My Darling Clementine

What began as a side project of Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish—a heartfelt affair and tribute to the classic country duets of the 60s and 70s—has evolved into something bigger. My Darling Clementine has continued to establish itself over the years and has even dwarfed the solo careers of the two main actors.

In twelve years, they have released six critically acclaimed albums, a DVD collection and played over 800 concerts worldwide. Her numerous awards and awards have catapulted her to the forefront of the growing Americana scene.

Her debut album How Do You Plead?, produced by Neil Brockbank (Nick Lowe) and featuring some of the best musicians on London’s pub rock scene of the 70s, was instantly celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. Country Music People called it “The best British country album of all time.”

The success resulted in a US record deal and invitations to perform at the Americana Music Association in Nashville and at the SXSW in Austin in 2013. Their second album, The Reconciliation, produced by Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley), with guest appearances by Kinky Friedman and the Brodsky Quartet, further solidified their reputation. It was named “Album of the Month” by the New York Daily News and voted one of the Top 10 Country Albums of 2013 by Popmatters.

They then embarked on a unique project in collaboration with bestselling author and country fan Mark Billingham. The Other Half project combined a dark, noir-inspired story of murder, lust and revenge with eight songs by King and Dalgleish. It became an album, audiobook and stage show with contributions from actor David Morrissey and singer-songwriter Graham Parker. After 18 months on tour, including a successful performance at the Edinburgh Festival, they returned to the studio and recorded their fourth album Still Testifying.

It combines gospel, country and soul and has been highly praised by critics. Uncut wrote, “Where gospel, country and southern soul meet,” and No Depression praised “sublimen country soul.”

In 2019, they collaborated with keyboard virtuoso Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) to reinterpret Elvis Costello songs as duets. The result, Country Darkness, was first released as a vinyl EP series before being released as a full album in 2020. It hit the Americana charts in the UK and Europe and was celebrated by fans and critics alike. American songwriter called it “perfectly tuned.”

From 2021 to 2023, My Darling Clementine toured Costello’s songs intensely and integrated into their live performances. 2024 ended another busy year with the release of their sixth album of 11 new songs and extended tours of the UK, Europe, Ireland and Scandinavia, which they completed with a series of church concerts.

As Uncut aptly puts it: “King and Dal Gleish have earned their place in the ranks of the great country duetists.”

What began as a side project for Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish—a labor of love and a homage to the classic country duets of the 60s and 70s—has grown into something far bigger. My Darling Clementine has flourished over the years, to the extent that it has somewhat eclipsed the solo careers of its two principal artists.

In twelve years, they have released six critically acclaimed albums, a DVD collection, and performed over 800 shows worldwide. Their numerous accolades and awards have cemented their place at the forefront of the burgeoning Americana scene.

Their 2011 debut album, How Do You Plead?, produced by Neil Brockbank (Nick Lowe) and featuring some of London’s finest 70s pub rock musicians, was an immediate success on both sides of the Atlantic. Country Music People hailed it as “The greatest British country record ever made.”

The album's success led to a U.S. record deal and invitations to perform at the Americana Music Association in Nashville and SXSW in Austin in 2013. Their sophomore effort, The Reconciliation, produced by Colin Elliot (Richard Hawley), featured guest appearances from Kinky Friedman and The Brodsky Quartet. It further solidified their reputation, earning praise such as “Album of the Month” by New York Daily News and a spot in Popmatters’ Top 10 Country Albums of 2013.

Next, they embarked on a unique collaboration with best-selling crime author and country music fan Mark Billingham. The project, The Other Half, combined a dark, noir-inspired tale of murder, lust, and revenge with eight of King and Dalgleish’s songs. It became an album, audiobook, and stage show, featuring contributions from actor David Morrissey and singer-songwriter Graham Parker.

After touring the show for 18 months, including a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival, they returned to the studio for their fourth album, Still Testifying, a blend of gospel, country, and soul. Critics praised the new direction, with Uncut calling it “where gospel, country, and Southern soul happily collide,” and No Depression celebrating their "sublime country soul."

In 2019, before the pandemic, they collaborated with keyboard virtuoso Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) to reinterpret Elvis Costello songs as duets. The result, Country Darkness, was released as a series of vinyl EPs before becoming a full album in 2020. It charted on UK and European Americana charts and drew acclaim from fans and critics alike, with American Songwriter calling it “a perfect fit.”

From 2021 to 2023, My Darling Clementine toured extensively, incorporating Costello’s songs into their live set. In 2024, they wrapped another busy year with the release of their sixth album featuring 11 original songs and extensive tours across the UK, Europe, Ireland, and Scandinavia, closing with a series of shows in UK churches.

As Uncut aptly puts it: “King and Dalgleish have earned their place in the roll call of great country duettists.”