Wow, how time flies – d’ya’know that it’s been two years since the last drop of Dream Team Double Header? How the heck did that happen? So long, in fact, that some readers, the newer ones (hi!) or the less attentive older ones (hi!), may not be familiar with the concept. Here’s how it goes – handy old Songkick fires off an email with a list of upcoming artists of interest, it names two or three in the header, and if you squint (or are easily amused), it looks like they are playing a double-header gig. And sometimes the contrast looks unlikely or, possibly, really desirable, and then, if I’ve nothing better to do, we get a bit of me waffling on, followed by a track from each artist. It’s a hoot. No, really, it is a hoot.
So what might connect Emma Swift and The Dears, and who’s on first? Well, having scrabbled around for a bit trying to come up with a connection and…nothing. Not a sausage. Not a shared interest in Dylan, no Robyn Hitchcock connection to both – nothing. And maybe that is what would make them such a fine compare and contrast because they feel like they should have something in common, and by sharing a stage, they would have something in common. Ok, that’s the incredibly weak reason, so who’s going on first? We’re thinking Emma Swift and, despite her having a new album out (“The Resurrection Game“), let’s selfishly go for a reprise of “Blonde on the Tracks” for the opening half of the gig.
And then, to balance that out nicely, how about a set from The Dears (who also have a new album, “Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!”, coming out November 7th) featuring some of their more ironic songs? Like the ever topical ‘I’m Sorry That I Wished You Dead‘. That’d be cool, and it makes a complete sentence with the previous song, which is nice.
Emma Swift Tour Dates
Oct 20th, London, UK, Troubadour
The Dears Tour Dates
Feb 17th 2026 Kings Heath, UK, Hare & Hounds
Feb 18th 2026 London, UK, Oslo
Feb 19th 2026 Cambridge, UK, Portland Arms
Feb 20th 2026 Manchester, UK, Night & Day
Feb 21st 2026 Glasgow, UK, The Hug & Pint
Feb 22nd 2026 Leeds, UK, The Attic Leeds
