Acclaimed UK folk artist John Smith is coming to Melbourne with his critically lauded American atmospherics album, The Living Kind.
Described by Pentangle’s John Renbourn as “the future of folk music,” Smith’s unique synthesis of styles puts him halfway across the Atlantic. The Living Kind is considered his masterpiece, produced by Joe Henry, the man behind some of the subtlest Americana of recent times.
The album draws inspiration from Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden, John Martyn’s Solid Air, and Joni Mitchell’s Hejira, creating a cohesive song-cycle dealing with family responsibility and personal transformation.
John Smith
- Tuesday 11 March 2025
- Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
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The Living Kind was recorded over just four days in February 2023 at Joe Henry’s remote home in Maine, where temperatures dropped to -25 outside. Smith’s core band included Henry’s son Levon and bassist Ross Gallagher, with drums shared between Jay Bellerose (Robert Plant) and Joshua Van Tessel (Bahamas).
Patrick Warren, who composed the music for True Detective, adds keyboards, strings and “unmistakeable gothic vibrations” throughout the album.
Smith’s songs explore balancing family with music career in Milestones, while Silver Mine is about his seven-year-old daughter. Horizons was written in one burst during a freezing drive through Albany, while Trick Of The Light came quickly, its warm melody winding around a descending baroque chord structure.
Support comes from Daisy Kilbourne, a soul-stirring artist from Daylesford with music deeply rooted in the 1970s. Born into a musical family, Daisy’s talent was inspired by her late father, Wayne Kilbourne, a revered songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her sound blends folk, rock and soul that evokes raw emotion.
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