When PJ Harvey’s ninth studio album The Hope Six Demolition Project was released back in April, The A.V. Club rated the collection of “blues- and gospel-inspired rockers” a B, noting that it contains “some of the songwriter’s most guitar-heavy material since the Uh Huh Her days.” So, when fans hear the newly released single “Guilty,” they probably won’t be surprised to learn that it was recorded during the same public sessions in London’s Somerset House that produced the 11 tracks from the album. Its snarling groove is of a piece with what we’ve heard so far.
The English singer-songwriter also announced 17 headline shows and two festivals appearances across Europe this fall. Harvey’s official website describes the tour as being, “Directed by renowned British theatre director Ian Rickson, dressed by Ann Demeulemeester, and with lighting by Adam Silverman, and set design by multi-media artist Jeremy Herbert”. The dates and venues are as follows:
October 10—Falconer—Copenhagen, Denmark
October 12—Torwar Hall—Warsaw, Poland
October 13—Forum Karlin Hall—Prague, Czech Republic
October 15—Palladium—Cologne, Germany
October 16—HMH—Amsterdam, Holland
October 18—Rockhal—Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
October 19—Forest National—Brussels, Belgium
October 21—Zenith, Paris—France
October 23—Alcatraz, Milan—Italy
October 24—Obihall, Florence—Italy
October 25—Hallenstadion Club—Zurich, Switzerland
October 27—Coliseum, Lisbon—Portugal
October 28—BIME Festival—Bilbao, Spain
October 30—Brixton Academy—London, UK
October 31—Brixton Academy—London, UK
November 2—SECC—Glasgow, UK
November 3—Victoria Warehouse—Manchester, UK
November 4—Starworks Warehouse—Wolverhampton, UK
November 6—Iceland Airwaves Festival—Reykjavik, Iceland