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“There are household names that wish they were as good as him” – Neil McCormick, Daily Telegraph
“A strong sense of melody meets old fashioned song craft” – Paul Sexton, Bob Harris Country Show
A trip to Nashville surrounded by the music that soundtracked his life in Cheshire results in Northern country musician Rob Wheeler’s upcoming new album Leave Tomorrow.
With two well-received albums under his belt, UK Northern country artist Rob Wheeler announces his latest record Leave Tomorrow, which will be released on 6th June 2025. These songs were written during a four-month stint in Nashville, Tennessee, a collaborative effort with a multitude of acclaimed musicians, among them Grammy-nominated songwriters Jeff Trott, Steve Dorff and Frank Liddell. Having grown up in a small town in England’s grey North West, becoming obsessed with The Beatles and learning the songs of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and The Eagles on guitar as a means of escape, Leave Tomorrow is a full-circle moment for Rob Wheeler, bringing his worlds of UK and American music together.
‘Growing up in the North West of England, Nashville represented to me what I imagine Hollywood represents to aspiring actors. A mythical land that seems both untouchable and utterly irresistible.
‘My American heroes sang about cowboys and horses, desperados and drifters; but I write and sing about what I see from my own window and how it feels from my point of view.‘ – Rob Wheeler
The title track opens the album to set the tone – ‘I say we leave tomorrow, and we don’t come back again…‘ – it’s an earnest and heartfelt track which Rob explains is about ‘escaping the life you’re told you’re supposed to have.‘ This fittingly leads into ‘My Nashville Song‘, opening with the roar of an aeroplane and a smooth slide guitar as the musician goes on to accept where he’s from, but is defiant in the face of the naysayers there.
The album consistently portrays a theme of hope, one often explored in country music as its open-stringed guitar chords and soaring choruses allow huge emotions to shine through. With ‘I’m Not Afraid to Fall‘, it’s a grandiose tune, feeling cinematic as it builds to an exquisitely-layered chorus and sounding ready-made for a road trip with the windows down. A great example of his self-described ‘Northern Country’ is the gentle ‘Throw a Little Light My Way‘ – here it’s just Rob’s impassioned vocals, a guitar and stirring strings expressing the desperation of escaping the grey doldrums and hope for the road ahead.
Then on the spirited yet self-deprecating ‘Why Whisky Why?‘ Rob drinks with his demons, with the weariness of a regular drinker who’ll be having another one soon enough. Also conveying unease is ‘Warning‘, taking aim at someone who’s wronged him and he’s letting them know: ‘You’re danger, you’re wicked, you’re poison… You should come with a warning.‘
Rob understands how to use a strong melody and lyrics to tell a story with several layers. There’s the striking and swelling ‘Whisper‘, the slow sway of ‘Something About Your Eyes‘, and the moving ‘Goodbye Summer‘, described by Rob as ‘a moving farewell to lost youth and the changing seasons of age‘.
Of the album, Rob says that in some ways, it’s about ‘overcoming the fear of not being good enough and realising what being good enough actually means‘, something he knows from experience given his turbulent background. Yet with the expansive ‘When You Can’t Let Go‘ building from an acoustic-led intro into a full-blown ballad (and featuring the vocals of Marla Cannon-Goodman), his songwriting abilities prove that his strengths lie in songcraft, and absolutely are worthy of being seen as more than ‘good enough’. This runs home with the closing track ‘Mount Juliet‘, a stunning ode to the Nashville suburb, written almost as a letter to his struggling younger self as he tells him to hold on for what lies ahead.
While forthright and transparent in its musicianship, Leave Tomorrow displays depths waiting to be uncovered, exploring profound themes of life, hidden meanings, and thought-provoking ideas. ‘This record is not just driving and whisky and break ups,’ explains Rob. ‘Every song is for the listener to discover in their own way. It’s the Hemingway iceberg theory – the deeper meanings are not always evident at the surface.‘
Bio:
Raised by a single mum in Cheshire, Rob Wheeler‘s journey as an artist began with music college, leading to life on the road with several touring bands and a publishing deal as an in-studio co-writer with a Staffordshire producer. However, an incurable medical diagnosis which meant he could never have children led him down a path of self-destruction, involving depression, addiction and a breakdown. Thankfully, a lot of therapy and support from loved ones helped him return to his one true love of music, and it’s only been up ever since.
Rob’s debut album A Little Ghost Full of Songs came out in 2018, leading to global publishing and label deals. The follow-up Ten Embers was produced during the pandemic, on which he collaborated with many Nashville session musicians. This led to him being encouraged to make the journey to the Tennessee city, but not before he was signed by Bucks Music Group in an exclusive worldwide songwriting agreement, with their head of sync Jonathan Tester commenting, ‘rather than following fashion or trying to appease a scene, Rob’s approach to songwriting is to grab a guitar and pour his heart out. His drive and commitment to his craft is incredible.’
Rob has also announced some UK tour dates with support from special guest Hughzy, tickets available HERE.
June 11 – Green Note, London (Camden)
June 12 – The Arena, Crewe
June 14 – Listening Room, Glasgow (Coatbridge)
June 15 – Kazimier Stockroom, Liverpool
June 17 – Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, Pendle
June 19 – Railway Inn, Winchester
ALL SOCIAL LINKS FOR ROB WHEELER CAN BE FOUND ON HIS LINKTREE.
