Nick Cave: Idiot Prayer

Nick Cave will broadcast a unique solo performance this week as part of a global streaming event titled ‘Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace’. The Australian artist, who was due to perform across Europe this year in support of 2019 album ‘Ghosteen’, filmed the intimate set with award-winning cinematographer Robbie Ryan (The Favourite, American Honey) in June while the UK was under strict lockdown.

The event has been interpreted as the third part of a trilogy of event films released by Nick Cave over the past decade. In 2014, ‘20,000 Days on Earth’ documented a fictional day in the life of the cult songwriter during the recording of fifteenth studio album ‘Push The Sky Away’. Two years later, performance film ‘One More Time With Feeling’ received a limited cinematic release to launch follow-up album’ Skeleton Tree’, in the aftermath of the much-publicised death of Cave’s son Arthur.

‘Idiot Prayer’ takes its name from a track on Cave’s 1997 album ‘The Boatman’s Call’, which was recorded in the wake of a difficult break-up with fellow musician PJ Harvey. The film’s format lends itself well to the largely piano-based record, which features some of the musician’s most intimate and critically-acclaimed works, including ‘Into My Arms’ and ‘People Ain’t No Good’. Cave has confirmed that ‘Idiot Prayer’ will also feature rarely-performed Bad Seeds material, as well as cuts from guitar-heavy side project Grinderman.

‘Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace’ will be streamed live across three different timezones at 20:00 BST on July 23.