Mr Hudson and the Library
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Birmingham and London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles, live performances |
Mr Hudson and the Library was a UK-based musical ensemble active between 2006 and 2007, comprising Mr Hudson (vocals, guitar), Joy Joseph (steelpan, percussion, vocals), Torville Jones (piano), Robin French (also known as Maps Huxley) (bass), and Wilkie Wilkinson (drums). The group hailed from Birmingham and London.
Their musical style combined elements of classic reggae, rock, and soul. In October 2006, they released their initial EP titled Bread & Roses, which was succeeded by the successful single "Too Late Too Late". The band showcased "Too Late Too Late" alongside "Brave the Cold" on the television program Later with Jools Holland in December 2006.
During January 2007, they embarked on an innovative UK tour performing in 13 libraries as part of the Get It Loud In Libraries initiative, including a performance at Lancaster Library where they supported a then-emerging Adele.
Their first full-length album, A Tale of Two Cities, arrived on 5 March 2007 through Mercury Records. This release merges Mr Hudson’s songwriting with hip hop-inspired percussion, folk-style acoustic guitar, reggae bass lines, classical piano, and West Indian steelpan instrumentation. The album features renditions of "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady and "Everything Happens to Me", famously interpreted by Frank Sinatra and Chet Baker.
In 2007, the group served as supporting acts for prominent artists such as Amy Winehouse during her Back to Black tour, along with appearances alongside Paolo Nutini, Mika, and Groove Armada. Their festival appearances included major UK events like Glastonbury, T in the Park, The Big Chill, V Festival, Godiva Festival, and Bestival. Their own UK tour featured support from Cheap Hotel, whose lead vocalist Anna Calvi later found solo acclaim. In October 2007, they performed at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium opening for The Police, and also supported Kanye West on the European segment of his Glow in the Dark Tour, with shows in cities such as Dublin and Belfast.
The band dissolved in 2008, after which Mr Hudson pursued a solo career beginning with his 2009 album Straight No Chaser.