Mike and The Mechanics are returning with their eighth studio album this Spring entitled 'Let Me Fly', which comes following a 32-date tour across the UK beginning this weekend. The album features songs the likes of 'Are You Ready' and 'The Living Years'.

Mike RutherfordMike Rutherford hits the road with Mike and The Mechanics

Former Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford formed Mike and The Mechanics back in 1985, and they're still going strong with an exciting new 12-track project and a series of dates around the UK over February and March. 'Let Me Fly' started to take form in 2011 when the band were touring their previous album 'The Road'.

Aiding Mike in his new venture was producer Brian Rawling and songwriter Clark Datchler, with whom he started working in 2015. 'We sat down together and from day one it worked', Mike recalled. 'Clark's a proper writer and he brought something new. I'd send him lines and he'd bring them to life. We never had a slow day.'

He also collaborated with Fraser T. Smith and Ed Drewett, but they went in a very different direction in terms of recording. They simply shared and built on a series of demos. 'You don't go into studios any more: doing it this way feels like you're working on the good bits all the time, but the songs really have to deliver', said Mike.

For Mike, a lot of 'Let Me Fly' was about building confidence within himself when it came down to songwriting. 'The hardest part of the whole process is staying relevant, but anyone who says success doesn't matter is a liar: what you really want is people to like it', he mused. 'Then you feel it's all been worth it.'

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Mike and The Mechanics will embark on their UK tour on Saturday (February 11th 2017), where they'll play at the Mandela Hall in Belfast. The tour will conclude with a performance at Salisbury's City Hall on March 28th. They are also set to support Phil Collins at British Summer Time at Hyde Park in June.

'Let Me Fly' will be released on April 7th via BMG recordings.

Tour Dates:
February 11 - Mandela Hall, Belfast
February 12 - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
February 14 - Opera House, Buxton
February 15 - Sage, Gateshead
February 17 - Barbican, York
February 19 - Sands Centre, Carlisle
February 20 - Venue Cymru, Llandudno
February 21 - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
February 23 - De Montfort Hall, Leicester
February 24 - Royal Centre, Nottingham
February 25 - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
February 27 - Victoria Hall, Hanley
February 28 - G Live, Guildford
March 1 - Colston Hall, Bristol
March 3 - Pavilions, Plymouth
March 4 - St David's Hall, Cardiff
March 5 - New Theatre, Oxford
March 7 - Hexagon, Reading
March 8 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge
March 9 - Regent Theatre, Ipswich
March 11 - Cliffs Pavillion, Southend
March 13 - Dome, Brighton
March 15 - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
March 17 - Concert Hall, Perth
March 18 - His Majesty's , Aberdeen
March 19 - Festival Hall, Edinburgh
March 21 - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
March 22 - City Hall, Sheffield
March 24 - Pavilion, Bournemouth
March 25 - Guildhall, Portsmouth
March 26 - Royal Albert Hall, London
March 28 - City Hall, Salisbury