Withered Hand
“As life-affirming as music gets” - The Herald
“The UK’s best lyricist” - King Creosote
WITHERED HAND is the pseudonym of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson. Since the release of his debut album ‘Good News’ in 2009, Dan has become a celebrated figure in the Scottish music scene and further afield. A well-travelled touring singer-songwriter, he has quietly amassed a devoted cult fanbase while staying true to a singular artistic vision.
A strident second album ‘New Gods’ in 2014 propelled Withered Hand into the charts, featuring appearances by friends, luminaries and supporters from the Scottish music scene, from Belle & Sebastian to Frightened Rabbit to The Vaselines and beyond. A long-awaited third Withered Hand album, ‘How To Love’, was released in 2023, again to widespread critical acclaim.
Dan’s subsequent collaboration with Mercury Prize nominated English singer-songwriter Kathryn Williams resulted in last year’s album “Willson Williams” - shortlisted for both Scottish Album of the Year and UK Americana Album of the Year 2024.
Dan is currently working on a 4th Withered Hand LP with his friend and mentor King Creosote, due for release in late 2025.
Dan has been guest tutor on Songwriting Workshops at Moniack Mhor - Scotland’s Centre of Creative Writing, Arvon Writing Foundation at Totleigh Barton and Arvon Lumb Bank and is an advocate of the power of music and creativity in recovery, healing and growth.
“Killer melodies …tunes full of warm, woozy sing-song charm” - Rolling Stone
“Beautifully constructed lyrical frameworks … Caledonian gospel” - MOJO
PLUS SUPPORT FROM
BEAUTY STAB
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Beauty Stab, former members of Vukovar (defunct frequent irritators of Conti audiences over the years), will be playing a set of seasonally appropriate Plath pop. This will be a rare solo performance by Dan Shea on vocals, lap steel and sampler under the Beauty Stab name: if you don't feel like you've wandered into The Roadhouse in Twin Peaks by mistake then he will consider the evening a failure. Beauty Stab last released https://beautystab.bandcamp.com/album/guide-frisk but it's not going to sound anything like that. Compulsive viewing for fans of Rowland S Howard, Low and Emma Ruth Rundle.
Thursday 30th October from 7.30pm. Seated show.
To buy tickets for this event please visit our events page: Withered Hand & Special Guests tickets from Skiddle .