Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland is 59-year-old and has released three albums: “Down A Hole” (2016), “Reckless & Me” (2019), and “Bloor” (2022), with his fourth, “Grey”, due for release on 29th May 2026.
His day job is pretending to be someone he is not. In front of the TV and movie cameras in that there Hollywood. Better known as simply Kiefer Sutherland, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor and son of the late and great actor Donald Sutherland.
But when he dons his hat, straps a guitar to his chest and steps up to the microphone, he is most definitely not pretending to be someone he is not. No, siree bob! This ain’t no rich man’s hobby away from the film set. This guy is the real deal as a musician, singer, songwriter and band leader, as his impressive incoming new album, “Grey” proves; due in 10 days’ time on 29th May.
This magazine’s pre-release review of those 10 tracks [by Manja Williams], awarded it the maximum five stars, and said: “…an album that feels rich in texture and deeply intimate, balancing stripped-back acoustic arrangements with fuller, roots-rock instrumentation…”, and: “…his most cohesive and emotionally resonant work yet: a warm, reflective and deeply human record from an artist who has fully grown into his musical identity — a thoughtful and beautiful collection of songs…”
Kiefer says about Grey: “The songs were written and recorded over a two-year period from 2024 to 2026. In many ways these songs mark a growth for me personally, as I wrote less about observations and more about personal feelings that I have been navigating in my own life.”
Setlist
Down Below
Only Happy When It Rains
Goodbye California
Something You Love
Come Back Down
Can’t You See
Ole’ Lonely Life
Chasing the Rain
American Farmer
Simpler Time
See You on the Other Side
Love Will Bring You Home
Two Stepping in Time
This Is How It’s Done
Down in a Hole
Friday Night
Agave
In the Air Tonight
Starlight
2 AM
He also more than proved why he should be taken seriously as a credible artist and musician, as well as a fine actor, last night in Manchester Night on night # six of a baker’s dozen UK shows on this “Love Will Bring You Home” tour, which kicked off in London and closes in Leeds, after a European run.
Around 1,000 people bought tickets for he Manchester show and all the dates so far have a good turn out. He always pulls in good numbers for his UK tours, last full tour here was 2024, but has just announced cancellation of his US tour in June and July due to low tickets sales. Surprising and refreshing at the same time, that an artist doesn’t bulls*it about the reason why shows are pulled.
After London-based Irish singer and songwriter Colin Andrew’s solo set, Kiefer and his UK four-piece band begin a seamless 20-song set. Six from his new album “Gray”, including set opener “Down Below” and tonight’s penultimate song “Starlight”.
Four covers: The Garbage hit “Only Happy When It Rains”, The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See”, “See You On The Other Side” (the Ozzy Osbourne song from his 1995 album “Ozzmosis”) and Phil Collins’ classic, “In The Air Tonight”.
So with 20 songs in the setlist tonight, that is four short to scupper any slick link I could have penned to his famed role in the hit TV drama “24”as Jack Bauer!
He has the same seasoned three UK musicians from a previous tour here: Roger Inniss on bass, drummer Phil Wilson and Phil’s brother Ash Wilson on guitar. Plus the addition of CJ Hillman on guitar and pedal steel. They are on their A game and provide solid backing.
If you dig country, Americana, rockin’ and bluesy stuff, then Kiefer is your man. His raspy voice is as strong as his guitar skills and he sure can play.
Before third song in the set, some in the audience had clearly streamed or downloaded the single, “Goodbye California”, based on their warm applause as Kiefer announced it ; the second track to be lifted from “Grey” from the new LP. He explains the song is Kiefer about how he felt when he moved away from California.
Fourth up is, “Something You Love” which he precedes with some sage advice based on the song’s lyrical sentiment: Life is too short not to do something you love. Amen to that. Next is Kiefer’s personal favourite, “Come Back Down”, a lovely laid back country feel to it.
“Simpler Time”, first single from the new album goes down well. Kiefer says about this song: “A reflection on my youth and the memory of a time that felt more reliable culturally, socially and politically. I am aware that the memory of one’s youth is often seen through rose tinted glasses, but in this instance, personally, I don’t think so.”
For “Down In A Hole” Kiefer discards the guitar to focus on his vocals on this blues soaked number. The Marshall Tucker Band cover “Can’t You See” featured CJ Hillman’s powerful pedal steel skills, a player who has worked with Billy Bragg and many others. Ozzy Osbourne’s poignant song “See You on the Other Side” was dedicated to lost loved one
Away from his music and back at the day job, Kiefer’s latest film role is in Barthelemy Grossmann’s “Father Joe” with movie legend Al Pacino, which is in post-production. Kiefer is in Justin Chadwick’s 2026 thriller “Brothers Under Fire”.
He may well be known for his performance in the cult movie “Lost Boys”, but the London-born Canadian was exactly where he wanted to be on this stage in Manchester last night.
- The remaining dates on this May tour are: 20th – Belfast, 21st – Dublin, 22nd – Cardiff, 23rd – Exeter, 25th – Bournemouth, 26th – Oxford and 27th – Leeds.
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