Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Since 1998, one American singer, songwriter and actor has been setting the rules: Will Oldham, aka Palace Brothers, Palace Songs or Palace (for short), who seems to have settled on the equally fanciful identity of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, to offer his major works, nourished by folk and hillbilly roots. But whatever the name on the record sleeves, he is regarded (particularly in France, where his records and live performances remain unanimously appreciated), as one of the major creators of American song. Born Joseph Will Oldham on 15 January 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky, the prolific artist released his first studio album, There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You as Palace Brothers in 1993 and continued to put out acclaimed albums at a consistent rate over the years. In February 2013, he released an album of Everly Brothers covers, with singer Dawn McCarthy, entitled What The Brothers Sang. The following year, he reworked some of the songs on Wolfroy Goes to Town, during Singer's Grave a Sea of Tongues. In 2016, he delighted his fans by bringing together the best of his Peel Sessions, recorded on BBC1, on the album Pond Scum. He joined forces with another indie legend, Bill Callahan, for Blind Date Party in 2021 and two solo efforts followed in its wake: Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You in 2023 and The Purple Bird in 2025.