Jamie Webster releases his fourth album and says 'Everybody's Gotta Love'

Following his stellar rise from cult folk hero to an arena-filling indie songsmith with three Top Ten albums to his name, Jamie Webster celebrates his new era of reflection, sonic adventure and fresh dedication to his fans by releasing his fourth studio long-player, Running Round The Sun – OUT NOW on Modern Sky. Forever honest and permanently on point in tackling universal themes of hope, struggle and renewal, Webster marks the occasion with new visuals for Everybody’s Gotta Love, a song about personal struggle and embracing the bad times to be able to savour the good.

Never more at home than on stage, Webster reconnects with his loyal community of fans over 13 UK-wide dates, opening tomorrow night (Sat 5 September) at Southampton’s The 1865. Moving on to appear at landmark venues including London’s The Garage and Manchester’s Academy, limited remaining tickets can be booked via links at www.jamiewebstermusic.com

Announcing the completion of his new album back in spring, coinciding with the release of Just Begun, a single that spoke volumes about the artist’s defiance in the face of music industry headwinds, Webster opened the door to new body of work, riven with advance lyrical depth and an ever-broadening sonic palette. Recorded with care at Rockfield Studios, Webster’s summer singles, Small Town Life, Turning Point and the recent release of Ode To Me And You confirmed to listeners that the singer-songwriter had reached a watershed moment, a time to demonstrate his artistry, reflecting on his successes while refocusing on the person he really is, both within and beyond the world of music.

Taking the chance to join listeners on their journey through Running Round The Sun on the day of release himself, Webster offers the following, up front and personal track-by-track guide:

1. Ode to Me and You (Listen) - “When you're stood in front of a crowd and everyone's singing your songs back to you, nothing else really matters. That's what ‘Ode to Me and You’ is about. It's a celebration of the journey my fans and I have been on together. They've given me a career, and hopefully I've given them songs that have become part of their lives. Songs at weddings, songs that got them through difficult times. When I'm feeling beaten black and blue, I remember the road we've travelled together, and that always helps.”

2. Modern Living Symphony (Listen) – “I'd been listening to a lot of Springsteen, particularly ‘Nebraska’. It's such a simple record in some ways, just a few chords and a story. That inspired me. This is about ordinary people who keep going, keep working, and try to make an honest life for themselves. That's most people I know. At the same time, there are places around the world where people are literally stepping over bodies in the street. That's the contrast modern life often presents.”

3. Small Town Life (Listen) – “This is inspired by touring to places that can seem bleak at first glance but then come alive on a Friday night when everyone is out together. The song isn't me telling those people's stories from the outside, it's written from within that world. It's the perspective of someone living there. There is a sense of community running through it. Looking after each other, standing together, backing one another. Not because life is perfect, but because it's real. It's about the beauty you can find in ordinary places and ordinary lives. It's blood, sweat, tears, pints, football, friendships and families. It's life as most people actually live it.”

4. Wherever You Are (Listen) – “I was supposed to tour America with The Mary Wallopers, but when that fell through, I decided to use the trip to record instead. I've always been fascinated by New York. For all its flaws, it's a city full of character, and there's something about the Liverpool-New York connection that has always appealed to me. We recorded with local musicians in Brooklyn, and the song really came to life there. At its heart, it's a universal song. It's about reminding people that they're not alone. We've all been through difficult times, and we can help each other through them.”

5. Just Begun (Listen) – “This song feels like a bridge back to where it all started. It's a nod to ‘We Get By’ but written six years further down the road. Life changes. The world changes. You change. But at the heart of it, I'm still the same person. It’s about staying true to yourself through all of those changes. There's also an element of defiance in it. Where people in the industry have questioned me, I've looked at what we've achieved independently and thought, "How can anyone doubt this?"

6. Turning Point (Listen) – “This is one of the most personal songs on the record. It's about recognising the difference between your good days and your bad days and understanding that somewhere between them is a moment where things can begin to change. Whether that's a turning point in a day, a week, a year, or your entire life, we've all experienced it. It's that moment when you decide to change your perspective, alter your habits, or start moving in a different direction. Progress comes through persistence, through routine, through looking after yourself physically and mentally.”

7. Breadline (Listen) - “The first half of the song is about someone who's coming through a hard time. They've got no work, they just lost a relative, they've got no hope and they're on the breadline. And then in the second verse, they find hope, finding a bit of work and maybe the chance to turn their life around. I've written it through someone’s eyes who is in that situation. It's about the character that I'm telling the story for.”

8. 241 Tuesday (Listen) – “It's a character piece about a volatile relationship—two people who are lost, unsettled, and stuck in a cycle they can't seem to escape. We've all seen couples like that. They spend their lives bouncing between arguments and reconciliations, chaos and affection. They're addicted to the drama as much as they are to each other. What interests me isn't judging them. It's understanding how people end up there. It's one of the most honest recordings on the album. Despite sounding big, it's actually very stripped back. It's mostly four musicians in a room playing together and capturing a moment.”

9. Everybody's Gotta Love (Listen) – “This song came from a period where I was struggling, questioning myself and questioning where I was heading. I'd spent years being different versions of myself for different situations. My mum always taught me to rise to your audience, and that's something I've carried with me. But after a while, if you're not careful, you can lose sight of who you actually are. This is about sitting with those doubts and asking difficult questions about your future. Then it becomes a reminder that what really matters is family, friends, relationships and community.”

10. King Of Queens (Listen) – “I gave this one to the band, saying ‘you do whatever you want to do with that’ while I went off to deal with the rest of the song. It took on the flavour of Supergrass, but also a bit of Van Morrison. It’s quite an emotional vocal, there are breaks in my voice, but I wanted it to say that way. It’s my wife’s song. All the lines, like about bringing light to my green eyes, are obvious references to me, her and us. It couldn’t be about anyone else.”

11. Across The River (Listen) - “It’s a song that collective joy, inspired by a chat with a mate about what elements of our existence can be truly universal. The title comes from the feeling of looking across at the other side, wondering whether the grass is greener. Could we get to the other side and really be alive? Perhaps above all, this is a direct address to the fans that have stuck by me, our collective joy. We’ve been on this ride together, we’ll always remember it and we’ll always be together.”

12. VAT (Listen) – “I was sitting in my studio, trying to make sense of everything that was happening around us. Sometimes songwriting starts like that. You're trying to untangle your own thoughts, and somewhere in the process a song begins to emerge. It’s about people getting away with it while we’re paying price, becoming collateral damage for other people’s decisions. Why can’t people be honest with us? Pay the price? Musically it's very simple: guitar, piano, choir, and a beautiful contribution on backing vocals from Rianne Downey.”

Released on multiple formats including standard and special edition vinyl, CD and digital, Running Round The Sun follows Webster’s most recent, UK Top Five album, 2024’s 10 For The People. His previous two albums, the UK Top Ten and Folk Chart No.1 debut album, We Get By quickly became a modern classic on release in 2020, while 2022’s Moments accompanied his rise to arena-filling status and established him as firm festival main stage favourite.

Returning to playing indoors after a summer of outdoor appearances, including Kendal Calling and Ottowa Blues Fest, Webster adds two further dates, in Sheffield and Bristol, to his intimate acoustic and meet and greet tour, running through November and December. Including those additions, all scheduled UK, US and Australia Running Round The Sun tour dates and acoustic appearances are as follows:

• Sat 5 Sep - Southampton, The 1865 *
• Mon 7 Sep - Cardiff, Students Union *
• Wed 9 Sep - London, The Garage *
• Thu 10 Sep - Birmingham, O2 Institute 1 *
• Fri 11 Sep - Manchester, Academy 1 *
• Sun 13 Sep - Leicester, O2 Academy *
• Thu 17 Sep – Lincoln, Engine Shed *
• Fri 18 Sep - Hull, University Union
• Sat 19 Sep - Newcastle, NX **
• Mon 21 Sep - Dundee, Live House
• Tue 22 Sep - Glasgow, O2 Academy
• Wed 23 Sep - Carlisle, The Old Fire Station
• Fri 25 Sep - Isle of Man, Villa Marina Royal Hall
• Mon 12 Oct - Toronto, The Drake
• Thu 15 Oct - Boston, The Rockwell
• Sat 17 Oct - New York, Mercury Lounge
• Mon 2 Nov - Aberdeen, Assai
• Tue 3 Nov - Edinburgh, Assai
• Wed 4 Nov - Nantwich, The Crown
• Fri 6 Nov - Marlborough, Sound Knowledge
• Sun 8 Nov - Nottingham, Rough Trade
• Mon 9 Nov - Brighton, Resident
• Thu 12 Nov - Southampton, Vinilo
• Fri 13 Nov - Oxford, Truck
• Sat 14 Nov - Coventry, Just Dropped In
• Mon 16 Nov – Sheffield, Bear Tree Records
• Sat 21 Nov - Bury, Wax and Beans
• Sun 22 Nov - Huddersfield, Vinyl Tap
• Mon 23 Nov - Leeds, Vinyl Whistle
• Wed 2 Dec - Bristol, Rough Trade
• Thu 10 Dec - Brisbane, The Triffid
• Fri 11 Dec - Sydney, Paddo RSL
• Sat 12 Dec - Melbourne, Max Watts

* M60 support