Catch Up With: Newton Faulkner

Newton Faulkner joins us at Islington Assembly Hall next week for a stripped back, acoustic evening playing some of the songs never before played on tour! We caught up with the man himself to talk about his guitar academy, dream line ups and PIZZA! We can’t wait to welcome Newton Faulkner to Islington Assembly Hall, don’t miss out on the last remaining tickets for his headline show on Tue 18 Oct 2022.

We can’t wait for your show in October, what do you have in store for us?

I’ve gone back to my acoustic roots for this run of shows, but with a slight twist. I’ve got a kick drum under one foot and an amazing contraption called a Junk Hat under the other that opens a lot of doors to tracks that I haven’t felt able to do rhythmical justice to. I also wanted to play some old unsung heroes (pun intended)

It’s clear you’ve aspired to be a musician from a young age, graduating from Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music at 17. When did this passion for music and performing begin?  

I was actually a child actor for a little while, so you could say I started there. Music totally took over when I got to about 14 and bought my first bass guitar. I played some bits and bobs on other instruments before then, but I think of that as where it started.

That’s brilliant! Any advice for budding musicians?

Find ways of making an exercise fun and remember to just play, with no agenda or goal every now then. You’ll be surprised how much you can get out of it.

You’ll also be advising musicians on tour with your guitar academy, what can your more musical fans expect from the experience?

It’s an hour-long summary of my approach to warming up the fingers, entry level percussive guitar and a little bit of ear training and music theory. It’s all expandable too, so hopefully the thought processes can keep people going and can be carried on as their playing progresses.

Sounds like a great opportunity! Do you have any pre-show rituals to get you ready for the stage?

Vocal warm-ups, guitar related finger warm-ups, physical stretches. Nothing too strange. Looking back I think I used to over prepare for gigs, mentally and physically. Everything feels easier than it’s ever felt before, which I must admit isn’t what I expected 15 years in.

You used to be in a Green Day cover band! They’ve got a massive catalogue, which is your favourite album, and song?

American Idiot I will always have a massive soft spot for, but Dookie was the absolute soundtrack to a big chunk of my childhood, so I think I have to go old school.

If you could curate your dream festival line up, who’d be playing?

Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Vulfpeck, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Stapleton, Bobby Mcferrin, Midlake, System of a Down, Tinariwen. I’d be a strange for everyone else, in terms of genres, but I would have a great time.

Sign us up! What’s one song you wish you’d written?

Oh there are hundreds. Joni Mitchel, Both Sides Now I personally think is one of the most perfect songs ever written.

What’s the rest of 2022 looking like for you? Is there any new music on the horizon?

There is but shhhh, I’m not allowed to tell anyone about it yet. (It’s really fun stuff though!)

We’re a team of foodies here at IAH, so the most pressing question; if you could only eat one food forever, what would it be?

My forever food would probably be pizza. I am pretty adventurous culinarily speaking, I love getting into local delicacies wherever I find myself, but pizza just inarguably hits the spot every time.

Don’t miss Newton Faulkner taking over Islington Assembly Hall on Tuesday 18 October 2022, book your tickets now.