Red hot Welsh-formed Cardinal Black, the much talked about trio of frontman Tom Hollister, ace guitarist Chris Buck and drummer Adam Roberts – take their next monumental step with the announcement of their new album, “Midnight At The Valencia” – due May 23rd on the Thirty Tigers record label.
Alongside the album news, the band have unveiled their cracking new single, “Keep On Running” – a swampy, menacing blues sound.
Hollister was inspired by a friend he knew at university who was pursued by a stalker – here he takes on the role of the villain. “It’s a darker track, absolutely, but unfortunately I think it will also be very relatable for a lot of our fans,” Hollister says.
The accompanying video stars BAFTA-winning actor Molly Windsor, a fan of the band who is known to millions as the star of the BBC’s critically acclaimed drama series “Three Girls”, currently getting a repeat on TV, and in the video she is fleeing her trauma in a sequence of flashbacks.
“Midnight At The Valencia” is a testament to the band’s self-carved path, from their humble beginnings in university dive bars, to sharing stages with legends like Peter Frampton at his sold-out Royal Albert Hall show, as well as Joe Bonamassa and Myles Kennedy.
Produced by Cyrill Camenzind (James Morrison, Alain Clark) at Powerplay Studios in Zurich, the album is “a rich tapestry of love, loss, grief, and hope”, brought to life by vintage analogue equipment and the band’s undeniable chemistry.
With “Midnight At The Valencia,” the band set out to create a record that represented their “10,000 hours” of work, having played in just about every backwater dive bar and neon-soaked club they’d come across. “It’s a long, shared history we have,” Hollister says. “We feel like we’ve paid our dues, and this album is the culmination of all that effort.”
Cardinal Black have honed their sound into a powerful, genre-defying statement. From the haunting introspection of “Push/Pull”, written in the wake of Buck’s father’s passing, to the Americana-infused uplift of “Need More Time”, the album is described as a masterclass in storytelling and musicianship.
Hollister’s evocative lyrics and Buck’s virtuosic guitar work shine throughout, culminating in the rousing closer, “Your Spark”, a heartfelt tribute to Hollister’s wife.
The road to success has been anything but conventional. Their story began when they were tipped by the legendary Steve Winwood who invited them to record at his own Wincraft Studios. Then Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven took interest and a record deal was offered, but instead, the band paused and their paths diverged but never truly separated.
Chris Buck
Buck’s distinctive guitar playing earned him numerous accolades and praise from some of the most distinguished players in Slash and Americana star Jason Isbell, and the band remained close, reuniting sporadically to play together until they decided to reform.
The next phase was nearly two years of writing, recording and rehearsing and in 2022, within 24 hours, their debut single “Tell Me How It Feels”, caused an instant sensation, knocking Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds from their perch at the top of the iTunes and Amazon Rock Charts. Both their first EP and subsequent debut album also reached #1.
Having cemented themselves as live powerhouses, Cardinal Black have embarked on tours across Europe and the UK, including London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in 2024, as well as sold out shows at The Troubadour in L.A., and Basement East in Nashville, and as a result, nailing a new partner Thirty Tigers to this fiercely independent band.
Their electrifying performances have earned them a reputation as one of the most compelling live acts. All of which leads to the announcement of a string of UK and EU tour dates for October, November, and December this year, including the band’s biggest ever UK headline show at London’s KOKO.
This comes on top of selling out New York and Toronto in just 24 hours for the recently announced US shows in August.
Chris and Tom
“Midnight At The Valencia” is a heartfelt and ambitious account of their journey so far…
The album will be available in neon pink and neon orange vinyl formats, alongside standard CD and digital editions, available for pre-order.
ALBUM IN-STORE DATES May 24th – CARDIFF, HMV 25th – BRISTOL, Rough Trade 26th – LONDON, Lower Third w/ Rough Trade 27th – BURY, Wax n Beans 28th – NEWCASTLE, Cluny 2 w/ Reflex 29th – GLASGOW, Strip Joint
US HEADLINE TOUR DATES August 6th – NEW YORK, Mercury Lounge (SOLD OUT) 8th – TORONTO, CA – The Drake Hotel Underground (SOLD OUT) 9th – ONTARIO, CA, Kitchener Blues Festival 12th – CHICAGO, Schuba’s 14th – MINNEAPOLIS, 7th Street Entry 16th – OMAHA, Playing with Fire 18th – NASHVILLE, Basement East 19th – ATLANTA, Vinyl at Center Stage 21st – AUSTIN, Antone’s 23rd – PHOENIX, Rebel Lounge 26th – LOS ANGELES, Troubadour 29th – SAN FRANCISCO, The Independent 30th – CAMINO, Concert Series @ Delfino Farms
Adam
UK & EU TOUR DATES October 2nd – NOTTINGHAM, Rock City 3rd – MANCHESTER, Academy 2 9th – DUBLIN, Opium 10th – BELFAST, Limelight 11th – GLASGOW, The Garage 16th – WOLVERHAMPTON, KK’s Steel Mill 17th – LEEDS, Stylus 19th – NEWCASTLE, Wylam Brewery 23rd – BRISTOL, SWX 24th – SOUTHAMPTON, Engine Rooms 28th – BRIGHTON, Concorde 2 29th – CAMBRIDGE, Junction 30th – LONDON, KOKO
November 20th – AMSTERDAM, Bitterzoet 23rd – COLOGNE, Stollwerck 24th – HAMBURG, Bahnhof Pauli 25th – BERLIN, Privatclub 27th – MUNICH, Backstage Club 28th – VIENNA, Flex
December 1st – ZÜRICH, Papiersaal 2nd – FRANKFURT, Brotfabrik 6th – PARIS, Supersonic Club
Tom Hollister’s “Track Record”
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
Probably a James Taylor track, “Sweet Baby James” if I had to guess. My old man would play it to me to get me to sleep.
2. First single you owned?
I can’t remember, but I really hope I was cool enough for it to have been “Waterfalls” by TLC.
3. First LP/album you owned?
Paul Simon’s self-titled album”.
4. First CD you owned?
“Out Of The Vein” by Third Eye Blind.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
Teskey Brothers second album, “Run Home Slow” on vinyl.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
I think I’d prefer it to be dealer’s choice to be honest. I get stuck listening to the same five albums and sometimes need a kick up the arse to get me into something new.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
Train: “Drops of Jupiter.” It’s a really evocative record for me and no doubt a strong inspiration on my writing.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
Joni Mitchell: “A Case Of You.” Nothing better in my opinion.
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection?
Hip-hop generally. Late 80’s West-Coast stuff.
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
Music has the ability like no other medium to move me instantly. It can be as simple as a chord progression or a few lyrics. It physically adjusts my mood. I can put myself right inside the mind of the writer in that instant.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
Paul Simon: “The Boy In The Bubble”.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
Ryan Adams: “This House Is Not For Sale”.
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
“Long Distance Love” by Little Feat (for chilled driving).
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
Korn: “Freak On A Leash”.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
Dave Matthews Band: “Where Are You Going?”
Chris, Adam and Tom
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
“Easy” by Commodores.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
James Taylor: “Carolina In My Mind”, which my brother used to play on the piano all the time when I was a kid.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
Gregory Porter and his band. The best live concert I’ve been to.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
John Martyn.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
“Cold As Ice” by Foreigner.
