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Bruce Cockburn Gets Back On The Road

We’re all so happy to announce that Bruce Cockburn is getting back on the road with live concert tour dates starting in December, 2021.

Bruce’s last live concert show was November 23, 2019, in Monterey California at the Golden State Theatre.

Here’s what Bruce has to say about getting back on the road: “As 2020 rolled up on the horizon, it was shaping up to be an exciting year — the fiftieth anniversary of the release of my first album. A considerable number of shows had been booked. The expectation was that much of the year would be spent on tour in celebration of that first step into what has been a pretty interesting professional life.

“My expectations, like everyone else’s, took a big hit from the pandemic and all that has gone with it. That “Big 50th” was not to be!

“Now, as we poke our heads up to see where this past year-and-a-bit has brought us to, I’m getting excited again about getting out and sharing my songs with all who will do me the honor of listening — in actual rooms! With people who are physically present! The 50th Anniversary Tour: 2nd Attempt…May we all stay safe and functional so it can happen!”

Here are Bruce’s first confirmed dates, with more to follow:

DEC 7 GRASS VALLEY CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
DEC 8 SANTA CRUZ CA RIO THEATRE
DEC 9 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 10 BERLELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 12 EUGENE OR SORENG THEATRE
DEC 13 BEND OR TOWER THEATRE
DEC 14 GRANTS PASS OR ROGUE THEATRE
DEC 16 PORTLAND OR ALADDIN THEATRE
DEC 17 PORTLAND OR ALADDIN THEATRE
DEC 18 SPOKANE OR BING CROSBY THEATRE
DEC 19 SEATTLE WA NEPTUNE THEATRE
FEB 24 BURLINGTON VT HIGHER GROUND
FEB 25 ALBANY NY THE EGG
FEB 26 NORTHAMPTON MA ACADEMY OF MUSIC
FEB 27 BOSTON MA WILBUR THEATRE
MAR 1 WATERVILLE ME OPERA HOUSE
MAR 2 FALL RIVER MA CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
MAR 4 RIDGEFIELD CT RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE
MAR 5 NEWTON NJ NEWTON THEATRE
MAR 6 NEW YORK NY SYMPHONY SPACE
MAR 8 ANN ARBOR MI THE ARK
MAR 10 CHICAGO IL OLDTOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK
MAR 11 CHICAGO IL OLDTOWN SCHOOK OF FOLK
MAR 12 MADISON WI BARRYMORE THEATRE
MAR 13 IOWA CITY IA ENGLERT THEATRE
APR 19 PETERBOROUGH ON SHOWPLACE CENTRE
APR 21 KITCHENER ON CENTRE IN THE SQUARE
APR 22 TORONTO ON MASSEY HALL
APR 23 OTTAWA ON NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE

For on sale ticket information please check in your local market.

NYT Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Playwright RALPH PEZZULLO Gathers Friends For “Lockdown Blues”

New York Times best-selling author, award-winning playwright, multi-disciplined artist and singer/songwriter Ralph Pezzullo brings an exceptional group of musicians together to set 2021 ablaze with his debut single, “Lockdown Blues” –– available now.

As the first single off Pezzullo’s self-titled album, “Lockdown Blues” is a sonically exhilarating up-tempo Blues fusion that’s anything but isolating. Pezzullo’s vision comes to life with the help of a star-studded band that includes John Prine’s keyboardist, P!nk’s bass player, The Wallflowers’ guitarist, and Dolly Parton’s drummer to create something wholly unique.

This project came together after Pezzullo reached out to producer Rocco Guarino (Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland) with some early song ideas. Guarino immediately responded to the music with enthusiasm, saying: “I’ve been waiting to work with someone like you.”

The recording process took place in the sun-kissed studios of North Hollywood, California. “Working with them in the studio was fantastic,” Pezzullo says of the extraordinary chemistry in the room. “They got the feel of the tunes and the grooves right away, and we took off creatively.”

“Lockdown Blues” takes the fallout of our tumultuous recent history with the pandemic and flips it on itself with a bright, splashy guitar progression and a chorus that begs to be sung live in concert halls. The process of capturing this song is immortalized in the corresponding music video peppered with footage of the genesis of this post-Covid anthem.

Ralph Pezzullo’s self-titled release is the result of a decades-long journey of creative discovery that began as a teenager in Bogota, Colombia as a member of what one music blogger calls “a seminal Latin rock garage band,” Wallflower Complexion. The son of a diplomat who is still filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, Pezzullo says he’s “traveled to more than fifty countries and lived in a dozen, and discovered that every one of them has its own distinct culture and sound. Each has left an indelible impression on my musical and creative psyche.”

The result is a eight-song debut LP brimming with lived experience and musical influences as varied as Bob Marley, Ruben Blades, Radiohead, and even Stravinsky — all delivered with the assured voice and sonic resonance of a band that has toured for decades.

When Ralph Pezzullo isn’t putting together a low-key supergroup, he’s adding to his bibliography of over two dozen bestselling books. He’s also a poet, award-winning playwright, and screenwriter — with hits Off-Broadway; his most recent play, “The American Wife” which premiered in London

“Lockdown Blues” and Ralph Pezzullo are available now.

54-40’s Neil Osborne’s Conceptual Solo Project NIZ WIZ Reveals Exclusive Single Released for Streaming

For the first time since its exclusive limited-run vinyl release, 54•40 alum Neil Osborne’s creative persona Niz Wiz’s single “God Do Me A Solid” is available for streaming.

As Side A’s track three from the nom de plume project’s self-titled double album, Niz Wiz: Limited Edition Double Album, “God Do Me A Solid” echoes the release’s expression of feelings and fears around prescient themes: America, money, God, A-I, “and a little bit of Canada,” Osborne shares.

“Many people have asked me in the past if I would ever consider a ‘solo’ record, but I never felt the need to…” he reveals. “54•40 is the perfect vehicle for me as ‘Neil’ in our themes of fun, unity, thoughtfulness and reflection couched in a three chord rock combo.

“That all said, I had a sudden inspiration to create a conceptual body of work alone somewhere in early 2019. As a person — as Citizen Niz — I began to sense some kind of disconnect with common sense, and outdated or hijacked cultural values.

“I supposed some of it could be attributed, as my father used to say, as feeling ‘well, the world is passing me by,’ but I had this insistent, nagging feeling it was much more than that.”

As for what in particular was plaguing Osborne’s observations, the world’s skyrocketing political partisanship, an increasingly chasmal wealth gap, and the damaging disconnect caused by social media in its attempts to increase connection were among the top contenders.

And this was all before a catastrophic global pandemic and stirring social unrest spread to each corner of the globe.

“For this album, I started to think about the bizarre rules of what money and ‘ownership’ really means; the way many people carry old beliefs and impotent faith as one would with ‘phantom leg syndrome;’ how artificial intelligence is infiltrating and defining our very identity, distilling our emotions and values to ikons.

“I remember pontificating these thoughts in my basement studio before looking up and saying, ‘Hey! Am I the only one feeling this?! Am I the only one thinking about this change? This undertow of a tide sweeping us all potentially under water? And how we don’t know when we can come up for air?’”

When it came to tangible pieces of inspiration for the album, Osborne looked beyond the endless news cycle to his bookshelf: a copy of Thomas Mann’s 1924 novel, The Magic Mountain, and the character Hans Castorp in particular.

“That book reflects on the ability and necessity for a person to take on, and try on, as many opposing points of view to keep a healthy perspective and get a taste for certain themes,” Osborne explains. “It encourages to see if you like them, and if they’re worthy enough to suit you, all the while allowing respect for individuals who choose ‘this’ or ‘that’ as their point of view.

“So, on that early spring day in 2019, I covered my studio door with a canvas, grabbed some markers, and wrote down any song title that immediately entered my mind.

“I ended up with 17, and every track is a stream of consciousness. I would adopt a vocal ‘character’ to inhabit and tell the story, and I’d record this directly to the track over and over until I had the right character cadence, words, and personality.”

To date, and by deliberate design, Niz Wiz: Limited Edition Double Album has been exclusively available as a vinyl-only offering via El Mocambo Records — and intended for consumption in order, Side A to D. The video for “God Do Me A Solid” features a clever collaboration between Osborne and 2010 Visual director, Charlie Darragh.

“I wrote and recorded it all myself, and in consecutive order, before Rave (Dave Ogilvie) mixed and Greg Calbi mastered it,” Osborne offers. “Because it was both written and recorded in order, the intention of this work is to be listened to in consecutive order; moving stylus or skipping cuts isn’t recommended until the story I’ve embedded is familiar. I wanted it to be on vinyl so the listener hears it as I intended.

“Like the good ol’ days… Even if times are changing quickly.”

“God Do Me A Solid” and Niz Wiz: Limited Edition (vinyl only) Double Album are available now via El Mocambo Records.

Don Graham Sings of Love Found and Lost Under a Magical Mexican Moon with New Release “Como Te Amo”

A big, bright sun, plus soft sand, warm ocean breeze, and falling madly in love under a Mexican moon… Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Especially now? During our long COVID winter, idyllic scenes like this have been just a dream for most… But now, Canadian singer/songwriter Don Graham is set to turn your summer day into a romantic tropical getaway with his new single and video, “Como Te Amo” — available now via Entertainment Music Group (EMG).

Inspired by a last minute holiday Graham took to Guyabitos, Mexico, “Come Te Amo” recalls a beautiful but bittersweet moment in time in an equally beautiful place set to a rollicking country rock soundscape.

“It’s easy to fall in love in Mexico with the sun, the sand, the magical moonlight and the warm ocean waters,” Graham says. “Unfortunately, the week ends and you come back to reality…

“But, always have those beautiful memories and the hope to someday return.”

“Como Te Amo” translates to “how I love you” and, whether they’re spoken in Spanish or English, these are words that everyone longs to hear. “If you don’t speak the language your Spanish phrase book becomes your best friend,” Graham explains. “When a lovely senorita catches your eye, the little book allows you to convey your feelings.”

Like a river, ever constant and ever moving, Don Graham and his music just keep rolling along. From his early days as the frontman of the pioneer Canadian country rock band, Graham County (“We were one of the first non-traditional country bands to have a steel guitar, the late great Ron Dann, as a full time member”) to various duos and trios and eventually as a solo act, Don Graham has made the stage his home since the late 1970s.

Don’s latest song and video release, “Como Te Amo” (produced by Bill Hill) is an uplifting ‘dock rock’ song for a world weary of travel restrictions and limitations. Produced by Canadian country artist Marshall Potts, the video for “Como Te Amo” places Graham directly in the sun, sand and romantic tropical scene that the song vividly paints.

Don Graham’s “Como Te Amo” is available now!

OSHEAGA GET TOGETHER Announces Charlotte Cardin, Jessie Reyez And Half Moon Run For October 1-3, 2021

This fall, Montreal will come alive with a musical celebration at the OSHEAGA Get Together presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light, taking place between October 1-3, 2021 on beautiful Île Sainte-Hélène at Parc Jean-Drapeau. It will be a unique opportunity for fans to reunite and enjoy world-class live music in an intimate outdoor setting (with the stunning beauty of Montreal’s skyline as a backdrop for the two-stage setup).

The three-day OSHEAGA Get Together will feature moving performances from a wide array of festival favourites, with a focus on Canadian and local talent. Headlining will be some of this city’s top international exports, including Charlotte Cardin, the critical darling who just sold out 11 shows at Montreal’s MTELUS (scheduled for 2022) – that’s 24 000 tickets sold within a couple of days! The Montreal-born singer/songwriter, who is as comfortable crooning an intimate jazz tune as she is swimming in a sea of electro beats and pop sensibilities, takes the stage Friday, October 1st. The incredibly talented artist – who is an OSHEAGA favourite, having played the fest in 2016 – quickly made a name for herself as one of Quebec’s most notable talents and greatest exports, having amassed over 149 MILLION streams around the world! With her new album, Phoenix, burning up the charts, fans know that this will be an unforgettable show!

Saturday night, rising pop star Jessie Reyez will take the stage. With multiple Junos under her belt, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year (2018) and the following two consecutive years for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year (2019 & 2020), the Colombian-born, Toronto-raised singer will prove why she is considered one of the great ones by fans and critics all over the world. The Canadian gem has been shortlisted for the Polaris Prize twice already in her relatively short career, so far, and she’s worked on hits for the likes of Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, Sam Smith and Eminem. Reyez also delivered a blistering set at the outdoor blowout event for the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2018, and as anyone who witnessed that show will attest, this will be a can’t miss set!

The Sunday night headliners will be Half Moon Run – one of the most exciting young live acts who perfectly capture the essence of Montreal’s indie sound. With a new EP out, Inwards and Onwards, the group continues to make a name for themselves with unforgettable live performances that marry multi-layered harmonies with driving percussion and a catalogue of songs that always inspire impromptu singalongs from the crowd. The Juno Award winners will be turning heads full circle when they take the stage Sunday, October 3rd.

“We are keenly aware of how important live music is to our fans and our city, and how much everyone misses it” says Nick Farkas, Senior Vice President, Booking, Concerts and Events at evenko and founder of Osheaga. “We are thrilled about this announcement, because we promised fans that we would do everything in our power to get them to Parc Jean-Drapeau to be united by live music again as soon as possible, and we are going to make that happen!”
The OSHEAGA Get Together will follow all government recommendations and all on-site COVID-19 health and safety measures, which will be communicated at a date closer to the event.

Single day and weekend passes for #OSHEAGAGT will be available via pre-sale today and General Admission on sale Friday, July 23rd at noon at www.osheaga.com.

OSHEAGA GET TOGETHER PASS PRICES (taxes and service fees are included*)

GENERAL ADMISSION PASS – 1 DAY : starting at 85.00$
GENERAL ADMISSION PASS – 3 DAYS : starting at 245.00$
CASINO DE MONTRÉAL GOLD PASS – 1 DAY : starting at 135.00$
CASINO DE MONTRÉAL GOLD PASS – 3 DAYS : starting at 390.00$

GOLD Pass holders will have access to the Casino de Montréal OSHEAGA Terrace, a platform offering a premium view of the Bell River Stage and Coors Light Mountain Stage, with access to private washrooms, an exclusive beverage stand and fast-lane entry onto the event grounds.

National Bank is offering a $15.95 discount on the 1-day General Admission Pass. This offer is for a limited time and in limited quantities. Visit National Bank’s Facebook or Instagram page for more details. Also, National Bank will keep festival goers hydrated for a third year by offering water bottle filling stations on site. The Bank will also give back to the community by making a $10,000 donation to the evenko foundation to provide musical instruments to schools in need. To learn more about the foundation: www.fondationevenko.ca.

The team behind OSHEAGA Get Together presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light would like to extend a huge thank you to fans, numerous sponsors and public partners, including : the Government of Quebec through the Ministry of Tourism and the Secretariat for the Metropolitan Region for their continuous support.

The OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light official 15th anniversary mega celebration has been postponed to July 29-31, 2022, so the OSHEAGA team can pull out all the stops for that momentous occasion, but this special 2021 reunion will be an epic celebration of the power of live music to bring people together.

*$1 from every Osheaga Get Together ticket sold will be donated to the evenko foundation, via the Plus1 organization.

Live Nation Celebrates Return To Live Concerts By Offering Fans $20 All-In Tickets

Live Nation announced it is celebrating the Return to Live concerts this summer by offering fans $20 all-in tickets to nearly 1,000 shows this year. As Live Nation’s outdoor venues across the U.S. begin to open, the time is here to get outside and catch live music with friends, family and loved ones at over 40 Live Nation amphitheaters all across the country. For a limited time only next week, fans will have access to exclusive $20 tickets to participating Live Nation shows, including taxes and fees.

“We can’t wait to get back on the road and in front of our fans, it means so much to be able to bring live music back to the people that support us the most,” said the Jonas Brothers.

The special promotion marks the highly-anticipated return of live music in the U.S. as artists ready to hit the stage and fans can’t wait to see their favorite acts live in-person once again. Participating artists include some of today’s biggest acts across genres including Country, Hip-Hop, Latin, Metal, Pop, Rock, and more. See full list below.

“We couldn’t be more excited to get back out on the road,” said Zac Brown. “It’s been a long, difficult year for everyone and we’re fired up to be reuniting with our crew, sharing new music with our fans, and celebrating a brand new world.”

The $20 tickets will be available to the general public starting next Wednesday, July 28th at 12pm ET/9am PT on LiveNation.com for a limited time only, while supplies last.

T-Mobile and Sprint customers can score exclusive 24-hour early access to the $20 all-in tickets through T-Mobile Tuesdays starting Tuesday, July 27th at 12pm ET/9am PT.

Participating artists celebrating the Return to Live concerts include:
311
Jason Aldean
Megadeth
3 Doors Down
Jonas Brothers
NF
Alanis Morissette
Judas Priest
Pitbull
Alice Cooper
Kings of Leon
Primus
Brad Paisley
KISS
Rise Against
Brett Eldredge
KORN
Rod Wave
Brooks & Dunn
Lady A
Slipknot
Brothers Osborne
Lil Baby
The Black Crowes
Coheed and Cambria
Lindsey Stirling
The Doobie Brothers
Dierks Bentley
Luke Bryan
Thomas Rhett
Florida Georgia Line
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Trippie Redd
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Maroon 5
Zac Brown Band

Leon Bridges Presents: Gold-diggers Sound With Special Guest Chiiild

Leon Bridges Presents: Gold-Diggers Sound with special guest Chiiild on tour this year. Produced by Live Nation, the 15-date tour will kick off on April 29th in Tulsa, OK at The Tulsa Theater with stops in Cincinnati, Nashville, Cleveland and more before wrapping May 19th in St Augustine, FL at St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

The tour celebrates the release of Gold-Diggers Sound, an R&B album birthed from extended late nights at the Los Angeles speakeasy and studio of the same name. The album collects stories from Leon Bridges’ life and celebrates Leon’s immersive experience of creating music in the same East Hollywood room where he lived, worked and drank over the course of two years. What began as nightly all-night jam sessions where Leon and his fellow musicians could just vibe and let loose away from crowds, cameras and structured studio schedules, quickly began to form into what he realized was an album. The soulful collaboration between Leon as an artist and the space itself was so encompassing that he chose to name the album after the soon-to-be legendary complex.

Gold-Diggers Sound is the third solo from Leon Bridges in a career trajectory that saw him going from working as a dishwasher and busking on the streets of his beloved Fort Worth, TX to being signed to a major label and performing at the White House for Former President Barack Obama within a two-year span. Following the release of his Grammy Award winning sophomore album, Good Thing, Leon issued a steady stream of music including tracks with John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Kiana Ledé, Lucky Daye and Noah Cyrus as well as Texas Sun, a collaboration project with fellow Texans Khruangbin. Other career highlights include opening for Harry Styles on an arena tour, his breakout track “River” being certified Platinum, portraying Gil Scott Heron in Damien Chazelle’s First Man, appearing in a global GAP holiday campaign, garnering a CMT Award for his Crossroads collaboration with Luke Combs, performing at the Tom Ford NYFW show and MoMA’s Film Benefit honoring Tom Hanks, selling out Hollywood Bowl and back to back nights at Radio City Music Hall.

Gold-Diggers Sound Tracklist:
Born Again (feat. Robert Glasper)
Motorbike
Steam
Why Don’t You Touch Me
Magnolias
Gold-Diggers (Junior’s Fanfare)
Details
Sho Nuff
Sweeter (feat. Terrace Martin)
Don’t Worry (feat. Ink)
Blue Mesas

Gold-Diggers Sound was Executive Produced by Leon Bridges and Ricky Reed and Produced by Ricky Reed and Nate Mercereau, the Strother sisters from acclaimed R&B group KING and features genre-smashing pianist Robert Glasper, celebrated saxophonist Terrace Martin and veteran songwriter Atia “Ink” Boggs (who also lends a rapturous vocal to “Don’t Worry”). Leon considers the album to have psychedelic influences while staying true to the modern R&B sound he has been moving towards since his debut. The first track released was “Motorbike” which Leon debuted alongside a Bonnie and Clyde inspired adventure film directed by Director .Paak – the directing name for Anderson .Paak, a longtime friend of Leon.

LEON BRIDGES PRESENTS: GOLD-DIGGERS SOUND 2022 TOUR DATES:
Fri Apr 29 – Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Theater
Sat Apr 30 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Mon May 2 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee
Wed May 4 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theatre @ Old National Centre
Fri May 6 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center
Sat May 7 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater
Sun May 8 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
Tue May 10 – Richmond, VA – Altria Theater
Wed May 11 – Charlottesville, VA – Ting Pavilion
Fri May 13 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
Sat May 14 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theater
Mon May 16 – Charlotte, NC – Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue May 17 – Wilmington, NC – Riverfront Park Amphitheater
Wed May 18 – Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
Thu May 19 – St Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
2021 FESTIVALS AND ADDITIONAL TOUR DATES:
Sun Aug 8 – St. Charles, IA – Hinterland Music Festival^
Sat Aug 28 – Lexington, KY – Railbird Festival
Fri Sept 3 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest^
Sun Sept 5 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
Wed Sept 8– Atlanta, GA – The Eastern^*
Fri Sept 10 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater*
Sat Sept 11 – Dallas, TX – The HiFi Dallas*
Sun Sept 12 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater*
Fri Sept 17 – Portland, ME – State Theatre^*
Sat Sept 18 – Boston, MA – Royale^*
Thurs Sept 23 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre^*
Fri Sept 24 – New York, NY – The Governors Ball Music Festival
Sun Sept 26 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live^*
Mon Sept 27 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer^*
Wed Sept 29 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theater^*
Fri Oct 1 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre^*
Sat Oct 2 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue^*
Mon Oct 4 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom^*+
Tues Oct 5 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen^*
Wed Oct 6 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre (SOLD OUT)^*+
Sat Oct 9 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater^*
Mon Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern*
Sat Oct 30 – Live Oak, FL – Hulaween^
^ not a Live Nation date
* with special guest Abraham Alexander
+ with special guest The Marias

By Next Read: “The Remarkable Tale of Radio 1: The History of the Nation’s Favourite Station 1967-95” by Robert Sellers

For most people in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, Radio 1 provided the soundtrack to their lives. Commanding up to 24 million listeners a week, it was the most popular radio station in the world.

An iconic institution and one of the UK’s most famous brands, its history and socio-cultural impact is explored in full here for the first time. Robert Sellers draws on archive material and first-hand interviews with DJs and key personnel to capture the extraordinary story of Radio 1, from its beginnings in 1967 through to its controversial reorganisation in the early nineties.

Laura Jane Grace Announces Appearance At Four Seasons Total Landscaping for Saturday, August 21

Emmy-nominated artist, author, activist and musician Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!, The Devouring Mothers) is proud and honored to announce her most prestigious appearance of 2021. Taking place on Saturday, August 21, Grace will perform a full solo set at the now-famous Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia, PA. In what will be her most celebrated appearance of the year, the upcoming show will also feature Brendan Kelly of The Lawrence Arms.

“This will be the first and last time Brendan and I will play in front of a landscaping company and we promise it will be better than that MAGA shit show.”

Additionally, Grace has recently announced a number of fall and winter appearances. Performing as part of the 2021 Punk Rock Bowling festival in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, September 25, Grace will also be supporting Thursday on the east coast of the U.S. from December 27-30. Tickets are available now and a full listing of dates can be found below.

Across the 14 songs that comprise Stay Alive, Laura Jane Grace takes all her pent-up fears, anger, and anxiety and releases it, like an olive branch to the weary listeners who are feeling those exact same ways. The songs are documents of a time and a songwriter who experienced enough to find levity in the simple act of doing work. Recorded with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, an occasional drum machine, and her own powerful voice, Grace’s distinct songwriting signature is front and center. Stream and purchase the album on all platforms HERE.

Grace wasn’t planning on making a solo record in 2020. In fact, she was planning on making a record with Against Me!, the band she’s fronted for the past 23 years. But clearly, nothing went according to plan this year. “We came home from the Against Me! tour we were on in March, and right before we left, we had been in the studio working on songs, and I had been working on them for months prior,” says Grace. As she sat at home, all of her tours canceled, and the members of Against Me!—as well as her other band Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers—spread across the country, she was left with a batch of songs and no band to record them with.

“I sat around for a month-and-a-half at a home just being shell-shocked being like, ‘What the fuck happened and what the fuck is happening with the world?’ As I started to get my bearings, I just came to the realization that waiting was going to kill the record and kill the songs. I spent two years working on all these songs, and the idea of throwing them away didn’t sit well with me,” says Grace. “But then I was like, ‘What am I waiting for?’ All I have to do is adjust my scope. I can sit here on my fucking ass and do nothing, or I can work.”

So, Grace got to work. She picked up the phone and booked four days with Steve Albini and Electrical Audio to document these songs exactly as she’d been playing them in her home, straight to analog tape. The result of the session is Stay Alive, a record that doesn’t just embody that title, it serves as the guiding principle behind its creations. But it also put life back into an industry that’s been ravaged by venue closures, cancelled tours, and delayed records.

Based on a message around work, struggle, and reaffirmed commitments, Grace is looking to communicate that these sentiments are completely universal during this difficult year. 2020 frustrations, roadblocks and world events aside, at the end of it all, Grace made this album purely for herself. “I just want to put this out because it makes me feel alive and it’s giving me something better than sitting here losing my mind while the world falls apart,” she says. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about what you do. Just stay alive.” Laura Jane Grace will be making the following appearances this fall and winter. Dates below with more to be added soon.

AUGUST
21 – Philadelphia, PA – Four Seasons Total Landscaping (w/ Brendan Kelly)

SEPTEMBER
25 – Las Vegas, NV – Punk Rock Bowling

DECEMBER
27 – Reading, PA – Reverb *
28 – Worcester, MA – Palladium *
29 – Washington DC – 9:30 Club *
30 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom *

* – supporting Thursday

Bruce Springsteen and President Obama announce RENEGADES book

wo longtime friends share an intimate and urgent conversation about life, music, and their enduring love of America, with all its challenges and contradictions, in this stunningly produced expansion of their groundbreaking Higher Ground podcast, featuring more than 350 photographs, exclusive bonus content, and never-before-seen archival material.

Renegades: Born in the USA is a candid, revealing, and entertaining dialogue between President Barack Obama and legendary musician Bruce Springsteen that explores everything from their origin stories and career-defining moments to our country’s polarized politics and the growing distance between the American Dream and the American reality. Filled with full-color photographs and rare archival material, it is a compelling and beautifully illustrated portrait of two outsiders—one Black and one white—looking for a way to connect their unconventional searches for meaning, identity, and community with the American story itself. It includes:

• Original introductions by President Obama and Bruce Springsteen
• Exclusive new material from the Renegades podcast recording sessions
• Obama’s never-before-seen annotated speeches, including his “Remarks at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Marches”
• Springsteen’s handwritten lyrics for songs spanning his 50-year-long career
• Rare and exclusive photographs from the authors’ personal archives
• Historical photographs and documents that provide rich visual context for their conversation

In a recording studio stocked with dozens of guitars, and on at least one Corvette ride, Obama and Springsteen discuss marriage and fatherhood, race and masculinity, the lure of the open road and the call back to home. They also compare notes on their favorite protest songs, the most inspiring American heroes of all time, and more. Along the way, they reveal their passion for—and the occasional toll of—telling a bigger, truer story about America throughout their careers, and explore how our fractured country might begin to find its way back toward unity and global leadership.

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That Eric Alper
6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week, a 16-time JUNO Award winner overseeing PR campaigns, and have also been truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

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