‘It felt like a falling apart’: Ben Howard on returning to music after two strokes
When he suffered two mini-strokes last year, Ben Howard felt like ‘the world was pouring in’. But the experience has fuelled his most fluid, experimental album yet
August 2021
Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Big Red Machine: How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? review – slightly self-indulgent supergroup
Aaron Dessner and Justin ‘Bon Iver’ Vernon recruit Taylor Swift, Fleet Foxes and more for this album full of misty autumnal beauty – and a quiet punch
May 2019
The 1975 win two major awards at 2019 Ivor Novellos
Pop-rock band win songwriters of the year and best contemporary song, with Ben Howard and Idles collecting other big prizes
April 2019
Grime once again dominates Ivor Novello awards nominations
Politically charged work well represented but female songwriters miss out
January 2019
Ben Howard review – serious music sabotaged by a charisma vacuum
With ambient passages aplenty and next to none of his old favourites, the chart-topper became joyless and closed-off
August 2015
Wilderness festival review – crowd go politely wild for Björk and Ben Howard
Björk dazzled with an uncompromising set and Ben Howard channelled his inner James Blake. But this genteel festival makes Latitude look like Altamont
July 2015
Citadel festival review – a kaleidoscopic musical landscape
From Afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti to hometown heroes such as Roots Manuva, this boutique festival presented a rousing, crowd-pleasing account of London’s musical diversity
December 2014
One to watch
Richard Dawson: Geordie songwriter who found a voice in his local library
Singer says his eye condition means he sees things differently – and, when you hear his music, what he’s saying makes sense
Ben Howard review – surfing troubadour high on a new wave
The Devon singer-songwriter has made a stylistic leap forward – and taken his adoring audience with him, writes Kitty Empire
This week's new tracks
Peaking Lights’ Everyone And Us, this week’s best new track
‘Everyone And Us proves that even in this season of sickly over-indulgence, less is more’
November 2014
This week's new live music
Temples, Ben Howard, Curtis Harding: this week’s new live music
Temples | Ben Howard | Curtis Harding | Drill Festival | Jaga Jazzist | Birtwistle: A Celebration
October 2014
Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass is longest reigning UK single of 2014
US singer’s hit ties with Clean Bandit’s Rather Be as most enduring single of the year, while Ben Howard’s I Forgot Where We Were has debuted at No 1 in the album charts
Ben Howard: I Forget Where We Were review – a slow burn that finally takes off
The Brit award winner returns with an album of slowly building songs that, at their best, could give John Martyn a run for his money, writes Molloy Woodcraft
Ben Howard: I Forget Where We Were review – indie-folk singer finds his darker side
Ben Howard has hitherto seemed to be firmly at the mellow, safe end of indie-folk, but his new album goes to some intriguing new places, writes Michael Hann
July 2013
David Cameron's music playlist for G8 leaders revealed
Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Laura Mvula among the British acts that featured on 10-song gift for leaders at Northern Ireland summit
June 2013
Ben Howard – review
The 26-year-old Devonian who won two Brit awards is so ambivalent about the spotlight he plays this gig in the dark, writes Caroline Sullivan
