Music

Ben Tipple / 4 October 2018

Feature

Billy Lockett on his favourite acts to tour with

He is now touring with Jeff Lynne's ELO ahead of his headline UK shows in 2019.

Find tickets here

It’s already been quite the year for Northampton singer-songwriter Billy Lockett. Having spent the summer as a mainstay on festival line-ups, not least The Great Escape and Wilderness, Lockett was joined by a string quartet for a Union Chapel performance in London in February, and has signed to East West Records, part of the Warner Music family.

Building up his catalogue of music – some stripped back and some stadium sized powerhouses of melody – Lockett dropped new tracks Fading Into Grey and My Only Soul earlier in the year. The accompanying videos depict his two sides, one piano led and intimate, and one built around lavish production.

With only a few months of 2018 to go, Billy Lockett is currently enjoying live on the road supporting Jeff Lynne’s ELO on their massive UK tour, as well as joining fellow newcomer Lewis Capaldi on his headline dates.

Billy is already set to kickstart 2019 with his own headline shows, already establishing him as a prolific touring machine. With that in mind, we caught up with Billy about his dream touring partners, old and new. Here’s what he had to say.

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Jeff Lynne’s ELO

The first band my dad ever showed me so it’s a very special band to me. My favourite track is Telephone Line. I can’t believe that I am currently out on a huge tour with this band… I am pinching myself, what an honour.

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Bob Dylan

There is a great energy to this song. I love the honesty to Dylan’s music. Like A Rolling Stone is a huge song.

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Blind Faith

Steve Winwood’s voice is outrageous! It stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it. I love Can’t Find My Way Home.

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The Rolling Stones

Gimme Shelter – love the guitar sound and the general groove of this record.

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Oh Wonder

When I discovered this bands first album I couldn’t listen to anything else for months. Livewire is a favourite.

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Tom Walker

I love Heartland by Tom. A stunning song, the words, the tone of his voice is huge.

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London Grammar

She has such a beautiful voice, and effortlessly good song writing. Darling Are You Gonna Leave Me is one of my favourite songs.

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Bruno Major

Hands down one of the most talented UK singer songwriters we have at the moment. Just The Same is a great song.

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Catch Billy Lockett with Jeff Lynne’s ELO on the following dates:

5 October 2018 – Manchester Arena, Manchester
6 October 2018 – Manchester Arena, Manchester
9 October 2018 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
10 October 2018 – Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
12 October 2018 – Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
13 October 2018 – Arena Birmingham, Birmingham
15 October 2018 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
17 October 2018 – The O2, London
18 October 2018 – The O2, London
20 October 2018 – The O2, London
21 October 2018 – The O2, London
23 October 2018 – Echo Arena, Liverpool
25 October 2018 – 3Arena, Dublin
26 October 2018 – The SSE Arena, Belfast

He then joins Lewis Capaldi on the following dates:

30 October 2018 – O2 Academy, Bournemouth
2 November 2018 – Junction, Cambridge
3 November 2018 – O2 Institute, Birmingham
4 November 2018 – SWX, Bristol
6 November 2018 – Albert Hall, Manchester
7 November 2018 – O2 Academy Leeds
9 November 2018 – Newcastle University, Newcastle
10 November 2018 – Barrowland, Glasgow
11 November 2018 – Barrowland, Glasgow
13 November 2018 – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Read more about Lewis Capaldi in our Ticketmaster New Music feature

He’s then heading on his own headline dates in 2019:

12 April 2019 – O2 Institute3, Birmingham
13 April 2019 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
15 April 2019 – Whelans, Dublin
17 April 2019 – Limelight 2, Belfast
18 April 2019 – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
25 April 2019 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

For tickets for the Jeff Lynne’s ELO tour, Lewis Capaldi dates and Billy Lockett’s own headline shows, head to Ticketmaster.co.uk.