I’ll Be Lightning is the stunning debut album from Liam Finn, due for release through UK label Transgressive records this July, home to Iron & Wine, The Shins, Foals and Young Knives.

One of Rolling Stone’s top 10 artists to watch this year, Liam also recently appeared on the Late show, Letterman and The Late Late Show, Craig Ferguson.

Following suit here in the UK, Liam’s debut live performance was on Later with Jools Holland in April.

The 24 year old punk rock caveman is a completely dynamic performer - so much so that a biker gang once forced him to perform all night. 

A singer/songwriter on paper, he is far more in reality.  Stunning melodies, huge swirling choruses make for a thrilling one man live show.

Debut album I’ll Be Lightning swaggers through ragged grooves and beautiful melodies, sometimes wistful (Second Chance), sometimes content (Better to Be), often climaxing in a wild fury of alt-rock drums and sublime vocals.

Solemn tracks, such as the poetic Gather to the Chapel and Lullaby sit comfortably next to poppier gems such as Lead Balloon and Wide Awake on the Voyage Home. Lyrics flecked with sincerity and subtle vocals bind this album together making Finn an essential new artist for 2008.

Originally from New Zealand but having lived in London for many years, Liam Finn’s dramatic and compelling live show came to life in London in 2006.

The twenty-four-year-old New Zealand native writes, produces and engineers his own music, adhering to a strict DIY creative process, shooting his own publicity photos and album artwork.

In addition to meticulously overseeing the recording of his debut album I’ll Be Lightning, Finn plays nearly every instrument on the album, a responsibility he doesn’t relinquish during his now mythic live gigs.

As one might assume, a Liam Finn show is by no means the seated, shh-inducing coffee house affair many solo singer-songwriter performances can be. It’s actually the antithesis.

Finn drops fuzzed out guitar riffs, bellows bass lines and thunders on his drum kit like a punk rock caveman. When asked the philosophy behind this approach Liam remarks, 'Whenever I walk in and see just a guy and a guitar, I think ‘Here we go again.’ I want to give people something different.'

Finn is accompanied on stage by trusted companion Eliza Jane Barnes supporting him with vocal loops and percussion.

Catch Liam‘s unforgettable live show this summer

June 24th Barfly, London

July

4th Wireless Festival, London

5th The Charlotte, Leicester

6th Bodega, Nottingham

7th Plug, Sheffield

10th Night and Day, Manchester

11th OXEGEN, Kildare, Ireland

13th Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff

15th Bar Academy, Birmingham

16th Cross Kings, London

17th Audio, Brighton

19th King Tuts, Glasgow

20th Lovebox Festival, London

22nd Cargo, London - headline show