Nashville crooner Nicole Atkins, who recently toured the UK with Mercury Rev, will return to these shores in April for a string of headline shows. Having performed again just before Christmas with friend and collaborator Jim Sclavunos from the Bad Seeds, Atkins will play her fifth London show in 18 months at The Lexington on 30th April.Nicole recently unveiled her take on the Guns N’ Roses classic ballad, 'November Rain', as a duet with Mark Lanegan. 'Atkins and Lanegan’s 'November Rain' cover turns the song into a slow-cooking country-rock duet', commented Stereogum, 'The Screaming Trees singer’s signature grizzled, gothic baritone makes an ideal complement to Atkins’ sweet high-pitched twang.' The song is available on all digital platforms and can be heard here.
Tour dates are, as follows:
4/4 - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
5/4 - St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
7/4 - The Cluny 2, Newcastle
9/4 - Arts Centre, Norwich
10/4 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
30/4 - The Lexington, London
Atkins found her inspiration for the 'November Rain' cover while staying at a cosy Vermont Inn, a retreat from the usual corporate hotel digs provided while on tour. At the inn, Atkins found herself having strange dreams, one of which inspired the track. Atkins explains, 'I dreamt that I was in an old tower and I was singing an old ’60s country-style duet of the Guns n’ Roses song 'November Rain,' and it sounded awesome. I immediately woke up and sang it into my phone the way I heard it.'
Returning to her home in Nashville, Atkins gathered a group of musician friends and headed into the studio to record the song as she dreamt it. Missing a duet partner, Atkins called upon The Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan to complete the track. Atkins states, 'I still didn’t know who I’d get to sing it with me and then I thought, 'well who’s the best living singer?' For me it’s Mark Lanegan… Mark and I have been talking about singing together now for over ten years so this seemed like the perfect time to do it. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by asking and it turned out exactly as I’d pictured.' Lanegan adds, 'Doing this song was a blast. It combined two of my favourite things: Nicole’s beautiful voice and GNR.' The result is a gorgeous, sprawling country reimaging of the rock n’ roll classic.
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For more information, visit nicoleatkins.com.
