Top USA rockers The War on Drugs play Eden Sessions
They were joined by special guest Beth Orton
American rock sensations The War On Drugs were the latest acclaimed act to take to the Eden Sessions stage over the weekend.
The War On Drugs, led by Adam Granduciel, make records that wrestle a fractured past into a unified and engrossing present. Their music has been described as “a roots-soaked-synth-and-guitar approach to American rock and roll.”
The New Yorker called them “the best American ‘rock’ band of this decade” in support of their album, A Deeper Understanding, for which they won the 2018 Grammy for Best Rock Album and were nominated for a BRIT Award for International Group of the Year.
They released LIVE DRUGS in 2020, featuring live interpretations of songs throughout their career, including off their 2014 breakthrough, Lost In The Dream.
Their fifth studio album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, co-produced by Granduciel and Shawn Everett, landed on numerous 2021 best albums of the year lists and garnered a second BRIT Award nomination.
In an odyssey that lasted about three years, I Don’t Live Here Anymore was made in New York City and Los Angeles from 2018 through the early part of 2021, and included stopovers at iconic studios such as Electric Lady in Greenwich Village and Electro-Vox in Hollywood. The band headlined Madison Square Garden in support of its release.
The War on Drugs was joined by special guest Beth Orton. Beth rose to prominence in the 1990s with memorable collaborations with William Orbit, Red Snapper and The Chemical Brothers before striking out on her own with a series of acclaimed, award-winning solo releases.
The Norfolk-born performer pioneered the synthesis of electronic and acoustic sounds in her 1996 debut album, Trailer Park, which received two BRIT Award nominations and features the UK Top 40 single She Cries Your Name.
Her stunning new album, Weather Alive, was created with nothing more than her unique and expressive voice and a “beaten-up old piano” in a shed in her garden.
The performance marks Beth’s return to the Eden Sessions, having previously performed in 2002 alongside Spiritualized.
The War on Drugs and Beth Orton at Eden Sessions in pictures:
The War on Drugs at Eden Sessions 2023
Last night's event (18 June) follows shows from international superstar Lionel Richie and viral rock sensation YUNGBLUD.
There's still more to come, including performances from American singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, the iconic Pet Shop Boy and legendary rock band The Who.
You can find more information on the Eden Sessions here.