A nostalgic, underground sea shanties artist.
Born and raised in St John’s, Michigan, but now based in London Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) is the musical moniker of professional oil painter Dan MacDonald. Having spent the last decade travelling across America and Europe, instigating vital collectives, delving deep into existing traditions but unafraid to shake them up, now he settles upon an erupting English scene, armed with the charisma, the intensity, the experience, the power, the presence – and of course the straight-up songwriting chops, to push it to the next level. Coming alongside news of slots at SXSW and Green Man Festivals later this year, as well as a show with Shovel Dance Collective at EartH Theatre in April, today (18th Feb), MacDonald shares ‘Midwest Tribute Song’, the first teaser from forthcoming EP Spitzer Space Telescope II - released in full on 28th March. Epitomising his artistic approach, the single is an expression of personal heritage and identity, as belted out, at the top of the lungs, in the form of an a capella stomp. Offering more insight into the track, MacDonald says :“Identity, nationalism, and heritage. The only thing left to say on this song is, to quote that great Pecker Dunne line, ‘[...] a man must feel affection for the town where he was born.” Signing to acclaimed trad-folk label Broadside Hacks Recordings (Milkweed, The New Eves, Goblin Band) feels, then, like the perfect pairing for MacDonald’s vision.
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Spitzer Space Telescope plays traditional folk music and sea shanties with a raw acoustic rock influence, released through the Broadside Hacks label.
Spitzer Space Telescope is the project of a songwriter originally hailing from St. Johns, Michigan, and currently based in London.
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