Seth Lakeman is set to release his brand new studio album The Granite Way on 14 February 2025. The album is a collection of songs recorded alongside a group of longtime collaborators, staying true to his roots and based on ancient West Country stories and folklore.
While all the tracks on The Granite Way were written and produced by Seth himself, the album was made possible with a group of musicians he has played alongside for many years, and will also be touring with them in February 2025 on his upcoming UK headline tour. They are Benji Kirkpatrick (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica), Ben Nicholls (double bass and electric bass), Cormac Byrne (percussion and bodhrán), and Alex Hart (vocals), with additional studio contributions from Archie Churchill Moss on accordion and Dany Crimp on whistles.
Seth Lakeman was catapulted into the music mainstream when he was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005 for his album ‘Kitty Jay’. Inspired by the legends and stories of Dartmoor where Seth grew up, it was produced by his elder brother Sean Lakeman and cost just £300 to record in his kitchen in a Dartmoor village. The Guardian noted his inclusion in the Mercury Prize shortlist at the time as “the biggest surprise” as he was up against a raft of well-known pop artists. Seth’s thrilling solo performance of the eponymous title track on live television at the Mercury Awards won him unanimous praise and started him on an incredible solo journey which has included record deals, 11 album releases (including 6 Top 40), BBC Radio 2 playlisted singles, a clutch of awards and touring all over the world.
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Kitty Jay’s release and after a sell-out February tour, Seth toured again in October with the band – Benji Kirkpatrick, Ben Nicholls, Cormac Byrne and Alex Hart – playing the album and other favourites. He returned to HMP Dartmoor earlier this year to play a concert to inmates after having last played there in May 2004 when he was given permission to launch his debut solo album. ‘Kitty Jay – Live from Dartmoor Prison’ is from that performance in January 2024 with Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart.
Other recent releases include the ten-track ‘The Somerset Sessions’ which features original, unreleased session recordings from Seth featuring Ethan Johns and other guest musicians, studio album ‘Make Your Mark’ and Seth was also part of the ‘Sea Song Sessions’ in 2022 – a collection of British maritime folk songs and sea shanties performed by Jon Boden, Seth and others. In late 2022 he recorded on Van Morrison’s new album ‘Moving On Skiffle’ and performed with him. Seth has previously worked and toured extensively with Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) with his band the Sensational Space Shifters.