Catherine Anne Davies, recording as The Anchoress, follows an acclaimed third album with a London headline date and a nostalgic synth-led single that uses Pete Townshend’s vintage synthesisers.
The song blends nostalgic themes of adolescent memory with synth textures, partly created on Pete Townshend’s vintage synthesisers.
The album reached Number 1 on the Official Scottish Album Chart and features guests including Hannah Peel, Gwenno, James Dean Bradfield and Eaves Wilder.
# Overview
# What the single sounds like
A lyric video and visualiser directed by JJ Eringa accompanies the single. The visual places Davies amid old cassette tapes, visually connecting the music to the physical material that inspired the album's writing.
# Live plans and recent tour activity
Davies will perform at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, on Saturday, October 9, 2027. This London date follows a run of spring 2027 live dates where she performed with her band, including festivals and club shows listed for April 2027.
Her recent live activity also included a performance at London's 100 Club, which she completed despite having broken her wrist and undergoing surgery that left her with metal plates.
# About the album As We Once Were
As We Once Were is Davies' third studio album. It was released on August 7 via Last Night From Glasgow and received widespread critical acclaim on release. Chart positions cited include Number 1 on the Official Scottish Album Chart and Number 6 on both the Official Album Sales Chart and the Physical Albums Chart.
The album is self-produced by Davies at Black Lodge and was mixed by Dave Eringa and Mikko Gordon, then mastered by Jon Astley. Guest vocalists on the record include Hannah Peel, Gwenno, long-time collaborator James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers, and Eaves Wilder.
Davies has described the record as a conversation across four generations of women. The album's creative catalysts included access to Pete Townshend's vintage synths, the birth of her first child, and the discovery of her grandmother's voice on a cassette tape found in her mother's loft.
# Formats and availability
As We Once Were is available in multiple physical formats: 2LP etched leopard print vinyl, gatefold CD, deluxe 2CD mediabook and a limited edition cassette. The single "As We Once Were" is scheduled for release on October 2, 2026.
# What to expect at Queen Elizabeth Hall
# Practical details
Headline show: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London
Single release date: October 2, 2026 Album release: August 7, 2026 (Last Night From Glasgow)
# Snapshot
The announcement pairs a new single rooted in personal memory and synth-based production with a high-profile London headline date. The record's use of historic synth instruments and found family recordings frames the album's themes and contributed to its chart success.
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