Red Sky July announce their forthcoming UK tour taking place in February and March 2025. The band will take to the road in support of the release of their upcoming album Misty Morning (February 28th, 2025) and will play 9 dates across the UK, including a stop at Birmingham’s Kitchen Garden Café on March 27th.
Critically acclaimed “slick musicianship” and “fine female harmonies” (The Guardian) are always to be expected at Red Sky July shows. Speaking about the tour dates, the band stated they are, “looking forward to going on tour with our brand-new album ‘Misty Morning’ in the new year, and to be able to introduce the new music to live audiences on the road is something special to us. It’s really exciting to perform the new tracks along with some fan favourites at the shows.”
Early support for the record has already come from the likes of Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2’s Folk show, BBC Scotland (“Red Sky July are sounding very good indeed” – Ricky Ross), BBC Radio Wales (“A delight” – Frank Hennessy), BBC Radio Ulster (“I’m quite taken by them…just gorgeous” – Eve Blair), and more.
‘Misty Morning’ will be released digitally and as a limited edition 12” record – the first vinyl album to be released by the band – with the LP nestled inside a deluxe sleeve that features a unique and dreamy illustration by artist Ellamae Statham. All pre-orders will be hand-signed by the band and include free access to exclusive content with the Red Sky July Making Music Pass.
Misty Morning promises to capture the essence of their journey through life and music, featuring deeply personal lyrics and lush melodies. The album reflects the band’s growth and exploration, especially after the addition of vocalist Haley Glennie-Smith, whose distinct sound adds a new dimension to their work.
The title track, ‘Misty Morning’, paints a vivid soundscape reminiscent of early dawn, filled with rich textures and harmonies that evoke a sense of nostalgia and hope. ‘You’re the man I call when the bottle breaks/And the hazy-gin eyes can’t see anything straight’
In creating this album, Red Sky July sought to redefine the boundaries of folk and Americana music. By integrating electronic elements and layered soundscapes—some derived from natural recordings made during their travels—the band has crafted a cinematic experience that resonates with listeners on multiple levels.
When recording the new album “We challenged the instrumentation involved in the folk and Americana genres and used a lot of delays and electronic drones to create a much more cinematic sound. We also layered up some ‘found sound’ that we recorded in Scotland, Ireland, America, Spain and everywhere else on our travels. We made synth drones out of them, which became the bedrock of the album, sound-wise” explains Shelly.
“Our aim was to shake up the perception of what folk music means,” says Shelly Poole, who co-formed Red Sky July with her husband, ex-Texas guitarist Ally McErlaine, in 2008 as a ‘soul food’ side-project which soon spiralled with the release of their acclaimed music. Their achievements were recognised at the Scottish Music Awards where they were presented with a prestigious Tartan Clef Award, have toured extensively including sets at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, T in the Park and C2C: Country to Country and appeared as special guests of the likes of Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, 10CC, Tom Jones and Jools Holland.
Misty Morning features a range of tracks that explore themes of love, resilience, and the beauty of nature. As the band prepares to share this new chapter, they invite fans to join them on this journey, experiencing the magic of their music firsthand.
2025 TOUR DATES
27 FEBRUARY | LIVERPOOL, PROHIBITION STUDIOS
28 FEBRUARY | GLASGOW, GLAD CAFE
08 MARCH | BRIGHTON, THE FOLKLORE ROOMS
19 MARCH | SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
20 – 22 MARCH | MANCHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL
20 MARCH | TYNEMOUTH, ALFIE & FIN’S
21 MARCH | BEVERLEY, ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH
22 MARCH | MANCHESTER, HALLE ST. PETER’S
26 MARCH | PUTNEY, HALF MOON
27 MARCH | BIRMINGHAM, KITCHEN GARDEN CAFÉ