Andrew Combs tours UK and Ireland, followed by mainland shows with Esther Rose

Dream Pictures, the sixth album from songwriter Andrew Combs, is a dreamy, dusky record for the quiet hours of the night. Written after his children had gone to bed, the album captures Combs’ creative escape—a time to breathe, reflect, and craft songs that balance subtlety, nuance, and sonic experimentation.

Hailed by NPR and Rolling Stone for his chameleonic sound, Combs blends folk, country, and classic pop with atmospheric textures on Dream Pictures. The album opens with the instrumental "Fly In My Wine" and closes with the ethereal title track, moving fluidly between grounded songwriting and cosmic exploration. Co-produced with drummer Dom Billett, the record was largely crafted in a home studio, embracing imperfections and raw, live performances.

With contributions from pedal steel player Spencer Cullum, Dream Pictures is a mix of vintage warmth and modern artistry. Songs like "Mary Gold" channel '70s pop, while "The Sea in Me" returns to Combs’ slow-burning, introspective roots. At its core, the album is about contentment—finding inspiration in stillness and allowing imagination to flourish. A decade after his Newport Folk Festival debut, Combs continues to push boundaries, creating timeless music for late-night reveries.

Esther Rose was on a long solo drive when she started writing the title track of Want, her stunning fifth album (which comes out at the start of May). At first, the words felt like a joke—something to amuse herself as the miles passed—but soon, they grew into a list of desires both existential and mundane. Set to a catchy melody blending pop instincts with country storytelling, it became another quintessential Esther Rose song. Known for her deeply personal songwriting and emotionally charged live shows, Rose approached this album differently, treating it like a memoir filled with revelations on relationships, substance use, and shifting perspectives on adulthood. Vivid and bracing, Want places listeners in the passenger seat, experiencing each emotion as it unfolds.

To match this raw honesty, Rose crafted her most adventurous, hardest-hitting record yet. Working with producer Ross Farbe and recording live-to-tape in Nashville, she pushed beyond her country roots into a more confrontational, full-band sound without losing her signature melodic gift. The album's creation was transformative—Rose nearly quit music after touring Safe to Run, but quitting drinking and embracing therapy reignited her passion. Songs like “Had To” and “Rescue You” tether her structured melodies to deeper narratives, while “Scars” boldly explores love and accountability. Closing with “Want Pt. 2,” she reflects on her past in a New Orleans bar, surrounded by friends, singing along to a shaky rendition of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” It’s a fitting finale for her most powerful album yet—where past, present, and future collide in a celebration of resilience and self-discovery.

Andrew Combs hit the road at the end of the month starting with a couple of UK and Ireland shows and then followed by mainland shows where Esther Rose joins in:

30/04: Birmingham, UK - Kitchen Garden Café
01/05: Nottingham, UK - Chapel @ The Angel Microbrewery
02/05: London, UK - Dingwalls 2
03/05: Bristol, UK - The Lantern
04/05: Kilkenny, IRL - Kilkenny Roots Festival
05/05: Kilkenny, IRL - Kilkenny Roots Festival
07/05: Den Haag, NL - Paard º
08/05: Groningen, NL - Lutherse Kerk º
09/05: Amen, NL - Cultureel Café de Amer º
10/05: Breda, NL - Mezz º
11/05: Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg º
13/05: Kristiansand, NO - Vaktbua º
14/05: Oslo, NO - Kampen Bistro º
15/05: Trondheim, NO - Bar Moskus º
16/05: Östersund, SWE - Jazzköket º
17/05: Stockholm, SWE - Nalen Klubb º

º w/ Esther Rose