Fresh from the success of his latest album Last Night In The Bittersweet going to No.1 in the UK’s Official Album Charts last week and still currently retaining it’s position, Paolo Nutini has announced 4 arena shows in Glasgow for this winter.
The shows will see him play Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena on the 13th, 14th, 16th, and 17th of December this year at the end of his UK tour. The tour will begin in October with two back to back shows at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on the 22nd and 23rd, before heading to London for two shows at Alexandra Palace on the 25th and 26th, and then heading all over the country through Birmingham (28th), Hull (29th), Edinburgh (31st), and Aberdeen (1st November). You can find all the details and tickets here.
With a name that belies his origins, Paolo has come a long way from the small town of Paisley in Scotland where he grew up. Despite now being a chart-topping troubadour and national favourite, the singer was once expected to follow his fathers footsteps into the family fish and chip shop business, before being encouraged to sing by his music loving grandfather and a teacher from his school who recognised his gift.
4 albums later and Paolo is somewhat of a national treasure in the UK, particularly in Scotland where he enjoys icon like status. However the 8 years it’s taken to make and release his latest effort hasn’t been without adversity, at times it’s been fraught with difficult self reflection and turbulence, with it’s title Last Night In The Bittersweet being an ode to his desire to escape those periods. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Paolo explained: “There was a long period of life for me that could have been defined as bittersweet. The juxtaposition between the ups and the downs was really quick. It wasn’t in terms of my career, just emotionally”, he continued: “I think I became very content in that rhythm and I guess there was a point where I sought to move out of that and become a happier person. I’m still in the process, but it was a conscious attempt to figure out what was causing that and to try and conquer that“.
Now he seems more content, having recharged his batteries and gained some perspective, he seems delighted and grateful to be returning to the stage. Speaking of the lockdown and the liberation being unleashed on the world once again, Paulo said “the past two years, watching how it’s affected everybody, that social shutdown, it made me think that it is a real privilege to go out and communicate with people on such a scale. And to have the outlet of release that performing on a stage can give. I get the tunes out there and I already feel a bit lighter, but it’s not just that; you’re giving other people a good buzz and a good kick. It’s a good feeling. It makes you feel like you’re doing something right.”
Well we can only hope (and expect) that he will be giving those lucky enough to catch him at Glasgow’s Ovo Hyrdo Arena later in the year a good buzz too. Welcome back Paolo.
October 22nd, 23rd 2022 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester
October 25th, 26th – Alexandra Palace – London
October 28th – O2 ACADEMY 1 – Birmingham
October 29th – Bonus Arena – Hull
October 31st – O2 Academy – Edinburgh
November 1st – Music Hall – Aberdeen
December 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th – OVO Hydro Arena – Glasgow
