Loudon Wainwright III, Grand Opera House, York, May 25, 2011, (From York Press)

Loudon Wainwright III, Grand Opera House, York, May 25, 2011,

2:40pm Friday 17th September 2010 in Music news and reviews

TICKETS go on sale tomorrow at 10am for Loudon Wainwright III’s return to the Grand Opera House next spring.

The cult American singer-songwriter last played the York theatre in April 2007, when The Press reviewer, Julian Cole, commented: “Loudon at 60 remains a tremendous performer, funny, emotional, crusty, engaging and, as he notes, unashamedly self-absorbed.

“Loudon takes self-obsession to new heights yet he turns the navel-gazing inside out and makes it seem remarkably human, giving his songs such general appeal.”

Wainwright will be touring Britain on the back of this summer’s release of his latest album, 10 Songs For The New Depression, on which he bemoans how we are still mired in a deep depression with his usual combination of troubadour guitar twanging, angst-filled lyrics and reedy voice.

This album maintains a steady flow of creativity from Wainwright in the past five years. In September 2006, he and fellow songwriter Joe Henry began writing the soundtrack for Judd Apatow’s 2007 film, Knocked Up, in which he also had a cameo role as an obstetrician.

He also composed music for Carl Hiassen’s theatre production of Lucky You, which premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The albums keep on coming too: Recovery in 2008 and High Wide & Handsome in 2009, the latter bringing him a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album in January this year.

Tickets for his May 25 show cost £27.50 or £23.50 on 0844 847 2322 or online at grandoperahouseyork.org.uk

* Loudon Wainwright III, Grand Opera House, York, May 25, 2011, 8pm