Name: Grant-Lee Phillips at The Common Room
Start: 2026-01-17T19:30:00+00:00
Location: The Common Room of the Great North

This year, Grant-Lee Phillips will release his 12th solo album, the self-produced In the Hour of Dust. It’s a
work that doesn’t shy away from the big themes of contemporary life. “The mood on this album is
contemplative,” says Phillips, “trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through
the blinding dust of unreality.” In the Hour of Dust is also a highly intimate affair; both in its musical
presentation and the highly personal – often autobiographical – lyrics in the songs, all set, the
songwriter admits, “against this larger discordant backdrop.” Audiences first discovered Phillips'
thoughtful, literate songwriting in context of the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, a trio which found success
with the 1993 debut Fuzzy. The title track catapulted the group to international recognition. Grant Lee
Buffalo followed up Fuzzy with 1994's Mighty Joe Moon (an album featuring the modern rock hit
"Mockingbirds") etching a distinct mark, while transcending the era. Beginning with his 2000 solo
debut Ladies' Love Oracle, Phillips opened another chapter in his career, as a folk- and Americana-
focused artist crafting songs and stories rich with details and humanity. At this precise moment, Phillips
was invited to join the cast of a burgeoning television series. The Gilmore Girls would enjoy lasting
syndication and multi-generational embrace, introducing Phillips, “the Town Troubadour” to a new
audience. Phillips is often on the road, performing to eager fans throughout the US and overseas. With
the release of In the Hour of Dust in September 2025, concert dates are planned for the U.S., UK, Europe
and other regions to follow. Look for Grant-Lee Phillips on tour in your area, performing songs from his
new album, In the Hour of Dust, along with favorites from throughout his long career. Reflects Phillips “I
don't see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really. It’s all about recognizing the
value of connection in a disconnected time.”