Editing Ed Harcourt (section)

==Career==
Harcourt was born Edward Henry Richard Harcourt-Smith on 14 August 1977, in [[Wimbledon, London]], England.<sup>[[Ed Harcourt#cite note-AMG-1|[1]]]</sup> The youngest of three, Harcourt is the son of Maj. Charles Harcourt-Smith of the [[Life Guards (United Kingdom)|Life Guards]] and also a former diplomat,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cYAKPntbPi4C|title=Writing at the Kitchen Table: The Authorized Biography of Elizabeth David|last=Cooper|first=Artemis|date=16 June 2011|publisher=Faber & Faber|isbn=9780571279777|pages=75|language=en}}</ref> and his wife Sabrina, an art historian. Ed began to study piano at the age of nine and achieved [[ABRSM#Graded music exams|grade 8]] when he was 17.<ref name=":2" /> He declined the offer to study music, citing "the idea of having to analyze, dissect and everything [of one piece of music] would completely destroy any enjoyment".<ref name=":2" />

Before going solo, Harcourt played the bass and keyboards for Snug, a band formed at school in the mid-1990s by Harcourt, James Deane, Ed Groves and Johnny Lewsley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/snugtheband |title=Snug on MySpace |publisher=Myspace.com |access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> The band recorded two albums and a handful of singles together before dissolving.

In 2000, Harcourt recorded his debut mini-album ''[[Maplewood EP]]'' straight to a [[multitrack recording|4-track recorder]] at Wootton Manor.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/jan/11/artsfeatures4|title=Ed Harcourt – The Guardian interview|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|date=12 June 2002|work=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> After signing with [[Heavenly Records]] and releasing ''Maplewood'' in November 2000, Harcourt recorded his debut studio album ''[[Here Be Monsters]]'' with producers [[Gil Norton]] and [[Death in Vegas|Tim Holmes]].<ref name="Guardian"/> The album was released in June 2001, and charted on the [[UK Albums Chart]] at No. 84.<ref name="UK">{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title=Ed Harcourt |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=8 June 2010}}</ref> One month after its release, the album was nominated for the 2001 [[Mercury Prize]].<ref name="BBC"/> He later described the period as "very strange for me, I was naive, I knew nothing. I was used to making music in my room, so it felt very odd being on stage".<ref name=":0" /> In the US he signed with [[Capitol Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freewilliamsburg.com/july_2002/harcourt.html|title=Ed Harcourt|last=Laurence|first=Alexander|date=July 2002|website=Freewilliamsburg.com|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>

Following the non-album single release of the [[Brian Wilson]] cover "[[Still I Dream of It]]" in October 2002, Harcourt recorded and released his second album ''[[From Every Sphere]]'' in February 2003. The album became his highest-charting release in the UK, peaking at No. 39.<ref name="UK"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/9929/ed-harcourt/|title=Ed Harcourt {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> The album also performed moderately well across Europe, peaking at No. 6 in Sweden,<ref name="SWE">{{cite web |url=http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ed+Harcourt |title=Discography Ed Harcourt |publisher=swedishcharts.com |access-date=8 June 2010}}</ref> No. 25 in Norway,<ref name="NOR">{{cite web |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ed+Harcourt |title=Discography Ed Harcourt |publisher=norwegiancharts.com |access-date=8 June 2010}}</ref> and No. 103 in France.<ref name="FRA">{{cite web |url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ed+Harcourt |title=Discographie Ed Harcourt |publisher=lescharts.com |access-date=8 June 2010 |language=fr}}</ref> ''From Every Sphere'' also yielded his highest-charting single to date, "All of Your Days Will Be Blessed", at No. 35.<ref name="UK"/> A second single, "Watching the Sun Come Up", was less successful, peaking at No. 79.<ref name="UK"/> After a steady schedule of tour dates in the UK, Harcourt's third album, ''[[Strangers (Ed Harcourt album)|Strangers]]'', was released in September 2004. The album peaked at No. 57 in the UK and at No. 7 in Sweden, and produced the singles "This One's for You", "Born in the '70s", and "Loneliness."<ref name="UK"/><ref name="SWE"/>

Through 2005 Harcourt played some live dates with a side-project he called ''Wild Boar''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/4136/ed-harcourt-introduces-new-band |title=Ed Harcourt Introduces New Band |publisher=gigwise.com |access-date=27 November 2010}}</ref> In August 2005, the B-sides and rarities compilation ''[[Elephant's Graveyard]]'' was released as a [[music download|digital download]]. In the same year he performed at the annual [[Meltdown (festival)|Meltdown Festival]] in London, supporting the [[The Brian Jonestown Massacre|Brian Jonestown Massacre]] and joining the curator [[Patti Smith]] for a rendition of "[[Pissing in a River]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Article/3631/Patti-Smith-and-Steve-Earle|title=Patti Smith and Steve Earle - Royal Festival Hall, London, 19/6/2005|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> He was also part of the ensemble that performed the William Blake inspired [[Songs of Innocence and of Experience|Songs of Innocence]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/22/popandrock2|title=Songs of Innocence|last=Heawood|first=Sophie|date=22 June 2005|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Harcourt's fourth album ''[[The Beautiful Lie (album)|The Beautiful Lie]]'' was released in June 2006 to generally favourable reviews,<ref>{{Citation|title=The Beautiful Lie by Ed Harcourt|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-beautiful-lie/ed-harcourt|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> with [[Allmusic]] describing the album as "an invigorating and frequently gorgeous affair, essential for old fans and a good place to start for newcomers."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r840700|title=The Beautiful Lie - Ed Harcourt {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> The album was not as successful on the UK charts, peaking at No. 97. ''The Beautiful Lie'' was co-produced with [[Jari Haapalainen]], and features contributions from [[The Magic Numbers]], who sing backing vocals on "Revolution in the Heart"; [[Graham Coxon]], who plays guitar on first single "Visit from the Dead Dog"; and Ed's wife Gita, who plays violin throughout and sings duet vocals on the track "Braille". He later described the release as "the bête noire of the albums".<ref name=":2" />

Harcourt recorded several tracks with the French [[jazz]] trumpeter [[Erik Truffaz]] for the album ''Arkhangelsk'', released in early 2007. He also performed live with Truffaz's group to promote the album. In October 2007, Harcourt released the compilation album ''[[Until Tomorrow Then: The Best of Ed Harcourt]]'', collecting material from the first seven years of his recording career.<ref name=":0" /> With the release he completed his obligations with Heavenly/EMI and the contract was not renewed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/ed-harcourt-i-always-make-music-i-write-all-the-time-i-cant-do-anything-else-2009520.html|title=Ed Harcourt - 'I always make music, I write all the time. I can't do anything else'|last=Bray|first=Elisa|date=24 June 2010|website=independent.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> As a consequence he stepped away from his solo career as he was "really bored and sick of myself and my music. I had tried for seven years to make it and break into the mainstream and it didn't happen".<ref name=":2" />

In 2009, Harcourt signed with [[Dovecote Records]] in the United States to release ''The Beautiful Lie'' stateside, as well as his new EP ''[[Russian Roulette (Ed Harcourt EP)|Russian Roulette]]'' which appeared in May of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.districtlines.com/12871-Russian-Roulette-EP-Music/Dovecote-Records |title=Russian Roulette EP Music – Dovecote Records Music – Online Store |publisher=Districtlines.com |access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> Also in 2009, Harcourt composed the original music for the soundtrack to the ''[[Donnie Darko]]'' sequel ''[[S. Darko]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1231277/fullcredits|title=S. Darko (2009) |website=IMDb.com|access-date=18 September 2020}}</ref> In early 2010, he wrote a song called "Isabel" for the [[SOS Children's Villages]] Emergency Relief Fund in [[Haiti]].<ref>[http://www.supernanas.org/haiti/ Supernanas.org – Haiti Relief] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314034818/http://www.supernanas.org/haiti/ |date=14 March 2010 }}</ref>

Harcourt's fifth studio album ''[[Lustre (Ed Harcourt album)|Lustre]]'' was released on 14 June 2010, the first on his record label Piano Wolf Recordings.<ref name=":2" /> The album was produced by [[Ryan Hadlock]] at [[Bear Creek Studio]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=60667424&blogId=500536550|title=Last night in Bear Creek Studios – Ed Harcourt's MySpace blog (dated 16 July 2009)|publisher=Blogs.myspace.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106061113/http://www.myspace.com/edharcourt/blog/500536550|archive-date=6 November 2012|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>

In February 2013, Harcourt released the album ''Back into The Woods'' through CCCLX, the new label set-up by his manager Sean Adams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seaninsound.tumblr.com/post/131432249461/popular-by-the-anchoress-alongside-running|title=Management company|last=Adams|first=Sean|publisher=CCCLX Music|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> It was recorded during a one-day session helmed by Pete Hutchings at the Abbey Road Studios and featured his wife Gita on violin and  Arnulf Lindner (cello).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.bowers-wilkins.com/music/how-ed-harcourt-recorded-his-album-in-six-hours-at-abbey-road-studios/?_ga=1.139096634.863960148.1471611440|title=How Ed Harcourt recorded his album in one night at Abbey Road|date=9 January 2013|website=bowers-wilkins.com|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2013/08/26/interview-ed-harcourt/|title=Interview: Ed Harcourt|last=Parker|first=Sean|date=26 August 2013|website=God Is In The TV|access-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820003944/http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2013/08/26/interview-ed-harcourt/|archive-date=20 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The release was supported by a headlining tour around England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/11462-ed-harcourt-back-into-the-woods-album-stream-tour|title=Stream Ed Harcourt's New LP|last=Tuffrey|first=Laurie|date=22 February 2013|website=the quietus.net|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

In January 2014, Harcourt released ''Time of Dust'', a six-track mini-album on CCCLX. It includes the duet "Come Into My Dreamland" with [[Kathryn Williams]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/ed-harcourt-time-dust|title=Ed Harcourt - Time Of Dust {{!}} Album review|last=Murphy|first=John|date=6 January 2014|website=musicOMH|language=en-GB|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> In 2015 he performed the 17-minute piece "Restoration" for the Belgian charity MusicFund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/99349/ed-harcourt-releases-charity-piano-track-restorati|title=Ed Harcourt releases 17-minute charity track 'Restoration' {{!}} Gigwise|last=Barrie|first=Tom|website=gigwise.com|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref> It was inspired by the BBC documentary ''Our World: Saving Gaza's grand piano'' broadcast that featured the work of the charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32042375|title=Saving Gaza's only grand piano|last=Whewell|first=Tim|date=26 March 2015|website=BBC News|access-date=7 September 2016}}</ref>

In August 2016, Harcourt released his seventh solo album ''Furnaces'', produced by Flood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixfm.com/2015/07/23/latitude-festival-2015-ed-harcourt/ |title=Latitude 2015: Ed Harcourt |publisher=Phoenix FM  |date=17 July 2015 |access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/new-music-to-listen-to-this-week-ed-harcourt-a7109191.html|title=New music to listen to this week: Ed Harcourt|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=29 June 2016|website=independent.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref> It was described as "gently apocalyptic pop with billowy choruses".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/18/ed-harcourt-furnaces-review-gently-apocalyptic-pop|title=Ed Harcourt: Furnaces review – gently apocalyptic pop|last=Jonze|first=Tim|date=18 August 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>

===Live===
[[File:EdHarcourt.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Ed Harcourt with Wild Boar at The Barfly Club, Camden, August 2005. In shot – Dimitri Tikovoi on drums, Andre Shapps on bass. Out of shot, Emett Elvin, guitar]]
Harcourt performed with [[Patti Smith]] and her band as well as [[Marianne Faithfull]] during the 2005 [[Meltdown (festival)|Meltdown Festival]] and her 2014 tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewfwilson.co.uk/meltdown/maddieblog2.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720203841/http://www.andrewfwilson.co.uk/meltdown/maddieblog2.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 July 2012 |title=Patti Smith's Meltdown 2005 |publisher=Andrewfwilson.co.uk |date=11 July 2005 |access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>

Harcourt opened for [[The Gutter Twins]] on their European tour in 2008, as well as joining the group on stage to play guitar on some songs, most notably on their appearance on ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'', performing the single "Idle Hands.".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxrlOfHkl34  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/YxrlOfHkl34| archive-date=13 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=The Gutter Twins "Idle Hands" live on Jools Holland |publisher=YouTube |access-date=27 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In December 2013 Harcourt made a guest appearance with [[Laura Jansen]] at Bush Hall, London to sing "A Call to Arms".

On 26 June 2015, [[The Libertines]] were the surprise special guests on the Pyramid stage at [[Glastonbury Festival]] 2015, with Harcourt joining them on stage to play piano.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-libertines/86504|title=The Libertines bring old classics and new material to secret Glastonbury set - watch|last=Stubbs|first=Dan|date=26 June 2015|website=nme.com|publisher=NME|access-date=26 June 2015}}</ref> He also joined the band on stage during the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]] Headline slots in August 2015.

In the summer of 2017, while on tour supporting [[The Afghan Whigs]], Harcourt played rhythm guitar on stage with the band at their concert at [[NorthSide Festival (Denmark)]] as well as performing an exclusive, solo mini-concert, at a nearby allotment garden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/dk/northside/pressreleases/ed-harcourt-will-play-northside-1987210 |title=Ed Harcourt will play NorthSide |date=26 May 2017 |publisher=MyNewsDesk |access-date=26 May 2017}}</ref>

On 22 October 2017, Harcourt played (as band leader) the whole ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album live at the [[Philharmonie de Paris]] for [[Arte]] TV show with a little help from [[Carl Barât]] and [[Pete Doherty]] ([[The Libertines]]), [[Barrie Cadogan]] ([[Primal Scream]]), [[Danny Goffey]] and [[Gaz Coombes]] ([[Supergrass]]), [[Steve Mason (musician)|Steve Mason]] and others.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/078836-000-A/sgt-pepper-live-a-la-philharmonie-de-paris/ |title="Sgt. Pepper Live" à la Philharmonie de Paris |publisher=Arte.tv |date=22 October 2017 |access-date=3 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101235904/https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/078836-000-A/sgt-pepper-live-a-la-philharmonie-de-paris/ |archive-date=1 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>