Come Bring The Sun

It’s the least I could do

Hello Dear Reader

I am trying an experiment today, and writing on my phone from the sofa. This feels decadent and careless. I could get used to it.

Last night I was in Hay-on-Wye, playing a solo set at How The Light Gets In. On the way there, Andy and I realised this was my fifth appearance at the festival, and every single time I have appeared, there has been a heatwave. When I mentioned this to Athena, our festival rep, she said ‘it must be because you have such a sunny personality!’ I could feel Andy silently raise an eyebrow as we walked to the stage, side by side.

‘Babe,’ I wanted to say to her, ‘if you actually knew me you wouldn’t be saying that.’

The drive into this glorious little town, nestled just at the edge of the Brecons, never fails to amaze and yesterday was no exception. Once again I was reminded that there is no place on earth I’d rather live than Great Britain in late spring. Any doubts I have about whether or not this is a benevolent universe are quickly dispelled any time I find myself hurtling through country lanes with jewel green hills either side of me. Sometimes it’s so beautiful it makes my eyes hurt; like they can’t keep looking at it anymore because they are full up, suffocating with wonder.

It was my first show of 2026, after almost six months of stage absence apart from a brief appearance at the QEH in March for a fundraiser. I would be lying if I said I have missed performing live because I was exhausted by the end of last year’s All Roads Lead To… tour and spent most of the winter feeling under the weather and very despondent. It was a heaviness I thought might not shift this time. I could not fathom if it was because my dog died and I missed her so much; or because I was unwell and had no energy for optimism. It’s a vicious cycle as I’m sure some of you well know.

But now that the clouds seem to be parting - both literally and metaphorically - I found last night an unexpected joy. I had fun, dear reader, for the first time in ages! Fun! Who knew? It is still possible!

And now, the big day is almost here. Exactly a week to go, in fact, and I am writing to you during a break from putting the final touches to new string arrangements. This is the week where it all comes together - 168 hours to be exact - to conjure magic.

A few days before, on May 29th, Fire Escape Symphonies - The Best of Nerina Pallot is released. Fitting that the new track on it, Come Bring The Sun, is released during a heatwave.

I was going to call this newsletter The Wedding Planner because sometimes that is what my life feels like, except that I am both planner and bridezilla. Anxiety, excitement, joy, melancholy, deflation, relief : all the old bedfellows will be there no doubt. But for a few hours next Sunday, come and escape with me.

Take off your shirt*, your worried face and let me lose your mind…

With love as ever,

Nerina xxxx

*Actually, please keep your shirt on in this instance as I don’t want security asking you to leave.