Teesside singer-songwriter Glad Town Ghost crafts deeply rooted folk music inspired by the post-industrial landscapes and folklore of East Cleveland. Following a landmark year of high-profile live performances, he returns with his new EP, ‘A New Coat of Arms’. This expanded, collaborative release balances bleak grit with an enduring sense of local hope. Scott Hays caught up with Dale Husband (Glad Town Ghost) to find out more.
Your work is deeply rooted in the industrial landscapes and folklore of East Cleveland. How does translating these stark, post-industrial scenes into a folk style change the way people from outside the region, as well as locals, connect with your music?
I am trying to write about genuine characters from our area without falling into the hat-doffing, poverty-porn archetypes we often see. I love folk music for its connection to places and people, but I am conscious of the risk of falling into romanticised stereotypes. I hope my music encourages people to look at our area from a less blinkered perspective. Writing about East Cleveland or Teesside is not something I consciously set out to do; these are simply the places and landscapes that influence my world-building. I have noticed that my songs about Redcar or Whitby receive strong responses in the South, which suggests that more songs should be written with specific places in mind.
‘A New Coat of Arms’ marks a return to your roots, balancing bleak themes with your trademark underlying positivity. How has expanding the sonic palette with contributions from other musicians helped shape the atmosphere of these four new tracks?
The collaborative elements of this EP have made the process so much more fulfilling. This is the first time I have had a backing band for my solo music, and the sonic bed provided by Chris on keys and Bee on vocals is perfect for what I am trying to achieve. I think Brendan, the producer, and I have managed to create something that sits between traditional folk guitar and indie atmospheres. James Hewitson provided a beautiful brass part for ‘Premonitions’, and the sounds on this EP will definitely serve as the blueprint for our future releases. The themes across the EP are all very heavy, and some are dark, but the characters in every song come from places of hope. That is the moral at the heart of these stories.
You’ve had an incredible run of live shows recently, from headlining Café Etch and playing major festivals such as Marrapalooza and Last Train Home, to supporting The Unthanks at Tees Folk. How have these live experiences and notable support slots influenced your approach to performing material as intimate as this?
This year has been a dream, and I am enjoying performing more than ever. It has been validating to play bigger stages alongside such well-known artists, but the greatest joy has come from being able to perform my music regularly, whether to four people or 1000. I have historically struggled with live performance, but the gigs we have played this year have given me so much motivation to continue. I have almost been forced into accepting that I am a legitimate artist, which is lovely. If I were no good, I probably would not have been asked to play these venues and events.
You can listen to ‘A New Coat of Arms’ on all major streaming platforms from Friday 13th November.
