To mark the first anniversary of his debut album The Best I Could Do at the Time, singer-songwriter Joe Hicks is releasing a deluxe version of the record (out 3rd November) and embarking on his first ever full band UK tour.
Full list of dates and tickets available here.
Joe will be coming to The Old Fire Station, Oxford on the 24th November.
‘Getting to bring the band with me for the first time, visiting as many cities as possible across the UK for my longest and biggest run to date is extremely exciting. Every song I have written since starting this journey has been made with other musicians in mind.
‘I’ve wanted to do this for the longest time, and I’m so grateful that the time has come. We’ve got a lot planned to make the show truly special and I can’t wait for people to see it. See you out on the road!’ - Joe Hicks
Raised in the rural market town of Newbury, England, Joe Hicks blends pop, blues and folk influences, combining intricate guitar composition with classic pop song-craft. Released in September 2022, The Best I Could Do at the Time is an earnest collection of music, combining Joe’s exceptional songwriting, influences such as John Mayer and Paul Simon, and pop sensibilities with a boldness to wear his heart on his sleeve.
With the album’s deluxe edition set for release on 3rd November, expect to hear acoustic reworkings and some brand-new live versions of songs from the album, recorded exclusively for the reissue. However, the acoustic recordings are not just a standard vocal-and-guitar reimagining - elements such as slide guitar, multiple harmonies and different guitar grooves come into play, shining a brand new light on these songs. As for the live performances, Joe played a sold-out show at Arlington Arts Centre in his Newbury hometown in late 2022 and decided to bring a full-circle moment to the deluxe album by recording these at the same venue, providing an exciting glimpse at what to expect for his November 2023 UK tour. These live renditions will also be released in video form, the first being ‘One More Step’ on 12th October, with the rest to follow in the coming weeks.
‘The idea around the deluxe album came initially from the desire to explore some of the songs on my debut album in a more stripped back way and from a different mindset. The Best I Could Do at the Time is first and foremost a pop album, and so all the production decisions when making it were about amplifying those elements and leaning into them.
‘The live recordings on the new release were a later addition. I wanted to film some videos to show how the songs from The Best I Could Do at the Time sound and look live with the band behind me. The guys I have playing in the band constantly blow me away with their musicianship and attention to detail, and that is hopefully very apparent in the videos.’ - Joe Hicks
Following the album’s release in 2022, Joe’s music received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Introducing, being named the latter’s ‘Artist of the Week’, while gaining press support from CLASH Magazine, Manchester Evening News and Blues Matters Magazine among many other titles. His online following has steadily grown, having now racked up over 4 million Spotify streams, and has made live appearances at prolific festivals such as CarFest, the Big Feastival, Are You Listening? Festival, and Pub in the Park. Not only that, but Joe has supported the likes of Sam Fender, Seafret, James Walsh, Starsailor and Sari Schorr and has now played over 30 Sofar Sounds shows.
The deluxe edition of The Best I Could Do at the Time is out on 3rd November.
Joe Hicks and his band will be touring the UK in November 2023. Tickets here.
