Best known to music fans as the trumpet player for The Cat Empire, Harry James Angus has dropped a new single, 'Followers', and announced a slew of live dates that will see him tour both capital cities and a number of regional centres.
A song about social media's churning kaleidoscope of second-hand views, 'Followers' is a mash of drums, piano and trumpet with echo-chamber call-and-response vocals. "Original thought and opinions are harder to come by," Harry observes. "It's harder to arrive at the truth."The unexpected downtime Harry has had this past year has led him to rediscovering the simple joys of making music; that is, once he got past the feeling of 'emptiness' the pandemic has created.
"The home-time COVID imposed on me was at first very disturbing, because like a lot of people, it was the ruination of all my plans," he says.
"But then something really good happened. Without that crazy cycle of making music and launching it, and doing gigs and tours and festivals and all that strategic career stuff. . . all that was left was me and my creativity.
"I remembered what it felt like when creativity is just a game," he says. "It's like playtime. You make music not because you've got a plan, but because it's fun."
Set to kick-off in Cairns this weekend, Harry will then visit Adelaide in early August before the main run of dates in September (including Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane). Harry will then sign-off with a home town show as part of Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Tickets available now. More information.
Harry James Angus 2021 Tour Dates
Fri 23 Jul - Tanks Arts Centre (Cairns)Fri 6 Aug - Scott Theatre (Adelaide)
Thu 9 Sep - Vanguard Hotel (Sydney)
Fri 10 Sep - Smiths Alternative (Canberra)
Sat 11 Sep - The Victoria Hotel (Bathurst)
Sun 12 Sep - The Stag and Hunter (Newcastle)
Fri 17 Sep - The Bridge Hotel (Castlemaine)
Sat 18 Sep - The Westernport Hotel (San Remo)
Fri 24 Sep - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Sat 25 Sep - Bar Wunder (Toowoomba)
Sun 26 Sep - The Outpost (Brisbane)
Sun 24 Oct - Melbourne International Jazz Festival @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl
