Eli Paperboy Reed has never been one to chase trends — he’s spent the past two decades proving that soul music doesn’t need reinventing so much as it needs believing in. Now, with a brand‑new album produced by the legendary Swamp Dogg and a UK tour set for March 2027, Reed is stepping into the next chapter of a career built on grit, gospel fire, and a deep love for the roots of American music.
Reed’s rise began with Roll With You back in 2008 — a record that introduced him as a raw, full‑throated soul singer with a scholar’s understanding of the genre’s lineage. Major‑label releases followed (Come and Get It! in 2010 and Nights Like This in 2014), pushing his sound into new spaces while keeping that unmistakable Paperboy urgency intact. Extensive touring, festival slots, and sync placements helped cement his reputation as one of the most compelling voices in the modern soul revival.
But what’s kept Reed relevant isn’t nostalgia — it’s commitment. Over the past decade he’s broadened his palette without losing sight of the tradition he champions. Albums like My Way Home (2016) and 99 Cent Dreams (2019) showcased a songwriter comfortable weaving gospel, blues, and R&B into something both reverent and restless. His 2022 tribute to Merle Haggard, Down Every Road, proved he could reinterpret country songwriting with the same emotional fluency he brings to soul.
Reed’s work outside his own discography has been just as influential. Through Harlem’s Gospel for Teens programme, he helped shape The Harlem Gospel Travelers — a group whose rise has been one of the most exciting developments in contemporary gospel. Reed’s role as mentor and producer has quietly positioned him as a bridge between generations, passing down the craft and discipline that define the music he loves.
The upcoming album Getting There marks Reed’s first collaboration with Swamp Dogg — a partnership that feels both surprising and inevitable. Swamp Dogg’s eccentric, genre‑bending production style meets Reed’s classicist soul approach in a way that promises something fresh without losing the warmth and grit fans expect. If early whispers are anything to go by, this record could be one of Reed’s most adventurous yet.
AGMP Concerts will bring Reed back to UK stages next March, with a run of shows that’s likely to draw long‑time fans, soul heads, and anyone who appreciates a singer who leaves everything on the stage. Expect a set that spans his catalogue — from early revivalist cuts to the new Swamp Dogg‑produced material — delivered with the same conviction that’s made him a favourite on both sides of the Atlantic.
Eli Paperboy Reed’s March 2027 UK Tour will visit the following locations:
Date: Tuesday 9th March 2027
Venue Address: Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queen's Rd, Burley, Leeds LS6 1NY
Date: Wednesday 10th March 2027
Venue Address: Metronome, Huntingdon St, Nottingham NG1 1AP
Date: Thursday 11th March 2027
Venue Address: The Fleece, 12 St Thomas St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6JJ
Date: Friday 12th March 2027
Venue Address: 229, 229 Great Portland St, London W1W 5PN
Links to Socials and Website:
Nearly twenty years in, Eli Paperboy Reed stands as one of contemporary soul’s most enduring voices. Not because he’s chasing reinvention, but because he’s committed to the fundamentals: great songs, great stories, and vocals that feel lived‑in and unshakeably human. Getting There looks set to underline that legacy, and the 2027 tour will be the first chance for UK audiences to hear where Reed is heading next.