Press release -
Willie Dowling - Headline Gigs & Vinyl Release
Willie Dowling & The Invisible Band are playing three headline gigs this autumn. 23 October: West Hampstead Arts Club, London. 24 October: The Stables, Milton Keynes. 2 November: The Copper Bar, Manchester.
"After touring with Luke Morley in September it seemed the logical thing to do was arrange a couple of ‘full length’ shows before the end of the year”, says Willie Dowling.
The band, consisting of Willie Dowling on vocals and piano, Andy Lewis on bass and Darby Todd on drums, will be performing songs from Willie Dowling’s album The Simpleton, and perhaps a new song or two from the forthcoming album.
Willie says:
”Luke and I had been nodding acquaintances for more years than either of us care to remember, but we really only got to know each other properly over the last eighteen months or so when the opportunity arose to work together, both in a recording and touring capacity. And I only then woke up to something that the rest of the world apparently already knew - that aside from Luke being a great songwriter and guitarist, a more decent human being you could not wish to meet, so I’m really looking forward to touring with him in September."
Ticket links to Luke Morley tour here.
Willie Dowling & The Invisible Band headline gigs:
23 October: West Hampstead Arts Club, London. Tickets here.
24 October: The Stables, Milton Keynes. Tickets here.
2 November: The Copper Bar, Manchester. Tickets here.
The Simpleton vinyl release
Willie Dowling’s critically acclaimed album The Simpleton will be released on vinyl on 26th September 2025.
In conjunction with award winning indie label Conquest Music, a limited edition pressing of vinyl LP's can now be pre-ordered from Townsend Music. Link here.
Signed copies of The Simpleton vinyl LP, along with an exclusive Willie Dowling art card can be reserved, as well as The Simpleton CD and other items from Willie's highly varied musical career.
"I was thrilled when Conquest Music got in touch to say that they’d heard The Simpleton and liked it very much, and they asked me if they could release it on vinyl”, says Willie Dowling.
“Of course I’m far too young to remember the glory days of vinyl records, but I gather that some of the more senior music fans - and indeed many younger enthusiasts - are very keen on the format, so I’m grateful to Conquest Music for making it possible."
The Simpleton features ten songs that can be described as piano-driven pop/rock, featuring Willie as writer/producer and performer on vocals/piano/occasional bass guitar.
Guests musicians on the album include Darby Todd (drums), Andy Lewis and Jon Poole (bass) and Jo Lewis (cello.)
About Willie Dowling
Willie Dowling is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and producer.
Willie has fronted, written and produced albums for his previous bands, influential rockers The Grip, mid 1990’s ‘quick-flash and gone’ Honeycrack, followed by SugarPlumFairies, Jackdaw4 and The Dowling Poole.
He has played studio sessions and toured with a wide variety of artists including Dr Hook, Midge Ure, Hot Chocolate, The Wildhearts, Shane MacGowan, Maroon Town, Andy Taylor, Quireboys and numerous acts besides, on keyboards, guitars and vocals, along with occasional other instruments.
In addition to band/artist production and touring work, Willie Dowling is a renowned composer for film and television in a wide variety of styles and genres.
He recently wrote songs and underscore for the return of the legendary satirical puppet show ‘Spitting Image’, and over the years has worked on many other TV shows and films starring luminaries such as Steve Coogan (Dr Terrible's House of Horrible and I Am Not An Animal), Rob Brydon and Julia Davis (Human Remains), Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall (Snow White The Sequel) Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer (Catterick), Lenny Henry (In Pieces), Armstrong & Miller and many more (williedowling.co.uk for longer list of credits.)
