Bobby Long’s ‘Winter Tale’

Bobby Long’s journey from an obscure London-based singer / songwriter to filling nightclubs and theatres has been one of the more unusual tales to surface in the past few years.

Long’s rootsy voice coupled with mature lyrics and finely honed melodies began attracting a following with the release of Dirty Pond Songs, the DIY EP he recorded in his bedroom. But it was when a tune he co-wrote with Marcus Foster – “Let Me Sign” – was picked up for the “Twilight” motion picture that things really took off, resulting in packed clubs and an ever-growing rep as an artist to watch.

Two years later, Long, now living in New York City, is preparing for another run in the U.S., this time having a bona fide studio album to support. A Winter Tale, produced by Grammy Award-winning Liam Watson, drops Feb. 1 on ATO Records. A five-song EP, Stranger Songs, consisting of three tracks from A Winter Tale plus a couple of bonus tunes, was released in November and quickly sold out its initial pressing. A second pressing will be released for the holidays.

Despite all the songs and discs he’s already sold, Long told Pollstar in September that he considers his upcoming studio album to be his first official release.

“I don’t view (previous releases) as anything, really,” Long said. “I definitely don’t view them as releases. They weren’t sold online, just at my shows. I guess I view them as little EPs or collections of songs. They’re my bread-and-butter and help pay for my food and transportation.”

Long and his band begin the tour in Vancouver, B.C., at the Media Club Jan. 28. Other engagements include Seattle’s Tractor Tavern Jan. 29; Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge Jan. 31; San Francisco at Café Du Nord Feb. 2; West Hollywood at the Troubadour Feb. 3 and San Diego at Anthology Feb. 4. Other towns on the routing include Tucson (Feb. 5), St. Louis (Feb. 12) Minneapolis (Feb. 15), Chicago (Feb. 18), Toronto (Feb. 22) Boston (Feb. 26) and New York March 3.

A second leg is in the planning stages and will include shows in Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Nashville and Cincinnati. Long will also play SxSW in Austin in March.

For more information, click here for Bobby Long’s MySpace page, here for his website and here for his Pollstar interview.