MICHAEL BALL ANNOUNCES UK TOUR IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM GLOW

Released on April 24th, Glow is Michael’s twenty-third solo record and first full album of original, self-written material. Vintage was written by Michael, along with co-writers Amy Wadge and Zak Lloyd (who also produced the album) in a process Michael describes as “the happiest I’ve ever been in a studio.”

Having become a master interpreter of other people’s work, both on record and onstage, after his last album, 2021’s We Are More Than One, featured a half-and-half mix of covers and songs written with Wadge, Ball knew that Glow needed to be all original material as he found not only his voice as a songwriter, but he felt a strong desire to make a deeper connection with his audience.

“After writing some songs for the last record, I did think to myself, why didn’t I start doing this sooner?” admits Ball, explaining why he has not written a full album until now. “I guess when you’re working with lyricists like Stephen Sondheim, Don Black or Leslie Bricusse, you might be a little intimidated, but once I realised song writing is about connecting with people, I knew where I was going. I regret that I didn’t do it before, but at the same time it does feel right that it’s happening now, because I hope what I have to say, what I’ve learned through life, will resonate with people.”

Finding the right creative foils to nurture his ideas and songs was also a crucial part of his artistic evolution, Ball adds, as he created the new record without a label, taking full creative control of the whole project.

“The last in-person interview I did on the radio before everything got locked down in 2020 was with Amy Wadge,” recalls Ball of the serendipitous way their collaboration started. “She’s such an amazing writer. I remember when she came into the studio, I was playing an Alicia Keys song, and by chance it turned out she’d written it. Afterwards, I mentioned I’d always wanted to write, not thinking she would want to work with me, but she insisted we swap numbers. We just clicked instantly. So we wrote the songs for the last record remotely, then we toured together, and now she’s really my best mate. When I asked her if she thought we could do a whole album together, she immediately said yes and brought Zak in to help, and it just flowed. We just had this wonderful creative explosion. It was the biggest joy I’ve ever had in the process of making an album.”

The creative energy and assured song writing that ripples through Glow’s ten songs is immediately apparent, as whether drawing from personal experience, spinning stories or indulging in some unashamed love songs, Ball delivers vocals that are not just on a par with his finest performances, but surge with authentic lived experience and candid personality.

“I know I probably say this with every album I release, but Glow is the best thing I’ve ever done, it really is,” declares Ball. “It’s certainly the most personal, connected and relevant record I’ve ever made. It’s a body of work that will really stand up.”

“I’ve made 23 albums and done a lot of stage shows, so there’s such a wealth of material to choose from for the shows, but I think these songs are strong enough to stand among them,” suggests Ball. “I have a suspicion that the audience will be excited to see me doing them live. As I sing on Best Night Of Your Life, it’s all about the moment, and with Glow I think we’re really going to have a great one together.”

In addition to releasing his new album, Michael is also hitting the road with his Glow UK headline tour! Kicking off in Cambridge on 26th August, he’ll dazzle audiences in Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Nottingham, Bournemouth, and more, before a show-stopping performance at The London Palladium on 1st October.

Michael Ball is Britain’s leading musical theatre star, a double Olivier Award-winning, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum recording artist and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter. For over 40 years he has been at the top of his game, starring in musical theatre productions in the West End and on Broadway, winning critical acclaim, a devoted following and awards for his stage work and recording career.

TOUR DATES 2026

September

October

Tickets are now on sale

www.michaelball.co.uk