AS A QUARTER OF THE MAGIC NUMBERS, MICHELE STODART HAS BEEN USED TO THE IDEA OF WRITING, RECORDING AND BEING ON STAGE – BUT, FOR THE SECOND TIME, SHE’S ABOUT TO RELEASE A SOLO RECORD AND FRONT HER OWN TOUR.

From AIN’T NO WOMAN – the ‘stand up for yourself’ anthem which was recently released as a single (though “anthem” seems too strong a noun for this often delicate left-field music) to the knowing nod of WHEN IS IT OVER?, which deconstructs a negative relationship and questions the singer’s own part in it, PIECES is as neat and tasteful a collection of heartbreak tinged country music as you will hear in a long time. Released four years after solo debut WIDE-EYED CROSSING, the nine songs on PIECES confirm that almost by stealth Michele has become an artist who easily bears comparison to some of the touchstone writers whose own work has helped shape her outlook. In this new edition of The Mouthcast she discusses the excellent PIECES…

Pre-order PIECES (released July 15th) on vinyl or CD here

Thursday 7th July   LONDON   The Islington   Tickets
Friday 8th July    SALFORD   Eagle Inn   Tickets

Sunday 28th August   SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA   Spa Hotel   Tickets
Wednesday 31st August   EXETER   Phoenix   Tickets
Thursday 1st September   WITNEY   Fat Lils   Tickets
Friday 9th September   HARTLEPOOL   The Studio   Tickets
Saturday 10th September   NEWCASTLE   The Cluny 2   Tickets
Sunday 11th September   SHEFFIELD   The Greystones   Tickets
Monday 12th September   GLASGOW   The Hug & Pint   Tickets
Tuesday 13th September   EDINBURGH   Sneaky Pete’s   Tickets
Thursday 15th September   ABERDEEN   The Tunnels   Tickets
Tuesday 27th September   BRIGHTON   Komedia   Tickets