From “Sylvie” to “Mario’s Cafe,” Saint Etienne have a good track record when name-dropping people in song titles. Today, the celebrated British pop group are back with a new song wrapped around nomenclature called “Heather”, and the slinky, solemn tune is the first bit of the trio’s new album Home Counties.
The new LP is out June 2 on Heavenly Recordings. Listen to “Heather” below.
“Saint Etienne grew up in the Home Counties,” they write. “Here are 16 new songs they have written about a day in the life of this doughnut of shires that ring the capital, punctuated by bursts of BBC radio to remind you what time it is, and all connected by train journeys — main lines, branch lines, commutes, escapes.”
Home Counties was recorded in London over sox weeks and produced by Shawn Lee of Young Gun Silver Fox.
In addition to the new tunes, Saint Etienne have announced a series of European dates, and we are told a North American tour is planned for September/October of this year. Exciting!
St. Etienne Tour Dates
May 26 – Hebden Bridge, UK -Trades Club
May 27 – Oxford, UK – Common People Festival
May 31 – Barcelona, SPA – Primavera
June 2 – London, UK – Royal Festival Hall
June 3 – Cardiff, UK – Tramshed
June 4 – Birmingham, UK – Town Hall
June 6 – Bexhill, UK – De La Warr Pavillion
June 8 – Newcastle, UK – Sage
June 9 – Edinburgh – UK – Queens Hall
June 10 – Sheffield, UK – City Hall
June 11 – Manchester, UK – RNMC Concert Hall
August 20 – Glanusk Park – Green Man Festival