Along with a duet of Wainwright’s own song “Factory,” off her self-titled 2005 debut album, the duo also performed a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”. Wainwright and Townshend have performed their own track a couple of times before, once in 2006 and again in 2007. For the latest rendition, Townshend took up guitar duties while Wainwright passionately sang through the verses. As they finished up the cover, Wainwright turned to the former Who guitarist to give a round of applause alongside the crowd. You can view the full performance below.

Mitchell’s 1969 ballad has been making its way back to the live circuit in the last few weeks, with the Canadian songstress herself performing the song at the Newport Folk Festival. It was a rare performance for Mitchell, given that she has been mostly retired from music since she suffered a brain aneurysm in 2015.

Meanwhile, Townshend’s most recent work includes a new single “Lay on, Take Off” and an Audible Original project, Somebody Saved Me. The project was the 29th in the platform’s “Words + Music” series that has previously featured the likes of Eddie Vedder, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tom Morello, James Taylor, and more. According to Billboard Townshend said, “it covers some material he’s discussed in the past, but that the opportunity to create a long-form podcast, in which he can weave his story in between poignant performances of some of his favourite solo songs, was what convinced him to participate.”

Last month, Wainwright released her highly anticipated memoir Stories I Might Regret Telling You, which found its way to The National Best Sellers list in just one week. In addition to the memoir, Martha released the digital deluxe edition of her latest album Love Will be Reborn on April 8th of this year. The five additional tracks featured on the deluxe edition are discussed in the memoir; these include four covers of songs written by members of her family, and a re-imagined version of the title track.

Speaking of the new tracks on the deluxe edition, Wainwright said, according to a recent press release: “Recorded at URSA in front of a small audience of friends, these are songs that I talk about in my memoir Stories I Might Regret Telling You. They relate to family and its complexity, as well as pain, feelings of loss, and ultimately forgiveness and acceptance. I have heard them my whole life and now I have the chance to sing them. Recorded in a live setting and in a very stripped down and exposed way, with my good friend and wonderful piano player Edwin de Goeij, we had only just learned to sing and play them and are exploring with the listener in the moment. A sometimes bumpy and emotional ride, these recordings are about the words and the meaning. The songs speak for themselves and they are songs of our time about modern family and some of the trials of life.”

Martha Wainwright is the daughter of renowned folk musicians Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, and is the sister of acclaimed singer and pianist Rufus Wainwright.

Wainwright’s most recent studio album Love Will Be Reborn was made during the pandemic, and was recorded in Montreal, Wainwright’s hometown. Wainwright will be returning to the UK this summer to play a run of eight shows across the country, including a stop at London’s Cadogan Hall on July 27th. You can purchase tickets for her UK tour here, and the dates are listed down below.

27/07/2022- Cadogan Hall- London
28/07- Bristol Beacon- Bristol
29/07- Quarterhouse- Folkestone
02/08- Snape Maltings Concert Hall
03/08- Storyhouse- Chester
05/08- Wickham Festival- Wickham
06/08- The Stables- Milton Keynes
07/08- Wylam Brewery- Newcastle

The video for “Middle Of The Lake” was filmed in Esterel, just outside Montreal. As per the press statement, the track “sets the stage for a record full of revelations – both light and dark – and chronicles Wainwright’s personal journey over the last few years as she finds a way to move forward after a painful divorce“.

Wainwright explained that the song has been “Inspired by a strange covid summer morning at a surreal lake house in the Laurentians when I was stuck in a canoe in the reeds alone and happy. I knew that I would be back on stage again singing at some point and that that was the thing that would save my life. On this song me and the band are dancing, moving and flying through the uncertainty, but then landing together safe and sound”.

The song is the first one on the record, but the last one written by the singer. Watch the video for “Middle Of The Lake” below.

The singer spoke recently about her painful divorce and depression that prevented her from composing new music. “This record is obviously a reflection on that, but also clearly a new beginning and a new era. And there’s a new relationship, which was very much unexpected and very different. And I never would have expected anything as romantic or as overwhelmingly powerful” she said in an interview with Pastemagazine. “I’m really relieved, also, becasue without that, the record would have been a lt darker, And depressing. And sort of … plaqued” – she continues.

Wainwright also shared that a lot of her songs are autobiographical and “a lot of them have to do with being worthy or accepted or loved (…) and motherhood too, of course“.

The singer will embark on a UK tour this Autumn. Full info about the dates, venues and tickets can be found in the recent Mxdwn article. Please note, as the London show has been sold out, an extra date has been added:

21/09/21 – Union Chapel – London

The new single “is a playful song that’s brimming with joy. The song serves as the emotional flip side to previous song “Falaise de Malaise”, a song steeped in despair and sadness, the storm to the sunshine” shares the press release. The last single was written and sung in ‘Franglais’ (a mix of English and French). The singer said at that time: “I’ve always sung in French (Piaf record and various covers..) but this is the first time I’ve allowed myself to compose in it”. 

Listen to and watch the video for “Hole In My Heart” below.

Like many records this year, Wainwright’s upcoming release has been produced during a global pandemic and recorded in the singer’s hometown, Montreal. Records were made in the basement of her cafe, which also serves as a studio.
The singer has recently been added to the Best Albums Of 2021 by HMV. She reached the Top 10 alongside Lorde, Jungle, Chvrches, Jake Bugg, Maisie Peters, Bleachers, Deafheaven, Jade Bird and Mr Jukes & Barney Artist.

Thanks @hmvtweets for including me on your Best Albums of August 2021 list! Very humbling company I’m here. See for yourself: https://t.co/Rq41RV3oqH

— Martha Wainwright (@WainBright) July 29, 2021

Martha Wainwright new album is out on 20th August and you can pre-order it here. The “Hole In My heart” single can be streamed here.

The singer will visit the UK this September and play few live shows. Tickets are available here.
See full dates below.
20/09/2020 – Union Chapel – London
23/09 – Cheese and Grain – Frome
24/09 – Leadmill – Sheffield
25/09 – Electric Palace – Bridport
26/09 – Tramshed – Cardiff
28/09 – Junction – Cambridge
29/09 – Town Hall – Birmingham
30/09 – De La Warr Pavillion – Bexhill
01/10 – Philamornic Hall – Liverpool

Martha explains in her press release how she challenged herself in trying something new for this new release: ““Falaise de Malaise” is a first for me! Not only is it in “Franglais” (a mix of English and French) but I’m actually playing the piano – which I don’t actually know how to do! I’ve been sitting at the piano for years trying to find a song for the simple piano part that my fingers could play. While doing this I thought, well might as well try writing in French too! I was able to tap into another version of myself – one that was dying to come out.”

She continues: “I’ve always sung in French (Piaf record and various covers..) but this is the first time I’ve allowed myself to compose in it. I’ve always watched others move to the music at the 88 keys but this time I sat down to play them myself. What came out was “Falaise de Malaise” – a dreamlike romp through a mythological landscape.”

“Love Will Be Reborn” was created during the forced worldwide pause created by the Coronavirus pandemic. It was recorded in the basement of her café Ursula, which served as a studio. She was helped by Toronto musicians Thom Gill, Phil Melanson, Morgan Moore and Josh Cole to perform in her band, and producer Pierre Marchand, best-known for his collaborations with Sarah McLachlan producing some of her iconic 90s songs.

Martha Wainwright will come to the UK this autumn for 9 unmissable shows, including the highly anticipated London show at the Union Chapel on September 20th. See the full list of dates below. Tickets can be purchased here.

20/09/2020 – Union Chapel – London
23/09 – Cheese and Grain – Frome
24/09 – Leadmill – Sheffield
25/09 – Electric Palace – Bridport
26/09 – Tramshed – Cardiff
28/09 – Junction – Cambridge
29/09 – Town Hall – Birmingham
30/09 – De La Warr Pavillion – Bexhill
01/10 – Philamornic Hall – Liverpool