Billy Bragg on tour

Billy Bragg, the great English performer and songwriter, releases a new single 'I Keep Faith' on download from Monday 10th March and on limited edition 7" vinyl, one week later, on March 17th. The single, taken from his new album, 'Mr. Love & Justice' - released on March 3rd, features the exclusive track 'Like Soldiers Do' (acoustic version).

'Mr Love & Justice' was produced by Grant Showbiz and features 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). A deluxe, limited edition, solo version of the entire album will be given away free with initial copies of 'Mr Love & Justice.'

Bragg has been recently championed by a new generation of musicians. The Nationwide Mercury Prize-shortlisted Hard-Fi, for instance, invited Billy to support them for six nights at London's Brixton Academy in May last year. The band later covered Bragg's 'Levi Stubbs' Tears' for a BBC Radio One session while Kate Nash performed 'A New England' with Billy at London's Union Chapel for a show in aid of the Mencap charity last month. Bragg was also presented with Q magazine's prestigious 'Classic Songwriter' award by KT Tunstall in October 2007.

Among Bragg's recent initiatives is the creation of 'Jail Guitar Doors' which aims to buy instruments as part of the rehabilitation process for prisoners in UK jails. The initiative hit the headlines in July 2007 when Mick Jones, the esteemed guitarist and co-founder of The Clash, joined Billy for a gig at Wormwood Scrubs prison in West London. The Enemy – recently voted Best New Act in the 2007 Q Awards – are also contributing their services to Jail Guitar Doors. Says Tom Clarke, the band's vocalist and guitarist: "I'm with Billy Bragg's thing. It really helps with rehabilitation, you know. Eighty per cent of prisoners who go through this scheme don't re-offend. Fact." For more information, see www.jailguitardoors.org.uk.

Currently on tour in Australia, Bragg plays at London's legendary Roundhouse on Tuesday 4th March. The concert comes as the prelude to a major seven-date UK tour starting in April.

Tickets for the Roundhouse cost £18.00 each and are available from the venue box office on 0870 389 1846 and www.roundhouse.org.uk.

Billy will perform solo on all the dates, including the Roundhouse.

Tickets are priced at £16.00 for the rest of the shows, the full tour and box office details are:

24.04.08 BRISTOL COLSTON HALL (0117 922 3686 www.colstonhall.org).
25.04.08 BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL (0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk).
27.04.08 GLASGOW ABC (0844 844 0444 www.abcglasgow.com).
29.04.08 GATESHEAD THE SAGE (0191 443 4661 www.thesagegateshead.org).
30.04.08 SHEFFIELD CITY HALL (0114 278 9789 www.sheffieldboxoffice.com).
02.05.08 LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL (0151 709 3789 www.liverpoolphil.com).
03.05.08 READING HEXAGON (0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.com).
04.05.08 LINCOLN ENGINE SHED (0871 424 4555 www.engineshed.co.uk)