Steven Wilson has announced that he’ll be supported by four of his “absolute favourite British stand-up comedians” on his upcoming four-night stint at the London Palladium.

Wilson headlines the London Palladium this spring across four nights – from May 12 – 20 – and has now revealed he’ll be supported by Clinton Baptiste, Al Murray (as the Pub Landlord), Stewart Lee and Frank Skinner.

Touching on the unusual openers, the ‘Objects Outlive Us’ musician said the choice was inspired by his love of comedy and a desire to create a “unique aspect to each night” of ‘The Overview’ tour, in support of his recent album.

His new space-themed record dropped earlier this month, and he is now set to embark on a full European, UK and North American tour. Visit here for tickets and check below for a full list of dates.

“I’ve decided to try something I’ve been thinking about for several years and have stand-up comedians opening proceedings,” he said in a press release. “I’m a huge fan of stand-up up and I’ve frequently been confronted by my listeners at stand-up shows, usually in a state of shock at discovering I’m not as humourless as my music!

I decided to approach four of my absolute favourite British stand-up comedians with invitations to open one Palladium show each. And I’m extremely honoured to say they’ve all accepted. Each one’s very different in style and they’re all free to make me, my music and you the listeners the butt of their comedy.”

MAY
1 – Cirkus, Stockholm
2 – Konserthaus, Oslo
4 – KB Hallen, Copenhagen
6 – Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Dusseldorf
7 – Cirque Royale, Brussels
9 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham
10 – Beacon, Bristol
12-13, 19-20 – Palladium, London +
15 – O2 City Hall, Newcastle
16 – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
18 – Lowry, Manchester 
22 – AFAS Live, Amsterdam
24-26 – Salle Playel, Paris
28-29 – Bourse Du Travail, Lyon
30 – Porsche Arena, Stuttgart
31 – Zenith, Munich

+: with support from Clinton Baptiste (12), Al Murray (13), Stewart Lee (19), and Frank Skinner (20)

JUNE

2 – Friedrichspalast, Berlin
3 – Sporthalle, Hamburg
4 – COS Torwar Arena, Warsaw
5 – Prezero, Gliwice
7 – Teatro Degli Archimboldi, Milan
8 – Auditorium Parco Della Musica, Rome
10 – The Hall, Zurich
11 – Cepac Silo, Marseille
12 – Para-Lel 62, Barcelona
13 – Sala La Riviera, Madrid

SEPTEMBER
9 Masonic, San Francisco
10 Wiltern, Los Angeles
11 Magnolia, El Cajon
12 Van Buren, Phoenix
14 Paramount Theater, Denver
16 Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis
17 Auditorium Theater, Chicago
19 Fillmore, Detroit
20 MGM Park, Northfield
22 Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
25 MTELUS, Montreal
27 Theatre Capitole, Quebec
29 Shubert Theater, Boston
30 Capitol Theater, Port Chester

OCTOBER
2 Brooklyn Paramount Theater, New York
4-5 Fillmore, Philadelphia
7 Warner Theater, Washington
9 Tabernacle, Atlanta
11 Majestic Theater, Dallas
13 Auditorio Telmex, Guadalajara
14 Pepsi Center WTC, Mexico City
17 Tokio Marine Hall, Sao Paulo
19 Movistar Arena, Santiago

Steven Wilson recently spoke NME about his attempts to reinvent guitar solos as part of the new space-themed LP, which marks the Porcupine Tree musician’s return to prog-rock after more than a decade.

So-called after The Overview Effect – the unsettling phenomenon experienced by astronauts when they view Earth from outer space for the first time.

“Astronauts experience a profound epiphany,” Wilson told NME. “Some people have a very positive reaction, but some have reactions that are very negative. I think it’s quite positive to acknowledge that life is a random, freak gift, that you should enjoy the ride. As far as the universe is concerned, it doesn’t care about your life.”