Beth starts her Marshes tour with a new solo album.

Last April some of you may remember that we sent out a newsletter directing people to Beth's IndieGoGo fundraising campaign to record a new solo album with her band Beth Porter & The Availables. As part of the process she changed the band name changed to Marshes, but it is now finished!! The CDs arrived yesterday and the vinyl should appear next week - and we are all about to do a tour to bring it into the world.

So although this is not strictly Bookshop Band, Marshes features all the same musical talents Beth brings to The Bookshop Band, but this time focused on more personal songwriting and experiences. I was involved by designing the artwork for the album, as well as a few glorious glockenspiel notes on a couple of songs!

As we do all these things as a family we're on the road together for the next few weeks with The Bookshop Band performing alongside Marshes on a number of the tour dates.

So, if you haven't already, please be introduced to Beth's wonderful band, Marshes, and come and see us and hear Marshes from he first time on tour if we're passing near you in England - apologies if we're not coming near you this time, Beth hopes to expand the Marshes' tour reach further afield later in the year. The album, When The Lights Are Brightwill be available very soon on CD, vinyl and download here. And you can get a musical taster here by watching a couple of videos I made for her, Who We Are and Grey, Grey.

APRIL 4 - MILTON KEYNES - w. The Bookshop Band - The Stables APRIL 5 - COVENTRY - Big Comfy Bookshop APRIL 7 - BRISTOL - Wardrobe Theatre APRIL 24 - DALSTON, LONDON - SET APRIL 26 - BATH - Chapel Arts APRIL 27 - WRINGTON (Somerset) w. The Bookshop Band - Refreshment Rooms APRIL 28 - STROUD w. The Bookshop Band - The Prince Albert