alice russell tour

Alice Russell Verified

Concerts and tour dates, bandsintown merch.

Fan Reviews

Fans Also Follow

About alice russell.

Alice Russell

All upcoming events.

Village Underground | London, UNITED KINGDOM

• Okayplayer 25
• OkayFuture Labs
• NYC Newsletter
• True Notes Newsletter

To continue reading

Create a free account or sign in to unlock more free articles.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy

The content is free, but you must be subscribed to Okayplayer to continue reading.

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING

Join our newsletter family to stay tapped into the latest in Hip Hop culture!

To continue reading login to your account.

Forgot your password?

Please enter the email address you use for your account so we can send you a link to reset your password:

Alice Russell U.S. Tour + NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Alice Russell remains busy promoting her forthcoming LP To Dust , dropping stateside on April 30th via TruThoughts . She is preparing to hit the road with her band for a U.S. tour in support of the upcoming release. They will play six dates between San Francisco and New York, from May 6th to the 12th. Alice Russell is set to cast a wide net during her U.S. invasion, beginning with a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live . That performance will be followed by a visit to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic , an instore at Ameoba Records , a performance on Seattle's KEXP and a visit to NPR to perform three songs for their Tiny Desk Concerts series. Alice Russell's last NPR performance came by way of a visit to Santa Monica member station KCRW in 2012 for a live session featuring Quantic and Combo Barbaro . Anticipation is undoubtedly building as her return to public radio approaches. KCRW and AOL are both streaming the LP ahead of the release date. That's not all. Alice Russell's Hard & Strong Remix EP is also available. The project features production from Brighton-born dance producers Let The Machines Do The Work and DJ/producer Typesun . You can check the project exclusively on Spotify . That should definitely hold you over until Alice Russell gets to town. If you're in need of an immediate fix, check Alice Russell performing "Heartbreaker" live in session below. Scroll down for U.S. tourdates. Pre-order To Dust via iTunes .

Alice Russell To Dust May Tour Dates:

San Francisco - May 3rd

Mezzanine SF

Tickets: HERE - $20 advance / $25 door

Los Angeles - May 4th

First Unitarian Church

Tickets: HERE - $20 advance / $23 door

Seattle - May 7th

Tickets: HERE $13 advance / $15 door

Chicago - May 8th *NEW DATE

Tickets: $10 advance / $15 door

DC - May 9th

Liv Nightclub

Tickets: HERE $18 advance / $23 door

NYC - May 12th

(Le) Poisson Rouge

giantstep.net/alicerussell

Tickets: HERE $20 Advance

Trending Stories

Atlanta is hurting following the passing of dungeon family originator rico wade, rapper and producer duos we'd love to see, do rap albums still even matter, the most important producers in rap right now, what to do in nyc this weekend, slow money: artist pay in the streaming era, the spring 2024 festivals on our radar, courtney bell, detroit’s not-so-secret weapon, what’s left for roc marciano to prove, women’s month spotlight: harlem’s own, dardra coaxum, sign up to our newsletter, best videos to drop last week: drake, westside gunn, logic & more, best hip-hop videos to drop last week: westside gunn, black star, latto & more, recent stories, does big sean belong in hip-hop’s elite tier, first look friday: tg.blk, 'hell's kitchen,' always remember where dreams begin, black-owned bookstores in nyc to check out, all hail the queen, what you missed from the viral shannon sharpe and steve stoute interview, missy elliott has always been a time traveler, the love hard tour: an unforgettable night in brooklyn with keyshia cole & friends, the fab five: our most anticipated albums from female artists, first look friday: asha imuno’s experiential debut.

Alice Russell Marks Her Return With Self-Reflective Single 'Rain'

The single is out now on streaming platforms.

Much-loved British soulstress Alice Russell returns with a new, self-reflective single, “Rain” (release date: Thurs 30th Nov).

Written and produced alongside long-time collaborator TM Juke, “Rain” is the first offering of new music from the iconic singer in over a decade and is one of her most personal songs to date.

Melding warm, blues-infused guitars with heartfelt lyrics, “Rain” addresses the urgent need for us all to be self-reflective, so we can truthfully communicate and connect with those around us and the world we inhabit. As Russell elaborates:  

“Rain is about us trying our best to see what is ours and not pile it on to those around us, to question so we can have a truly deep, connected, loving and honest relationship with all who share our lives; to sort out our own baggage so we can let go and therefore move on and live, while we still have the breath to do so”. 

“Rain” marks a new era in the remarkable career of the down-to-earth vocal powerhouse, universally acclaimed as one of the best modern soul voices of our time. Whether performing on a huge stage with a 16-piece band, charming four thousand revellers into staying out dancing in the rain (as at the Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking an intimate club, Alice's raw talent and charisma command attention and affection.

Unfazed by taking the spotlight after Amy Winehouse, singing with The Roots in Philly, or joining Roy Ayers for “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”, it is no wonder she has attracted worldwide media support, and fans as diverse as Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack's Daddy G and Groove Armada. Other career highlights include performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, NPR's Tiny Desk Session, SXSW, BBC 6Music Live at Maida Vale and being synced on the trailer for the huge final series of Mad Men. 

Highly in demand as an eminent vocalist, Alice has previously guested alongside Fatboy Slim on Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's solo LP, as well as collaborations with the likes of Mr Scruff, Quantic, DJ Yoda and Nostalgia 77. However, it is her solo records with longtime musical partner TM Juke that she is best known for, and they have borne some of the most arresting blues and soul since the glory days of Aretha.

“We've both got a very open approach to writing songs,” Alice explains of the prolific relationship, “Our influences run from Sarah Vaughan to Bach, Kate Bush to Arvo Part, and J Dilla to Alice Coltrane. We love everything from dirty, squelchy dubstep to old-school soul. We nudge each other in the right direction.” 

This summer, Alice graced the main stage of Gilles Peterson's flagship festival We Out Here, supported Nile Rogers in Brighton and performed as part of a tribute to Aretha Franklin at festivals across France, marking her return to the stage, where she belongs. Before lockdown struck, Alice performed an incredibly special in-the-round show at the Roundhouse, Camden, debuting new material (including an early rendition of “Rain”), accompanied by four backing vocalists and a grand piano.

This performance acted as a catalyst for her and Al (TM Juke) to write new music, persevering through the continuous lockdown cycles of the pandemic, while also caring for her mother, who has Alzheimer's. 

Since the release of Alice Russell's previous and highly acclaimed album ‘To Dust' (2013) – which was re-released in 2021 with a bonus track remake of ‘Heartbreaker' by label-mate trumpeter Sefi Zisling – life, loss and grief have been a central part of this period and new approach to creating music: “Two little ones have joined me, and one has left - my dad passed away the summer after ‘To Dust' was released. The day after my Dad's funeral, I found out I was pregnant with my first little one.” 

Alice continues: “The grief journey has cracked me open and created a more urgent need to be focused and try to go deeper with how I communicate creatively and who I AM today, and I welcome it with open arms”. 

Photo Credit:  TILT

TICKET CENTRAL

• Join - It's Free

Alice Russell

‹ Back to Russell surname

Is your surname de La Tour ?

Alice russell's geni profile, share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love.

• Build your family tree online
• Share photos and videos
• Smart Matching™ technology

Immediate Family

About Alice Russell

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=edswoman&...

Alice Russell's Timeline

• © 2023 Geni.com
• US State Privacy Notice
• Code of Conduct
• World Family Tree

Alice Russell

Alice Russell is a pure natural talent, an entrancing presence, a force of nature. Whether on a big stage with her 16 piece band, charming a crowd of 4000 into staying out dancing in the rain (as she did at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking out an intimate club set with a stripped down six-piece band; she’s a singer who commands attention.

As much as she loves being in the studio there’s something special about Alice let loose on an audience. From performing with a full band and horn section, to pared down and more intimate sets, Alice Russell takes no prisoners!  “Being on stage is more instant”, she admits. “I like things when they’re quite free. In the studio, it can be like when you know someone’s taking your photo. Writing in the studio is amazing but when you’re doing takes it can be a bit daunting, but also really exciting. Live you can’t take it back – you’ve got to go all out there.”  It has led to some great experiences, like when she stayed on in Japan to visit the village where the promoter was from: almost like a 50s teen movie, a deal was struck where Alice would have free reign of the hotel for her stay if she did a gig.  “Of course we said yes,” Alice says with delight. “Babies and grandmas all turned up, and there we were with a makeshift sound system thrown together out of amps and speakers. It was one of the most heart-warming gigs I’ve ever done.”  Other live highlights include singing with The Roots in Philadelphia, while recording has seen her sing on Talking Heads leader David Byrne’s recent LP. Surely belting out the intensely emotional songs must get a bit tiring. Apparently not.  “It’s a great emotional release,” Alice smiles. “And sometimes makes you feel really high, especially when you’re singing the high notes. If you’re feeling rubbish and everything else feels like it’s going wrong you feel better if you have a good singsong.”

• Information
• Accessibility
• Privacy Policy
• Accommodation

• Statistics Stats
• You are here:
• Russell, Alice & Quantic Soul Orchestra, The

Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

There are no setlists by Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra on setlist.fm yet. You could help us by adding a first setlist ... or whatever you remember!

Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra

More from this artist.

• Artist Statistics
• Add setlist

Nobody has covered a song of Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra yet. Have you seen someone covering Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra? Add or edit the setlist and help improving our statistics!

Artists covered

No songs of other artists were covered by Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra yet. Have you seen Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra covering another artist? Add or edit the setlist and help improving our statistics!

Gigs seen live by

Nobody has seen Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra live yet!

Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra on the web

Music links.

• Alice Russell & The Quantic Soul Orchestra Lyrics (de)

Tour Update

Marquee memories: the dandy warhols.

• The Dandy Warhols
• Apr 18, 2024
• Apr 17, 2024
• Apr 16, 2024
• Apr 15, 2024
• Apr 14, 2024
• Apr 13, 2024
• FAQ | Help | About
• Terms of Service
• Ad Choices | Privacy Policy
• Feature requests
• Songtexte.com

• Popular artists in Brighton
• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Brighton concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Concerts near you
• Popular artists

Sunday 09 July 2023

CHIC , Hot Chip , Alice Russell , Horse Meat Disco , and Nile Rodgers

Discover more in Brighton

A270 BN1 Brighton, UK

Additional details

Doors open: 13:00

Concert in your area for Funk & Soul , R&B , Electronic , Pop , Indie & Alt , Rock , and Jazz .

Find out more about Electronic , Pop , and Rock .

Share this concert

10 people were there.

Related upcoming events

• Friday July 05, 2024 Kool & The Gang, Chaka Khan, Noname, and Joss Stone Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2024, Lewes
• Sunday July 07, 2024 Kool & The Gang, Chaka Khan, Noname, and Joss Stone Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2024, Lewes
• Sunday July 07, 2024 Kool & The Gang, Chaka Khan, Noname, and Joss Stone Chaka Khan at Love Supreme 2024 2024, Lewes
• Saturday August 03, 2024 Mika, Girls Aloud, Peaches, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor Brighton & Hove Pride - Fabuloso 2024, Brighton

• Most popular charts
• API information
• Brand guidelines
• Community guidelines
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookies settings
• Cookies policy

Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

• But we really hope you love us.

Alice Russell

'...is hugely in demand as a vocalist and has gained an enviable reputation as one of the hottest singers in the UK right now. Renowned for her more...

• Apr 23 Tue London, Village Underground Alice Russell View Tickets
• May 03 Fri Cheltenham, Jazz Arena Alice Russell View Tickets
• Fri Jul 05 Jul 07 Sun Glynde Place Love Supreme Festival 2024 Chaka Khan, Mahalia, Jordan Rakei, Kool & The Gang, Meshell Ndegeocello… View Tickets

Fans who like Alice Russell also like

Gilles Peterson

Smoove & Turrell

Speedometer

Lack Of Afro

The Herbaliser

• listening party
• existing artist
• See all results

No matching results

Try a different filter or a new search keyword.

Search all Bandcamp artists, tracks, and albums

• artists PRO view site
• edit profile
• subscription subscription
• view collection
• showLinkedBands(!showLinkedBands())" data-test="linked-accounts-header">

To Dust (Bonus Track Edition)

By alice russell.

To Dust (Bonus Edition) Double LP (Black Vinyl) Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

Buy Record/Vinyl   £16.99 GBP or more  

Send as gift  , digital album streaming + download, buy digital album   £5.99 gbp  or more, to dust (bonus edition) - signed copy - double lp (black vinyl) record/vinyl + digital album.

Share / Embed

Alice Russell Brighton, UK

Alice Russell is natural, pure natural talent, a natural presence, a force of nature. Whether on a big stage with her 16 piece band, charming a crowd of 4000 into staying out dancing in the rain (as she did at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking out an intimate club set with a stripped down 6 piece band, she’s a singer who demands attention! www.instagram.com/alicemcrussell/ ...   more

discography

contact / help

Contact Alice Russell

Streaming and Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Alice Russell, you may also like:

UNTITLED (Black Is) by SAULT

supported by 23 fans who also own “To Dust (Bonus Track Edition)”

this feels important twigs

UNTITLED (Rise) by SAULT

supported by 22 fans who also own “To Dust (Bonus Track Edition)”

Like so many others, this came like a bolt out of the blue and, even though it's well before payday, I had to have this astonishing album on vinyl to prove it exists. The feel of the tunes makes me feel like the Impressions do, Curtis Mayfield, the big spaces and instinctive horns and stuff drifting in and out. Great grooves and I can see lots of ghosts nodding along to this with big smiles on their faces. At last! Anthony Cottrell

AIR by SAULT

supported by 20 fans who also own “To Dust (Bonus Track Edition)”

probably the most hardest instrumental album i have ever heard in my 25 years of existence EB

Dumpallthguns by Adi Oasis

featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 12, 2024

Serena by Adi Oasis

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 23, 2024

Normal Music by Laneous

Four funky tracks from this Melbourne group with super deep grooves and crackling percussion. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 27, 2023

Almas Conectadas by Quantic & Nidia Góngora

supported by 17 fans who also own “To Dust (Bonus Track Edition)”

Thank you for making such a good music musicfan

Bandcamp Daily    your guide to the world of Bandcamp

The Stories Behind Big Crown Records’ Soulful Singles

The Best Soul on Bandcamp: April 2020

Tanika Charles Gets “The Gumption” To Become a Soul Star

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

• terms of use
• switch to mobile view

Alice Cooper Announces Summer Tour in 2024

V eteran shock-rocker Alice Cooper announced his co-headlining tour with Rob Zombie a while back, but that tour (with Ministry and Filter) was simply not enough for the tour-happy legend. The “Poison” singer just announced another solo tour slated to start before his run with Zombie! The Too Close For Comfort Tour will hit 12 dates across the United States in July and August. No opening acts have been announced.

The Alice Cooper 2024 Tour will kick off on July 30 in Niagara Falls, New York at Fallsview Casino Resort. Unless Cooper adds more dates, the tour should end on August 17 in Tucson, Arizona at Casino De Sol’s AVA Amphitheater.

Tickets are available for presale via Cooper’s website with the code “SICKTHINGS”. There are also a few different VIP and premium package presale events going down over at Ticketmaster .

General on-sale for the new tour dates will start on April 19 at 10:00 am local. If your tour date sells out, pop over to Stubhub to see what’s available. You might just get lucky.

Get your tickets ASAP to see Alice Cooper live in the US, before they sell out!

Alice Cooper 2024 Tour Dates

July 30 – Niagara Falls, NY – Fallsview Casino Resort (NEW!)

July 31 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre (NEW!)

August 2 – Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center (NEW!)

August 4 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center (NEW!)

August 6 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights (NEW!)

August 7 – Rockford, IL – BMO Harris Bank Center (NEW!)

August 10 – Tulsa, OK – River Spirit Casino and Resort (NEW!)

August 11 – Park City, KS – Hartman Arena (NEW!)

August 13 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom (NEW!)

August 15 – Valley Center, CA – Harrah’s Rincon Pavilion (NEW!)

August 16 – Costa Mesa, CA – Pacific Amphitheater (NEW!)

August 17 – Tucson, AZ – Casino De Sol – AVA Amphitheater (NEW!)

August 20 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 22 – West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 24 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 25 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 27 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Summerfest Grounds (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 28 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 30 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

August 31 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 1 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 3 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 4 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 6 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 7 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 8 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 11 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 12 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 14 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 15 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 17 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

September 18 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena (with Rob Zombie, Ministry, Filter)

Photo by Bryan Steffy

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The post Alice Cooper Announces Summer Tour in 2024 appeared first on American Songwriter .

Follow us on MSN: Click here

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Travels Over Feeling: Arthur Russell, a Life review – down the rabbit hole with a musical maverick

He played cello for Allen Ginsberg, nearly joined Talking Heads and was sampled by Kanye West. Now the singular, genre-spanning Russell has the exhaustive study he deserves

A secret hero of the dancefloor, the avant garde producer and musician Arthur Russell occupies a strange and silvery slot in the annals of music. He was a low-key cult figure in his lifetime, but one who has been increasingly celebrated. His prodigious output and his refusal to have that work pinned down has, in the decades since his death from Aids-related illness in 1992, birthed a small cottage industry of admiration and exegesis: compilations, reissues , covers albums, biographies and even a film . The Barbican in London has given over a night in May to celebrate Russell’s often confounding, genre-spanning work – and the publication of this latest account.

Russell first became a minor legend among clubland cognoscenti thanks to a handful of woozy bangers he put out under names such as Dinosaur L ( Go Bang! ) and Loose Joints ( Pop Your Funk ) in the early 1980s – discs spun compulsively at hallowed New York clubs such as the Paradise Garage , before percolating out to Chicago, Ibiza and beyond. Unexpectedly, Kanye West sampled Russell’s tune Answers Me on his 2016 track, 30 Hours – but it wasn’t one of his dancefloor hits. Answers Me is almost gestural, a dub composition for cello, percussion and voice taken from World of Echo , Russell’s 1986 album, a record widely met with bafflement upon release that now occasionally crops up on best-albums-of-all-time lists.

Born Charles Arthur Russell, he made for an unlikely disco pioneer. He grew up a square peg in small-town Iowa. He moved to San Francisco in the late 60s to study classical Indian music and composition and lived in a Buddhist commune. Those foundational ideals would inform his work over the long term.

Russell first found renown accompanying fellow Buddhist Allen Ginsberg’s poetry readings on the cello; that friendship (possibly with benefits, early on) would also last for the rest of Russell’s life. He was spectacularly well connected throughout his career – he was a friend of A&R man John Hammond, discoverer of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen; he played for Alice Coltrane and with Laurie Anderson. But he remained commercially unsung thanks to a dogged loyalty to his art that brooked no compromise with genre expectations, or the grunt work of getting famous. He was prickly, once leaving a band on their way to a gig. “I’m on another thought now,” run the words to Another Thought, one of his loveliest cello-and-vocals songs, tilting at the restlessness of his output.

Uprooting himself to New York in 1973, Russell moved in the city’s icy avant garde and minimalist circles, programming events in a space called the Kitchen where leftfield music and multimedia art rubbed together. If San Francisco was the place to be in the late 60s, New York was the centre of progressive creativity in the 70s, when the city’s unkempt corners nurtured countless talents. Russell nearly joined Talking Heads; at The Kitchen, he put on bands such as the Modern Lovers , annoying the avant purists.

But the wider punk scene was not much to Russell’s taste; its nihilism clashed with his more expansive consciousness. Instead, he became enamoured of the nonlinear, ever-evolving possibilities of repetitive music outside the lofty realm of theory. New York clubland became his laboratory.

Alongside experiments destined for the dancefloor, Russell continued to record sparer electro-acoustic compositions, all the while soundtracking austere dance or theatre pieces, earning the respect of composer Philip Glass and playing in various ensembles. He could also turn his hand to relatively conventional singer-songwriter material – witness the posthumously released Love Is Overtaking Me album – but Instrumentals , a 1984 rendering of a Russell composition from a decade prior, with modular parts that musicians could theoretically begin at random points in the score, is perhaps more typical.

Making umpteen mixes of every song, Russell kept everything: great news for those interested in going down the rabbit hole. Richard King, whose works span numerous music titles ( How Soon Is Now , about UK independent labels; The Lark Ascending , about the British landscape in music) is a superfan who came of age working in record shops, where obscure artists constituted a special kind of common currency. King has been given access to Russell’s considerable archive, housed in the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, to compile this intimate coffee-table tome: an array of his letters, written in careful pencil, plus event flyers, scores and charts, sleeve artwork and cool ephemera (numerological workings-out, invoices for studio time). The visuals are linked to oral-history style accounts from intimates and contemporaries, including Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis, whose funding helped keep Russell afloat, and printer Tom Lee, his life partner.

It helps to be an admirer of this singular talent. But even if Russell’s work is unfamiliar to the reader, there is a fascination, between these covers, with the flotsam of a very 20th-century life at the cutting edge of culture in a New York that no longer exists. The last quarter of the book takes an inevitable dark turn, as downtown’s creative circles become affected by HIV – Russell is diagnosed in 1986 – and artists of all kinds begin dying. The fear, silence and shame of those early days of the virus is once again alive in these pages.

King’s moving account keeps you guessing as to how the cornfields of Iowa birthed such a curious (in both senses) musician; one tangential clue might be that the house Russell grew up in was designed by his uncle, a modernist architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. There are hand-wringing interjections by Russell’s sisters, who confess to not having understood him, but still loved him, and sewed special pockets on his shirts for his notebooks. The loftiness and singular nature of his work mean that its heterogeneity and distrait tenderness still remain hard to parse. But Travels Over Feeling provides a valuable set of insights into one man’s monomaniacal dedication to music.

Travels Over Feeling: Arthur Russell, a Life by Richard King is published by Faber (£30). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com . Delivery charges may apply

Travels Over Feeling: The Music of Arthur Russell is at the Barbican, London, on 25 May

• Music books
• Book of the day
• Dance music
• Biography books

Comments (…)

Most viewed.