night', with its 6Music and Radio X plays, and the haunting 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' – co-owns a record label and a festival, and was self-releasing up until last year when he signed with Xtra Mile.
Previously Varley has visited some of the country’s finest music festivals, performing his fiery brand of contemporary folk songs from Kendal Calling to Cambridge Folk Festival and everywhere in between. With a live schedule filling up every day with shows booked on both sides of the pond, and with new fans from around the world joining en masse, the future is bright for this rising star.
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