NEWS
Martha Wainwright celebrates 20th anniversary of self-titled debut album
04 March 2025
Twenty years ago, Martha Wainwright stepped out of her family’s illustrious shadow and announced herself to the world with her stunning debut album ‘Martha Wainwright’. Featuring ‘Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole’, a song about her father, ‘Factory’ and ‘When The Day Is Short’, it immediately proved she was a major talent to be reckoned with.
On May 23rd, [PIAS] will release this album on vinyl for the very first time.
This classic debut will also be released on CD and digital with extra tracks and a bonus disc that features 14 rarities and alternate versions.
Gems include ‘Bring Back My Heart’ featuring Rufus Wainwright, the never before released ‘Our Love’ with Kate & Anna McGarrigle and ‘Far Away’ featuring the late, great Garth Hudson.
“In the years before my first album was released, I was doing my own version of ‘artist development’ – playing a lot of gigs and going into the studio to make demos,” Martha remembers. “I got to New York City in 1998. It was a magical blur of fun and discovery, meeting musicians, playing and seeing shows and going into the studio. Hopping from bar to bar in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.”
“These are some of the recordings that came out of that time,” Martha says of the bonus material. “Some were released as EPs that I would sell at shows but others have never been released. These are the ones that best reflect that time and the wild eclecticism I’ve always had, for better or worse, as an artist.”
To support the release, Martha will play eighteen shows this summer including two in London: the already sold out Union Chapel May 30th and Cadogan Hall August 30th.
Vinyl Track list:
1. Far Away
2. G.P.T.
3. Factory
4. These Flowers
5. Ball & Chain
6. Don’t Forget
7. This Life
8. When the Day is Short
9. Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
10. TV Show
11. The Maker
12. Who Was I Kidding
DIGITAL / CD Track list:
DISC 1 - 20th Anniversary Release
1. Far Away
2. G.P.T.
3. Factory
4. These Flowers
5. Ball & Chain
6. Don’t Forget
7. This Life
8. When the Day is Short
9. Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
10. TV Show
11. The Maker
12. Who Was I Kidding
13. Whither Must I Wander
14. Bring Back My Heart (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
15. Baby
16. Dis, Quand Reviendras-Tu?
DISC 2 - OUTLIERS
1. Can You Hear Me *
2. The Sex Song *
3. The Dead *
4. Factory #2 *
5. Our Love *
6. Far Away (w/ Garth) *
7. Pretty Good Day
8. The Car Song
9. It's Over
10. I Will Internalize
11. Bye Bye Blackbird
12. New York, New York, New York
13. When the Day is Short (Demo) *
14. Year of the Dragon
*never before released
“20 years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released,” Martha recalls. “In many ways that record defined me, as well as launched me into a now over 20 year long career that has made me who I am. It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love, practising, writing, singing until I could barely sing anymore, partying, playing with musicians and listening to great artists, working with my ex-husband in the studio for 2 years, all that created this first record.”
“20 years later, with 6 other albums under my belt, 2 kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say my first record paved my way forward. On March 21st we will release the record on vinyl for the first time ever as well as digitally release unheard songs, outtakes and early material from that 10 year period of discovery that led to my first record. There will be a tour with a few great musicians, where I’ll play the record in its entirety as well as a few new songs- there’s no 48 year old me with the 28 year old me.”
Martha Wainwright plays the following dates next year.
May 2025
Tue 27th Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
Wed 28th Stroud, Subscription Rooms
Thu 29th Worthing, Pavilion Theatre
Fri 30th London, Union Chapel SOLD OUT
Sat 31st Manchester, New Century Hall
June 2025
Sun 1st Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall
Tue 3rd Sunderland, The Fire Station
Wed 4th Edinburgh, The Queens Hall
Fri 6th Belfast, Mandela Hall
Sat 7th Dublin, The Button Factory
Sun 8th Galway, Folk Festival
Mon 9th Cork, Opera House
August 2025
Sun 24th Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Mon 25th Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Wed 27th Pocklington, All Saints Church
Thu 28th Sheffield, The Foundry
Fri 29th Dover, Booking Hall
Sat 30th London, Cadogan Hall
On May 23rd, [PIAS] will release this album on vinyl for the very first time.
This classic debut will also be released on CD and digital with extra tracks and a bonus disc that features 14 rarities and alternate versions.
Gems include ‘Bring Back My Heart’ featuring Rufus Wainwright, the never before released ‘Our Love’ with Kate & Anna McGarrigle and ‘Far Away’ featuring the late, great Garth Hudson.
“In the years before my first album was released, I was doing my own version of ‘artist development’ – playing a lot of gigs and going into the studio to make demos,” Martha remembers. “I got to New York City in 1998. It was a magical blur of fun and discovery, meeting musicians, playing and seeing shows and going into the studio. Hopping from bar to bar in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.”
“These are some of the recordings that came out of that time,” Martha says of the bonus material. “Some were released as EPs that I would sell at shows but others have never been released. These are the ones that best reflect that time and the wild eclecticism I’ve always had, for better or worse, as an artist.”
To support the release, Martha will play eighteen shows this summer including two in London: the already sold out Union Chapel May 30th and Cadogan Hall August 30th.
Vinyl Track list:
1. Far Away
2. G.P.T.
3. Factory
4. These Flowers
5. Ball & Chain
6. Don’t Forget
7. This Life
8. When the Day is Short
9. Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
10. TV Show
11. The Maker
12. Who Was I Kidding
DIGITAL / CD Track list:
DISC 1 - 20th Anniversary Release
1. Far Away
2. G.P.T.
3. Factory
4. These Flowers
5. Ball & Chain
6. Don’t Forget
7. This Life
8. When the Day is Short
9. Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
10. TV Show
11. The Maker
12. Who Was I Kidding
13. Whither Must I Wander
14. Bring Back My Heart (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
15. Baby
16. Dis, Quand Reviendras-Tu?
DISC 2 - OUTLIERS
1. Can You Hear Me *
2. The Sex Song *
3. The Dead *
4. Factory #2 *
5. Our Love *
6. Far Away (w/ Garth) *
7. Pretty Good Day
8. The Car Song
9. It's Over
10. I Will Internalize
11. Bye Bye Blackbird
12. New York, New York, New York
13. When the Day is Short (Demo) *
14. Year of the Dragon
*never before released
“20 years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released,” Martha recalls. “In many ways that record defined me, as well as launched me into a now over 20 year long career that has made me who I am. It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love, practising, writing, singing until I could barely sing anymore, partying, playing with musicians and listening to great artists, working with my ex-husband in the studio for 2 years, all that created this first record.”
“20 years later, with 6 other albums under my belt, 2 kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say my first record paved my way forward. On March 21st we will release the record on vinyl for the first time ever as well as digitally release unheard songs, outtakes and early material from that 10 year period of discovery that led to my first record. There will be a tour with a few great musicians, where I’ll play the record in its entirety as well as a few new songs- there’s no 48 year old me with the 28 year old me.”
Martha Wainwright plays the following dates next year.
May 2025
Tue 27th Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
Wed 28th Stroud, Subscription Rooms
Thu 29th Worthing, Pavilion Theatre
Fri 30th London, Union Chapel SOLD OUT
Sat 31st Manchester, New Century Hall
June 2025
Sun 1st Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall
Tue 3rd Sunderland, The Fire Station
Wed 4th Edinburgh, The Queens Hall
Fri 6th Belfast, Mandela Hall
Sat 7th Dublin, The Button Factory
Sun 8th Galway, Folk Festival
Mon 9th Cork, Opera House
August 2025
Sun 24th Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Mon 25th Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Folk Festival
Wed 27th Pocklington, All Saints Church
Thu 28th Sheffield, The Foundry
Fri 29th Dover, Booking Hall
