Brittany Howard, the dynamic frontwoman of Alabama Shakes, is set to grace the stages of London and Manchester this July. The announcement comes in support of her highly anticipated second solo LP, ‘What Now,’ along with the release of her newest single ‘Prove It To You.’ Howard’s UK headline tour dates will see her perform at London’s KOKO on July 2 and Manchester’s Albert Hall on July 6.
General ticket sales for the London and Manchester shows will commence on Friday, February 2, at 10 am GMT and are available for purchase here.
The announcement comes as part of her broader tour plans, which also include opening support for Hozier on his ‘Unreal, Unearth’ tour starting in July. These newly added UK dates are just a fraction of Howard’s extensive tour schedule. She is set to embark on a series of live performances across the United States from February to April, with notable appearances at Coachella in Indio, California, this spring, and the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee, in June.
The announcement follows the release of Howard’s latest single, ‘Prove It To You,’ the third track from her upcoming album ‘What Now.’ Produced by herself and longtime collaborator Shawn Everett, the duo experimented with Reason Drum Sequencer to formulate the dance tune. Speaking with The Line of Best Fit, Howard explains, “I wanted to write a fun four-on-the-floor dance track that makes you want to dance but at the same time lyrically looked at the complexities of being in a relationship. I love those songs that might not be exactly what they appear to be on the surface.”
Before the release of ‘Prove It To You’, Howard unveiled ‘Red Flags,’ a track standing as a testament to her ability to weave compelling narratives and deliver an emotionally charged performance. Preceding this, she unveiled the album’s title track, a spirited composition delving into themes of relationship uncertainty and longing, as encapsulated by the opening lyrics: ‘I don’t wanna confuse you for fulfilment, I don’t want to wonder what our love is.’ The album, already showcasing a strikingly diverse range of content, is set to drop on February 9. ‘What Now’ is available for pre-save/pre-order here. Notably, this project marks Howard’s first release under Island Records.
‘What Now’ will be Howard’s second solo venture, following in the wake of her debut solo album, ‘Jaime’, released in 2019. Named after her late sister who battled cancer as a teenager, ‘Jaime’ garnered critical acclaim, earning Howard multiple Grammy nominations including Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song.
With an illustrious career that has seen her clinch 5 Grammy awards and receive 16 nominations, Brittany Howard’s artistic journey continues to captivate audiences worldwide. In 2018, Alabama Shakes, the band she co-founded, announced a hiatus, with Howard focusing on her solo endeavours. As fans eagerly await the release of ‘What Now’ and the opportunity to witness her live performances in the UK and beyond, Howard’s influence continues to resonate.
Catch Brittany Howard live at her UK dates below:
02/07/24 – KOKO – London
06/07 – Albert Hall – Manchester
