Vertigo Records are poised to release the debut album by 24 year old Johnny Flynn entitled A Larum. A single, entitled Tickle Me Pink proceeds the release on May 19th.2007 was a hell of a year for Johnny Flynn having released a bunch of critically acclaimed singles (both on Young & Lost and his new home Vertigo), wowing crowds from Buffalo Bar to Bestival, from the End Of The Road festival to the Royal Albert Hall and recording his debut album in the Autumn made for a busy year. But if 2007 was the year when word began to spread about this prodigiously talented 24 year old, then 2008 is the year that those whispers become a chorus. Further evidence of this is Johnnys recent sighing to US label Lost Highway, home of Johnny Cash, Ryan Adams and Van Morrison to name a few. He is the first UK artist to sign to this prestigious label.Johnny Flynn's music is brimming over with heart, soul and intelligence. Drawing on diverse influences - The Pixies, Vaughn Williams and anti-folk pioneer Dianne Cluck are all name checked on his Myspace page - Johnny draws on a century's worth of folk, blues and country to create a sound that dwells profoundly in the now. Acknowledging his debt to these musical traditions but never being overwhelmed by them, Johnny Flynn offers an alternative of substance to those who have grown sick of flimsy singer songwriters and their inane observations.He spent much of the autumn deep in the Seattle countryside recording his debut album with producer Ryan Hadlock (The Gossip, The Strokes, Regina Spektor) at his secluded Bear Creek studio. Here they managed to capture the raw energy of Johnny Flynns shows, underpinning the acoustic guitar, cello and ukulele with muscular drums and bass. Live Johnny Flynn are a sight to behold - think Nick Drake fronting The Pogues at the Underage Festival and you're nearly there. After a Summer of rapturously received festival performances, and Autumn tours with Jack Penate and Iron & Wine, Johnny and band headed out on their first headline tour of the UK in February, swiftly followed by a stint supporting Laura Marling on her UK tour, which finished early March. A new headline tour has just been announced, see below.
Johnny Flynn