| Back with a new album 2024
The son of a Scottish mother and an English father, he began playing in various bands at the age of 16. He moved between rock, punk, pop and world music with his music, working as a singer, bass player and cellist until he finally became a member of the Oysterband in 1988.
He toured 27 countries with the band and recorded 19 albums. In 2012, he won three awards with the Oysterband at the BBC Radio Folk Awards: Best Group, Best Album and Best Traditional Song. The band was also named one of the 3 icons of folk by fRoots magazine. After the release of his CD "Tales of Love, War and Death by Hanging" in 2010, Cooper began touring solo.
He plays at large folk festivals as well as in small halls and folk clubs. There are also regular so-called house concerts and purely acoustic performances. With his second solo album "Palace Of Tears", Ray Cooper finally committed himself to the venerable singer/songwriter tradition by focusing on his own lyrics and compositions. Cooper, a Swede by choice for several years now, draws some of his lyrics from Scandinavian sources and makes use of cello, guitar, harmonica, mandolin and piano.
Ray Cooper's new album, which he has been working on for two years, will be released in April 2024 this year. All the songs strive for emotional depth and reflect his world view, be it nostalgia, anger or pure romance. The folk influences are still there, but mixed with many other styles, including hints of Americana and even rap. The album features three duets with different singers and although Ray plays most of the instruments himself again, the album also features some guest artists; on drums, piano, violin, Swedish nyckelharpa and a brass section. The album was recorded in Sweden, with additional overdubs in Berlin, Hamburg and Brighton.
Further information at: https://www.raycooper.org/
New single at: https://youtu.be/hFQ081DRbOo
Tickets are available at the Stralsund Tourist Office, online via Reservix and at the box office.
