British singer-songwriter Bobby Long, who now makes his home in New York City, is set for a series of live appearances, beginning with a return to The Drake Hotel in Toronto on August 6. Long will follow the Toronto show with one on August 16 in his adopted neighborhood when he appears at Rough Trade in Brooklyn, New York. Joining him on that bill will be singer Dawn Landes.Long's live shows this year have been infrequent because he has been concentrating on writing new material for what will be his third album. Long, who first emerged by way of London's folk revival movement and a song he wrote that found its way onto the soundtrack of the first "Twilight" film, has built a strong international following for his poignant, finely-crafted songs. He has made two full-length albums along the way-the critically-acclaimed A WINTER TALE (2011), which paid homage to his acoustic roots, and last year's more rock-oriented WISHBONE, a harder edged showcase for his sorrow-filled vocals and stellar guitar-playing. He has succeeded handily, as stated in The New York Daily News: "He created songs with a blunt force, using melodies that engage and a voice that's rife with hunger."Long's upcoming shows will showcase some of the new songs he is planning to record. He recently launched a campaign on PledgeMusic (www.pledgemusic.com/bobbylong) to raise the funds necessary for the recording and is already nearing his goal amount. A consistently engaging performer, Long has toured extensively on his own and as the opener for such diverse artists as Steve Winwood, Iron and Wine, Brett Dennen and Rodrigo y Gabriela as well as appearing at the Bonnaroo, Bamboozle, Dave Matthews Band Caravan and Austin City Limits music festivals. Music Connection Magazine, in a review of his SRO show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles last summer, wrote: "While he is equally adept at singing and playing the guitar, perhaps his greatest asset is his authenticity. In a time when the airwaves are dominated by auto-tune and studio wizardry, Long's refreshingly organic sound hits listeners' ears like a breath of fresh air."
