Ryley Walker headlines Birmingham's hare and hounds
In November 2015, at the end of a 10-month period which saw him play more than 200 shows, Ryley Walker decided that he should probably head home.
The preceding months had been extraordinary.
In March, his second album Primrose Green emerged to critical hosannas from the likes of Uncut, Q, Mojo and The Guardian – in the process, earning admiration of musicians who had chalked up no shortage of turntable miles in Walker's life.
Wolverhampton's own Robert Plant declared himself a fan – as did double-bass-strutting legend Danny Thompson, with whom Ryley would later embark on a British tour.
For all of that, a holiday was the last thing on Ryley's mind – and certainly not a holiday in his adopted hometown of Chicago.
After a year spent on the road, all that Ryley could associate with the Windy City was the emotional debris he had left behind.
Word of mouth and critical acclaim ensured sell-out audiences at his British shows, whilst a sprawling tour of the USA around Primrose Green presented a perfect chance to workshop ideas for what would eventually become his third studio album, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung.
Now Walker is back on the road and he will headline Birmingham's Hare and Hounds on Wednesday, with support from Itasca and My Autumn Empire.
Walker began his career in Chicago's independent music scene after moving there in the past few years, releasing several cassette EPs and a vinyl EP.
Tickets can be purchased online from hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
