Ben Howard releases his fifth studio album, ‘Is It?’ on the 16th June 2023 through Island Records.

In the Summer of 2022, Ben and his band recorded ‘Is It?’ over 10 days in the Le Manoir de Léon studios, nestled between Bordeaux and Biarritz, in the South of France.

The album is introduced by ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ streaming now - Listen HERE

Produced by Bullion (Westerman, Nilüfer Yanya, Orlando Weeks), ‘Couldn’t Make It Up’ is the first track of that ten-song record, exploring music after Ben experienced two mini strokes (TIAs). ‘Is it?’ is a lush, sonically splintered album which captures Howard working through those moments of seismic shift.

Ben has to say -

“I found it impossible not to dwell on the absurdity of it, that with one tiny clot, one can lose all faculties. It really ate into the writing of the record.”

In March 2022, Ben Howard was sat in his garden when he found himself unable to think clearly, form sentences or speak for almost an hour. A month later, after the same thing happened again, the Ivor Novello Award-winning singer-songwriter learned he’d suffered two TIAs (transient ischemic attacks - known as mini-strokes). “It was out of the blue,” says the 35 year-old. “It was a confusing time.”

That June, after a month of inconclusive hospital tests Howard and his band returned to Le Manoir de Léon, where they’d previously worked on his acclaimed third album, ‘Noonday Dream’. 

This is Ben’s first new music since the release of ‘Collections From The Whiteout’ in 2021 which debuted at the top of the UK album charts, his second number one record to date.

Pre order/pre save “Is It?” HERE

The album’s striking artwork (see below) was designed by Portuguese graphic design and illustrator Bráulio Amado.

Next month, Ben kicks off a UK and European tour in Madrid at La Riviera on the 18th May, hitting cities through Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK including an already sold-out show at London’s new Alexandra Palace Park on 22nd July. He is currently confirmed for UK festival performances at Boardmasters and Victorious in Portsmouth, and headlines “On the Mount at Wasing” series of outdoor shows in Berkshire.

A new date at London’s Royal Albert Hall is now announced for 1st June. Tickets go on general sale from Friday 28th April at 10am BST.

Tickets for all headline dates are on sale now via www.benhowardmusic.co.uk

Ben Howard Live:

18th May – La Riviera, Madrid

19th May – Santana 27, Bilbao

20th May – Palacio de Congresos, Santiago de Compostela

22nd May – Coliseu Lisboa, Lisbon

23rd May – Coliseu Porto, Porto

25th May – Razzmatazz, Barcelona

26th May – Le Rocher de Palmer, Bordeaux

1st June – Royal Albert Hall, London *NEW DATE – On sale Friday 28th April at 10am*

15th June – Fairview Park, Dublin

17th June – Piknik I Parken – Oslo, Norway

19th June – Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT

20th June - Carré Theatre, Amsterdam SOLD OUT

21st June – Phil Haarlem, Netherlands

30th June – Rock Werchter, Werchter

1st July – On The Mount At Wasing, Berkshire

2nd July – Down the Rabbit Hole, Beuningen

4th July – Philarmonie de Paris, Paris

6th July – Arena Wien, Vienna

7th July – Pohoda Festival, Trenčín

9th July – Sexto ‘Nplugged, Sesto Al Reghena

11th July – Žluté Lázně, Prague

12th July – Progresja Summer Stage, Warsaw

14th July – Zitadelle, Berlin

15th July – Stadtpark, Hamburg

17th July – Tonhalle, Munich

18th July – X-Tra, Zurich

21st July – SWG3 Yard, Glasgow

22nd July – Alexandra Palace Park, London SOLD OUT

23rd July – Cardiff Castle, Cardiff

11th August – Boardmasters, Newquay

27th August – Victorious Festival, Portsmouth