Billy Bragg new album

'Mr. Love & Justice', the new album by the great English songwriter and performer Billy Bragg, is in stores on Monday 3rd March 2008 - exactly six years since the release of his last album, 'England, Half English'.

The 12-track new album has been produced by Grant Showbiz and features Bragg's band The Blokes, comprising the celebrated Ian McLagan - of Small Faces, Bob Dylan, The Faces and Rolling Stones fame - on Hammond organ and piano, together with Ben Mandelson (lap steel guitar and bouzouki); Lu Edmonds (electric guitar and vocals); Martyn Barker (drums) and Simon Edwards (bass).

They are joined by the legendary Robert Wyatt, the guest vocalist on a track called 'I Keep Faith' recorded in South Thoresby, Lincolnshire. The collaboration came about when Bragg, in search of fresh rhubarb for a crumble, was in nearby Louth where he met Wyatt who lives in the town. "I hadn't seen him since Red Wedge (the 1986 Labour Party youth vote initiative)," says Bragg. "He found me some rhubarb and then came along to the recording session and sang beautiful vocals to the chorus of 'I Keep Faith' – it was like angels singing!"

Full track listing for 'Mr. Love & Justice' is:

I Keep Faith
I Almost Killed You
M For Me
The Beach is Free
Sing Their Souls Back Home
You Make Me Brave
Something Happened
Mr. Love & Justice
If You Ever Leave
O Freedom
The Johnny Carcinogenic Show
Farm Boy

The album is preceded by Bragg's special guest appearance with Kate Nash at London's Union Chapel on Monday 26th November. The show is in aid of the Mencap charity. This will be the second time Bragg has appeared with Nash - they shared a stage at London's Electric Ballroom earlier this year.

Nash later told the NME: "When I watched him at the Electric Ballroom it was the best thing ever, to see him, one guy, one guitar and for him to have such an effect on such a huge amount of people. Everyone was smiling and singing along. It's about connecting with people."

Bragg will also be celebrating his 50th birthday at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall on Sunday 9th December when, in conversation with Jude Kelly, artistic director of the South Bank Centre, he will be discussing the political and musical influences that have shaped his life. The event brings to an end a memorable 25th anniversary - Billy Bragg's first solo gig was opening for the Sensible Jerseys at the North London Polytechnic Sociology Department annual disco 25 years ago in March 1982.