Music Career

Damian has played the classical guitar since he was 13-years-old. Quickly though, suspecting that he might be the “Second Elvis,” he graduated to the steel string acoustic so that he could sing Elvis in the mirror without fear of interruption. Busking in London and continental Europe through his early twenties, the rent money started coming in from acting and the guitar was parked up as a hobby until the time of CoVid lockdown and quarantine. The busking experience has stayed with Damian ever since and is reflected in his debut album.

Meeting with various London-based musicians, including Giacomo Smith, Damian wrote songs and found himself in the recording studio cutting tracks that will be released on his debut album titled, “Mission Creep.” The album will be out June 16, 2023. His band of five with jazz roots has a bluesy sound and the album is described as a thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock and jazz-tinged songs that reveal a deep love of music and a deep need to communicate. Damian said,

 “I wanted the album to give a sense of a journey to this point, from busking ’til now.”

Damian Lewis Music on Social Media

VEVO YouTube Channel
Damian Lewis Radio on Spotify
Instagram Account
Facebook Page
TikTok Videos
Twitter Feed

BAND MERCH and MUSIC STORES

Damian Lewis Music Store (UK) here
Damian Lewis Music Store (US) here
‘Down on the Bowery’ single from Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon here
‘Zaragoza’ single from Pandora, Tidal, Spotify, Apple, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon here
‘Makin’ Plans’ single from Napster, Pandora, Tidal, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and more here

TOUR DATES

2022
Omeara Club – August 4, 2022 – London
Wilderness Festival – August 7, 2022 – Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
The Tabernacle – November 20, 2022 – London

2023
World Economic Forum – January 16-20, 2023 – Davos, Switzerland
Hoxton Hall – March 3, 2023 – Hackney
Cheltenham Jazz Festival – April 26-May 1, 2023 – Montpellier Gardens
Black Deer Festival – Friday, June 16, 2023 – Eridge Park, Kent. Tickets here.
Rough Trade East Live + Signing – June 19, 2023 – Old Truman Brewery, 150 Brick Lane, London. Tickets here.
Union Chapel – July 11, 2023 – Islington, London. Tickets from Union ChapelAlt Tickets or Stereo Board

MANAGER:

Steve Abbott, Manager – Harmonic Artists
Victoria Bastable, Artists Management Team – Harmonic Artists – victoria@harmonicartists.com

PROMOTIONS:

DHP Family
Neil O’Brien Entertainment

CURRENT BAND MEMBERS:

Damian Lewis – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard
Dave Archer / Billy Adamson – acoustic and electric guitar
Joe Webb – piano/keyboard
Giacomo Smith – producer and woodwind instruments – alto sax, tenor sax and clarinet
Will Sach – bass
Will Cleasby – drums
Kitty Liv (Durham) – backing vox, guitar, harmonica and background vocals

Photo Credit: Damian Lewis. L to R: Joe Webb, Will Sach, Billy Adamson and Giacomo Smith 

RECORD LABEL

Decca Records (UMO) – ©2023 Thin Red Duke Ltd, exclusive license to Universal Music Operations Limited
Tom Lewis, Co-President of Decca Label Group
Jenni Champion, Senior Campaign Manager at Decca Records/Universal Music Group, London
Lyndsy Coates, Audience Manager at Decca Records/Universal Music Group, London
Signing announcement here

Damian pictured with Tom Lewis of Decca Records

ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Album Title: Mission Creep (release date June 16, 2023), pre-order here

Recorded and mixed at Durham Sound Studios, UK
Mastered at The Exchange Mastering Studios, UK
Publishing – ℗ 2023 Thin Red Duke, Ltd.
Photography – Rhys Frampton
Artwork – Charlie Drinkwater, Drinkwater Studios

Photography: Rhys Frampton. Artist: Charlie Drinkwater, Drinkwater Studios

TRACKLISTING: 

SIDE A:
1. DOWN ON THE BOWERY
2. SOHO TANGO
3. HOLE IN MY ROOF
4. HARVEST MOON
5. MY LITTLE ONE
6. SHE COMES

SIDE B:
1. AFTER MIDNIGHT
2. ZARAGOZA
3. NEVER JUDGE A MAN BY HIS UMBRELLA
4. WANNA GROW OLD IN PARIS
5. MAKIN’ PLANS
6. WHY?
Bonus Track on CD and digital downloads (US/UK): SUCH A NIGHT

Photography: Rhys Frampton. Artist: Charlie Drinkwater, Drinkwater Studios

SINGLES

Photography: Rhys Frampton. Artist: Charlie Drinkwater, Drinkwater Studios

First Single: Down on the Bowery (released April 13, 2023)

Listening and download options here. Written by Damian Lewis and produced by Giacomo Smith.

Busking in New York – Down on the Bowery

Second Single: Zaragoza (released April 28, 2023)

Listening and download options here. Written by Damian Lewis and produced by Giacomo Smith.

Busking in New York – Zaragoza

Third Single: Makin’ Plans (released May 19, 2023)

Listening and download options here. Written by Damian Lewis and produced by Giacomo Smith.

Live at Hoxton Hall Clip – Makin’ Plans

OTHER RELEASES

Special Double Release: Zaragoza and Never Judge a Man by His Umbrella (released April 22, 2023)

7-inch record format, 45 RPM, with an A and B side (flip-side) of music recordings ‘Zaragoza’ and ‘Never Judge A Man By His Umbrella.’ This special release was for Record Store Day 2023 only. Any remaining copies will be available for online purchase beginning at 8:00 p.m. BST on Monday April 24, 2023 from Townsend Music online record store or Rough Trade.

IN THE RECORDING STUDIO and ALBUM ARTWORK

Recording Studio Photoshoot and Album Artwork Gallery here

Official Music Videos

‘Down on the Bowery’ official video – shot at Brooklyn Bowl in New York
Behind the scenes photos from the video shoot here

‘Zaragoza’ official video – shot live at Hoxton Hall in London

‘Makin’ Plans’ official video – shot live at Hoxton Hall in London

REVIEWS and ARTICLES

“Real flair” — The Times ★★★★
“Full-blooded, passionate, richly musical” —Daily Telegraph ★★★★
Damian Lewis Unveils Live Dates and Details News of Debut Solo Album – Implurnt
Tufnell Park-er Damian Lewis Flexing his Musical Muscles – Camden New Journal
Damian Lewis, Omeara, Review: Passionate Debut From Actor Turned Pop Star – The Telegraph 
Damian Lewis Review: Screen Star Celebrates a Mellow Musical Hinterland – The Times
Damian Lewis Rocked His First Gig at Omeara London – FanFunWithDamianLewis
EFG London Jazz Festival Review – The Times
Cheltenham Jazz Festival Review – Building Our Own Nashville
Cheltenham Jazz Festival Review – Jazz Journal
Editors’ Choice – JAZZIZ

GIGS

Omeara London, Thursday, August 4, 2022
Omeara London Gallery here

Special guest at his Omeara gig was the wonderful vocalist and Tomorrow’s Warrior alumnus Cherise, who has worked with Kurt Elling and Gregory Porter.

Wilderness Festival, Sunday, August 7, 2022
Wilderness Festival Gallery here

London Jazz Festival: The Tabernacle London, Sunday, November 20, 2022
The Tabernacle London Gallery here

With special guest Hattie Whitehead

World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 16-20, 2023
The WEF Gallery here

Hoxton Hall, Friday, March 3, 2023
The Hoxton Hall Gallery here

With special guest Amelie Watson

Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Monday, May1, 2023
Cheltenham Jazz Festival Gallery here

Black Deer Festival, Friday, June 16, 2023
Tickets here
Black Deer Festival Gallery pending

Rough Trade East – Live (stripped back) + Signing, Monday, June 19, 2023
Tickets here
Rough Trade Gallery pending

Union Chapel, Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Tickets from Union Chapel or Alt Tickets or Stereo Board
Union Chapel Gallery pending

Photography: Rhys Frampton. Artist: Charlie Drinkwater, Drinkwater Studios

PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

Song: “Such A Night” – Damian performing the Dr. John classic with Kansas Smitty’s Supersize Band, recorded Febraury 23, 2021 from Kansas Smitty’s headquarters in East London. Giacomo Smith and Alec Harper on Alto, Camilla George on Tenor, Dylan Jones on Trumpet, Dave Archer on Guitar, Kit Downes on Keyboard, Joe Webb on Piano, Ferg Ireland on Bass and Jas Kayser and Will Cleasby on Drums.

Song: “Little One” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Never Judge a Man by His Umbrella” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Makin’ Plans” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Why” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Zaragoza” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Soho Tango” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Hole in My Roof” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Down on the Bowery” – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Little Trip to Heaven” by Tom Waits – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “After Midnight” by JJ Cale/Eric Clapton – Omeara London Performance, August 4, 2022

Song: “Little One” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “She Comes” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Soho Tango” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Never Judge a Man by His Umbrella” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Zaragoza” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Little One” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Makin’ Plans” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Song: “Little Trip to Heaven” – Tabernacle London Performance, November 20, 2022

Introductions – World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 16-20, 2023

Song: “Zaragoza” – World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 16-20, 2023

Song: “Zaragoza” – Hoxton Hall, Hackney Performance, March 3, 2023

Song: “My Little One” – Hoxton Hall, Hackney Performance, March 3, 2023

Song: “Makin’ Plans” – Hoxton Hall, Hackney Performance, March 3, 2023

Song: “Why?” – Hoxton Hall, Hackney Performance, March 3, 2023

Song: “Werewolves of London” – Cheltenham Jazz Festival, May 1, 2023