Damian Lewis has announced two live shows as he prepares to release his debut album, which was recorded following the death of his wife Helen McCrory last year.
The 51-year-old Homeland star, who is better known for his acting, has turned to music in recent months and is expected to release an album’s worth of self-penned material in 2023.
He will be previewing tracks from the forthcoming LP throughout the summer, with an intimate warm-up show expected to take place at London’s Omeara on August 4th, followed by a performance at Oxford’s Wilderness Festival on August 7th.
Coming soon: Damian Lewis has announced two live shows as he prepares to release his debut album, which was recorded following the death of his wife Helen McCrory last year
Lewis, who has played classical guitar professionally since he was 12, admitted he can’t wait to perform the material in front of a live audience.
He said in a press release confirming the two dates, “I’m excited to get out there and play the songs I wrote and recorded for my debut album. Be good to be back on stage, this time with a guitar in my hand.’
Before he found fame as an actor, Lewis cruised the streets of London with an acoustic guitar and still plays the instrument as a pastime.
A statement accompanying the new album reads: “Meeting with various London-based musicians, including Giocomo Smith, Lewis was writing songs and found himself in the recording studio editing the tracks to be released on his yet untitled debut album in the New will be year.’
New focus: Lewis turned to music following the death of Helen in April 2021 aged 52. The actress had privately fought cancer
Heartbroken: Damian revealed the Peaky Blinders star had passed away in April 2021 after a ‘heroic’ battle with cancer
Lewis previously revealed he was considering recording music, but admitted he had to be “pushed out of his comfort zone” beforehand.
Six weeks before Ms Helen’s tragic death from cancer on April 16, 2021, Damian told the Out to Lunch podcast he was “too cowardly” to make music because acting is his main “discipline”.
The actor revealed he got in touch with music manager Steve Abbott after picking up his guitar again during lockdown and the pair decided to make fun music together for the past eight months, with others getting involved too .
Going steady: The actor recently confirmed a new romance with American musician Alison Mosshart (pictured)
Ring finger: Damian still wears his wedding ring, more than a year after Helen’s death
He explained, “We’ve put a few songs together and there’s talk of trying to record some tracks in a recording studio… to see if there’s something there that people want to hear.
“When it comes to creative decisions like this, I’m cautious. Of course they’ll be queuing up to take shots while I stick my head over the parapet, because nobody’s easier target than an actor who thinks he can be a little like a musician.
“But I don’t want to go off and be a big jazz star, pop star or rock star. i am an actor I want to stay in my discipline. But for me, this is something of incredible value.
“It’s so much fun and what we’re not doing well in this country is that we don’t cross-pollinate the different arts and that’s a huge shame.”
He added: “I’m too cowardly to get too much out of my comfort zone… I need a little nudge or nudge and reassure myself that what we’re all doing together is worth it.”
The actor recently confirmed a new affair with American musician Alison Mosshart, formerly a founding member of indie band The Kills with Kate Moss’ ex-husband Jamie Hince.
Achievement: Alison formed the band in 2000 with British guitarist Jamie Hince for which she would become best known – The Kills (pictured with Jamie in June 2022)
Their relationship begins 14 months after he was devastated by Helen’s death aged 52 after a secret battle with breast cancer. They had been married since 2007.
The couple met through friends while hanging out in London and have grown fond of each other, Alison’s mother Vivian, 76, revealed.
Speaking exclusively to from her Florida home, Vivian, 76, said: “I don’t know how much flak I’m going to get for all this but of course we’re happy for them.
“They have friends in common. I don’t know exactly how they met, but I’m okay with that. If she’s happy, we’re happy. I have yet to meet him, but I would definitely like to do it.’