Bobby Long

Bobby Long

Bobby Long is a British singer-songwriter whose work is largely acoustic and rooted in folk. He is born Robert Thomas Long in Wigan, United Kingdom, and grows up in Calne, Wiltshire after moving there at the age of four. He later lives in New York City, and his music remains closely associated with his Wigan background.

Early recordings and breakthrough

Long records the 10-song collection Dirty Pond Songs in his London bedroom, with traffic noise audible on the recordings. The track “Left to Lie” becomes an iTunes favourite, reaches the top of the site’s Unsigned chart, and peaks at number 8 on the Folk Music chart. He also releases “The Bounty of Mary Jane” from the same collection, along with a live version of “Being a Mockingbird” recorded at Arlene’s Grocery in New York City.

He tours with The Dangerous Summer until the end of 2009, giving around 80 performances, and then takes the “Left to Lie” tour of Europe in early 2010. Around the same period, he begins recording his first studio album with producer Liam Watson at Toe Rag Studios in London.

ATO Records and A Winter Tale

Long signs to ATO Records in April 2010. The label is co-founded by Dave Matthews and is home to artists including Radiohead, David Gray, Ben Kweller and Liz Phair. ATO releases his debut album, A Winter Tale, in 2011.

He also releases a live collection drawn from the 2009 Dangerous Summer tour; “My Darling Belle” from that collection reaches number 2 on iTunes’ Singer-Songwriter chart.

Touring and live appearances

During 2010, Long tours with Matt Pond PA and meets the Kalob Griffin Band, also known as KGB, who become his backing band for later U.S. dates that year. With them, he appears at Mile High Festival in Denver, xPoNential Music Festival in Philadelphia, and the Troubadour in Los Angeles. He also plays a solo European tour in the autumn and North American dates supporting Michael Franti.

In 2011 he continues promoting A Winter Tale with a North American tour and appears on The Tonight Show and The Early Show. He performs at Bonnaroo Music Festival on the Cafe Stage, appears on the Dave Matthews Band Caravan line-up in Atlantic City and Chicago, and plays the BMI stage at Austin City Limits Music Festival. In July 2011 he releases the live EP The Backing Singer, produced by Jesse Lauter, and later that year begins The Losing My Brotherhood Tour across Canada, the United States and Europe.

Writing and later work

In 2012 Long begins recording his second album with producer Ted Hutt. He appears on the Cayamo Cruise in February, starts a weekly home-recorded “song of the week” series, and spends much of April supporting Rodrigo y Gabriela before opening for Iron & Wine. He also supports Steve Winwood on tour, releases his first book of poetry, Losing My Brotherhood, and later gives readings and performances linked to the book, including an event at Barnes & Noble in Los Angeles.

After Hurricane Sandy, he donates his 1965 Epiphone Cabellero guitar to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund and later performs at the benefit A Love Letter to New York alongside Joan Osborne, Matisyahu and others.