A new book titled ‘Touring And Mental Health - The Music Industry Manual’ is set to be published this spring, offering musicians and those working in live music a guide to help them “identify, process and manage the physical and psychological difficulties that can occur on the road or as a result of touring”.
Edited by promoter turned psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton and supported by Live Nation, the book covers a wide range of topics, including anxiety, depression, crisis management, physical health and post-tour recovery. It also includes personal recollections from artists including Radiohead’s Philip Selway, Katie Melua, Four Tet, Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry and Will Young.
“I wish this book had been around when I first started touring”, says Selway. “’Touring And Mental Health’ can really help us all navigate the darker moments and the bumps in the road out on tour. The insights, wisdom and strategies from the mental health and medical experts, the tour crew, and musicians in this book are invaluable. It should be the first thing we all pack when we head out on the road”.
The book is also recommended by James Ainscough, the CEO of music charity Help Musicians, which provides health and wellbeing support to the music community. He states: “This book should be a compulsory purchase for anyone who spends time on the road - or sends others out there. It can add decades to a career, give wisdom to the most exhausted mind, and offer encouragement to every burdened heart”.
The book will be published by Omnibus Press on 23 Mar and can be pre-ordered here.