A SINGER-songwriter says it will be emotional for him to play his first concert back in the Bradford district for five years.

Andy Ruddy is set to perform at the Caroline Social Club in Saltaire next month as part of a 11-date national tour for his album which has seen him collaborate with another artist.

The Queensbury-born singer, now based in London, has teamed up with Serious Child, otherwise known as West Sussex-based roots musician Alan Young, on the project.

The performance at The Live Room - Caroline Social Club on Thursday, September 2, is the second date of their national tour and is the day before their album, Talk About The Weather is released.

 

They will perform on the night alongside British singer-songwriter Kirsty McGee and will play across the UK including London, Glasgow and Edinburgh during their tour.

It will be a particularly emotional occasion for now London-based Ruddy as he plays a homecoming gig.

The venue is also special to him as he played there during the early stages of his music career in 2014.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Ruddy, 31, said: "These will be my first gigs back after the pandemic. I'm sure it will be super special.

"It's an important gig for me. Playing a homecoming gig is special for me. It's a little bit emotional. I'm looking forward to it.

"There will be quite a special atmosphere there after the last 18 months.

"I'm always up and down to Bradford recording stuff with friends, when there aren't any restrictions.

"I've not played in Bradford for five years, I live in London now and it takes years to make an album.

"Serious Child is a folk artist. I'm a pop-folk artist and our album is an amalgamation of our two styles.

 

"I played at the Caroline Club in 2014 when my first EP was out. I was emailing venues to get gigs.

"They gave me a chance and a listen. They took a chance on me at the time. I was not a big name, or anything like that at the time.

"The Caroline Club is run by people who are massive music fans, they put the music first.

"People seem keen for live music now. People have an appetite for it again."

Their album looks at a range of topics including rejecting celebrity-obsessed culture, catfishing, and how people of all ages avoid talking about their feelings.

Ruddy has stayed true to his Bradford roots during his music career. Last year he teamed up with David 'Nova' Nowakowski, of Bradford band Scars on 45, on a Bradford City-inspired song.

'Heaven 17th' remembers City's survival during their first season in the Premier League in 1999-2000 following a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Valley Parade on May 14, 2000.

Ruddy later revealed on Twitter that the song became his highest-ever chart success online.

They also worked together to provide music for the series finale of The Syndicate on BBC One in May this year.

'Faultlines' featured over the end scene and into the credits of the Kay Mellor-penned programme.