Withered HandWithered Hand; the musical project of Edinburgh-based visual artist Dan Willson.

Withered Hand is the musical project of Edinburgh-based visual artist Dan Willson. Live and on record, Dan may be accompanied by any or all of the following: Hannah Shepherd (cello); Neil Pennycook (banjo); Alun Thomas (drums); Faith Nicholson; Jo Foster; Chris Bryant; and Bart Owl.

Withered Hand have made three records. Their Religious Songs EP was recorded at home by Neil Pennycook and released through SL Records and Bear Scotland in 2008. You’re Not Alone is a solo EP, recorded by King Creosote and released through Fence Records and SL in spring 2009. Good News is the band’s first album – it was funded by the Scottish Arts Council and mixed by cult American producer Kramer (Low / Galaxie 500 / Daniel Johnston), and was released by SL Records on September 14th 2009.

Withered Hand have been privileged to play alongside many incredible artists, including Jeffrey Lewis, Calvin Johnson, Little Wings and Malcolm Middleton. They have twice played Fence Records’ magnificent Homegame Festival, played at both the last ever Triptych Festival and the inaugural Tennents Mutual, and during the Edinburgh Festival this year performed on The Edge and at all-day DIY extravaganza Retreat.

In 2009, Withered Hand have recorded two radio sessions: with Marc Riley, on BBC 6Music, and with Vic Galloway, on BBC Radio Scotland.

Last updated in November 2009

Withered Hand recorded a great session for the Marc Riley Show on BBC 6music

You can listen to the whole show on the BBC Website or download the session from Peeko's blog

posted Friday 20th August. File under save listen to 6 music

King Creosote, Pictish Trail and Adem's cover of Withered Hand's "No Cigarettes"

Withered Hand - "No Cigarettes"

posted Wednesday 17th March. Filed under epee

There's been a rash of Withered Hand covers recently, the mighty eagleowl has recorded a version of 'I Am Nothing', King Creosote has been playing 'No Cigarettes' and Enfant Bastard's done a glorious version of 'Song For The Maudlin' which you can hear on his myspace. And we've found more versions popping up online - I came across this rather nice version of 'Religious Songs' by Lovers Turn To Monsters - drop us an email if you come across any more and we'll post links up here.

We're collecting a nice selection of Withered Hand remixes. Swimmer One have been twiddling the knobs for B-side of the new Withered Hand single 'No Cigarettes' which will be out in March (more details soon) and the Wonderful Wowl! have created a grand version of 'New Dawn' (with the "Hey's" included!) - have a listen below.

Wowl! vs Withered Hand - "New Dawn"

more details: The new virtual single from Withered Hand "No Cigarettes" will be available to download from your favourite download site from 29th March. The b-side is Swimmer One's take on "Love In The Time Of Ecstacy". You can download it NOW from here

Withered Hand - "Love In The Time of Ecstacy (Swimmer One Remix)"

posted Tuesday 23rd Feb. Updated Tuesday 2nd March. File under Dread Hen Whit

• Thursday 1st April

  Slaughtered Lamb, London

  Electroacoustic Club present King Creosote and His One Man Band plus Withered Hand

  Doors 7:30 £12.50 adv

  More info Electroacoustic Club Website

• Monday 5th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Bibelot, DORDRECHT

• Tuesday 6th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Cafe Video, GHENT

• Wednesday 7th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  D:qliq, LUXEMBOURG

• Thursday 9th - Saturday 10th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Motel Mozaique Festival, ROTTERDAM

• Sunday 11th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Cafe Mokka, THUN

• Monday 12th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Sonderbar, FELDKIRCH

• Tuesday 13th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Scherbe, GRAZ

• Wednesday 14th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Chelsea, VIENNA

• Friday 16th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  E-werk, ERLANGEN

• Saturday 17th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Glashaus, BERLIN

• Sunday 18th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Hafenklang, HAMBURG

• Sunday 19th April

  with Benni Hemm Hemm

  Kulturbunker, COLOGNE

• Thursday 6th May

  Eat Your Own Ears presents

  Woodpigeon, Laura Gibson and Withered Hand

  Union Chapel, London

  Doors 7:30 £11 adv

  More info Eat Your Own Ears website

• Tuesday 17th August

  The Edge

  Withered Hand

  Electric Circus, Edinburgh

• Thursday 19th August

  BBC 6 Music

  Withered Hand live session on Marc Riley

• Friday 20th August

  Fence Records' Haarfest

  FOUND, Withered Hand and Meursault

  Cellardyke Town Hall

• Saturday 28th August - Sunday 29th August

  Pilrig St. Paul's,Leith Walk, Edinburgh

  RETREAT! III festival

  Saturday 28th August: eagleowl - 7VWWVW - Wounded Knee - Skeleton Bob - FOUND - Jesus h. Foxx - Withered Hand - Enfant Bastard

  Sunday 29th August: Benni Hemm Hemm - Conquering Animal Sound - The Wee Rogue - Rob St John - The Douglas Firs - Milk - Meursault - The Leg

  plus film screenings, record stalls, book stalls, and food!

  Music: 2.30pm – 11pm

  plus free download featuring all the bands playing at www.retreatfestival.co.uk

Last updated 11 August 2010

• 

  Withered Hand

  Good News

  Album

  Download Now Buy CD more info

  On this impressive debut Dan Willson’s alter ego attains the celestial lustre of that holy grail of lapsed evangelical folk nouveau, the first Palace Brothers album. Ben Thompson, Mojo

  Tracklisting:

  1. 1 - Providence
  2. 2 - Cornflake
  3. 3 - Love In The Time Of Ecstacy
  4. 4 - Joy
  5. 5 - New Dawn
  6. 6 - Religious Songs
  7. 7 - No Cigarettes
  8. 8 - I Am Nothing
  9. 9 - Hard On
  10. 10 - For The Maudlin
• 

  Withered Hand

  You're Not Alone

  EP

  Download Now Buy CD Listen more info

  Gorgeous, and a must for modern folk fans The Skinny

  Tracklisting:

  1. 1 - No Cigarettes
  2. 2 - Oldsmobile Car
  3. 3 - Big Ten Four (Paul's Song)
  4. 4 - R U Courageous
• 

  Withered Hand

  Religious Songs

  EP

  Download Now Buy CD Listen

  You know how some people, especially old-fashioned people, hang their carpets on clotheslines and then beat all the dust out of them? Or how some people knock their snowy boots against the side of the car before getting in? Here's Edinburgh's Withered Hand using mandolin, guitar, cello and his voice to shake all the dust from him, all the stray feelings, all the loose longings; so that at end of song he'll be just a body and the light in his eyes. It's a song beautiful and full. Said the Gramaphone

  Tracklisting:

  1. 1 - Religious Songs
  2. 2 - New Dawn
  3. 3 - Takeaway Food
  4. 4 - I Am Nothing