Out now: 'Songs from the Yonder' by Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister have released Songs from the Yonder, the English folk-punk quintet’s seventh studio album. Stream/purchase HERE.

Reflecting on the new single and title track, frontman Dan Heptinstall says it is "a proper conversational duet, a song about longing and returning from distant travels to where the heart is”...“It’s also a song about looking beyond petty disagreements, putting things in perspective and embracing the things that connect us.” 

He adds, “We’ve not properly explored this dueling vocal approach since ‘George’s Glass’ from our album ‘Down On Deptford Broadway’, and it was a lot of fun to return to writing and recording a track with this kind of dynamic. It’s also a good companion to a track like ‘Six Whiskies’, with its ‘end of the night’ ‘drunken waltz’ feel.” Watch the music video for “Song from the Yonder” HERE.

Produced and mixed by Heptinstall, the album's core tracks were recorded live — and left unedited — in an attempt to capture the band’s live show energy, the album is available on colored vinyl, CD and digital. Five extra CD formats of the album can be purchased on the band’s official site, each featuring bespoke artwork in the style of an old seaside postcard illustrated by John Davison (Cartoons From The Pit) with a different bonus/acoustic track included on each. Fans can buy individually or as a set — a charming and collectable Skinny Lister keepsake. Purchase HERE.

Track listing:

Yorkshire Belle

Set Us Straight
Song From The Yonder
Plough On
Tumbling Into Something
Bristol Bound
Drinking Song
Everything
Back Into The Battle
Brave The Waves
Glass To Our Days

Chameleons return with album 'Arctic Moon' in September

Chameleons will release the album Arctic Moon on Sept. 12 through Metropolis Records. The new full-length follows the EPs “Where Are You?” and “Tomorrow Remember Yesterday” over the last year.

“There’s an obvious maturity to the songwriting on this record," says vocalist/bassist Vox (otherwise known as Mark Burgess). "Those that are familiar with our past work will hear that this is a positive step forward in that respect.”

Of the Fall North American tour to promote the album, Vox says, “For the first time, we’ve been able to use real orchestral strings on a couple the songs, which were arranged and performed by Pete Whitfield at Real Strings in Manchester. They’ve given these songs a truly epic quality, and we can’t wait to perform them live. Danny [Ashberry], our keyboard player, is going to need all his skill to help bring this epic quality to the stage and we have every confidence that he can.”

Long cited as a hugely influential act having inspired the likes of Verve, Oasis, White Lies, Interpol, The Killers and Editors, among countless others, the British post punk group previously released widely acclaimed Script of the Bridge (1983), What Does Anything Mean? Basically!' (1984), Strange Times (1986), and Why Call It Anything? (2001).

With Arctic Moon adding to their storied catalog, the band propels forward musically while retaining the essence that made them iconic. “While we’re proud of the band’s legacy, we really wanted to forge something fresh while retaining that profound and imaginative quality we’re known for,” says Vox, reflecting on his band’s history. “We along with a few long-time listeners that are close to us that have heard the new album all agree that we’ve managed to do that and deliver a very strong record.”

Chameleons are Reg Smithies (guitar), Vox (bass, vocals, lyrics), Stephen Rice (guitar), Danny Ashberry (keyboards), and Todd Demma (drums)

Tour dates:

June 28 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield#
June 29 Grand Rapids, MI Frederik Meijer Gardens#
July 1 Columbus, OH Temple Live#
July 2 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls Theatre
July 3 Windsor, ON The Colosseum#
July 4 Rama, ON Casino Rama Resort#
July 5 Buffalo, NY Outer Harbor Live#
July 8 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom#
July 9 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl#
July 10 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
July 11 New Orleans, LA House of Blues#
July 12 Houston, TX House of Blues#
July 14 Dallas, TX House of Blues#
July 15 Austin, TX ACL Live at Moody#
Sept 26 Seattle, WA The Crocodile
Sept 27 Vancouver, BC The Pearl
Sept 28 Portland, OR Revolution Hall
Sept 30 Roseville, CA Goldfield Trading Post
Oct 1 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Oct 2 Los Angeles, CA The Belasco
Oct 3 Santa Ana, CA Observatory
Oct 4 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet's
Oct 5 San Diego, CA Belly Up
Oct 7 Phoenix, AZ Walter Studios
Oct 9 Denver, CO Marquis

# dates with Psychedelic Furs

Photo by Mick Peek, courtesy Reybee PR

Out now: 'Ten Crowns,' by Andy Bell of Erasure

The name of Andy Bell’s third solo album, Ten Crowns – like its cover art, featuring his head on a glistening gold coin – makes Andy laugh: "It sounds like a pub,” he jokes. But behind that title lies ten songs of pop inspired by the dancefloor and gospel, completed in the year he turned 60. The name also refers to the tarot, he says: “The ten crowns on the tree of life, which is a very powerful card to have. And I’d just got my crowns on my teeth done in Miami when I was trying to think about a title,” he adds.

The album release follows the singles 'Lies So Deep,' 'Heart's A Liar', with Debbie Harry, ‘Don’t Cha Know’, 'Dance For Mercy', and ‘Breaking Thru The Interstellar’.

No stranger to collaboration – his four decades of writing and recording with Vince Clarke as Erasure are still going strong, and the duo recently began work on a new album together – Bell threw himself into writing with close friend Dave Audé, the Grammy award-winning producer, remixer and DJ. 

Andy and Dave had previously collaborated on two Billboard Dance Club Songs number ones together: 2014’s ‘Aftermath (Here We Go)’ and 2016’s ‘True Original’, and after those dance tracks, the pair “just kind of carried on writing as an exercise”, Andy explains, “and after that, Dave moved his family to Nashville because LA was so expensive, and so our writing took this kind of gospel-tinged Nashville twist."

He describes how in Nashville there’s a church on every corner (“it reminded me of singing in choirs and cathedral school as a child, where the spirit of the church is imbued in the music"). Not that Ten Crowns is a sombre, spiritual set. It’s propulsive, electronic, passionate, driven by the need to encounter new emotions and experiences as life races on. “I mean, I’ve got everything I could possibly wish for, you know, I really have, but that’s not to say I’m always fulfilled,” Andy says. 

“This album’s about picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, embracing life – and about taking that feeling on even when you’re fighting demons in the world, like homophobia, and fighting demons in yourself. It’s about being celebratory and uplifting.”

Ten Crowns marks an important moment in Andy Bell’s forty-year career. His joy about what that holds, and where it can go, clearly excites him. “It’s my third (sort of) solo record [following 2005’s Electric Blue and 2010’s Non-Stop] and in Erasure, our third album was our most successful out of all that we’ve done, so I’m taking that spirit with me."

Track listing:

Breaking Thru The Interstellar
Lies So Deep
Heart's A Liar feat. Debbie Harry
For Today
Dance For Mercy
Don’t Cha Know
Dawn Of Heaven's Gate
Godspell
Put Your Empathy On Ice
Thank You

Tour dates:

October 3 - Nashville, TN - Basement East

October 7 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre
October 10 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
October 11 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
October 14 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
October 17 - Washington DC - Lincoln Theatre
October 18 - Washington DC - Lincoln Theatre
October 21 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
October 23 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
October 24 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
October 25 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre
October 28 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre
October 29 - Bethlehem, PA - Wind Creek Event Center
November 4 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
November 5 - Columbus, OH - The Anthenaeum
November 7 - Chicago, IL - Metro
November 8 - Chicago, IL - Metro
November 13 - New Orleans, LA - Orpheum Theater
November 14 - San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theater
November 15 - Dallas, TX - Majestic Theatre
November 20 - Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall
November 21 - Park City, UT - The Marquis
November 28 - San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
November 29 - San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
December 2 - Portland, OR - Newmark Theatre
December 3 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue
December 4 - Seattle, WA - ShowBox at the Market
December 6 - Stateline, NV - Harrah's Lake Tahoe
December 9 - Phoenix, AZ - Van Buren
December 10 - San Diego, CA - Music Box
December 12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theater
December 13 - Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theater

Tickets on sale now

Out now: 'Wild and Clear and Blue,' the new album by I’m With Her; U.S. tour starts next month

Folk trio I’m With Her – comprised of multi-Grammy winners Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins — have returned with new album Wild and Clear and Blue via Rounder Records.

They previously shared “Ancient Light” and “Find My Way to You,” and “Standing on the Fault Line.” The latter began in Echo Park as a meditation on weathering the climate change and financial instability of living Los Angeles, but turned into a bigger-picture question of when it’s time to give up on a dream – while noting that both staying or going is an equally courageous choice.

“‘Fault Line’ came from thinking about Los Angeles as a very transient place where many people feel a tension between whether to stick it out and stay or pack up and move on,” says Watkins, co-founder of Grammy-winning bluegrass powerhouse Nickel Creek. “Even if you’ve never been to L.A., I think a lot of people have had the experience of giving up on a dream and needing to pivot to something else.” 

Watkins adds, “Initially we considered having me sing alone on the bridge, but it made the song feel so much smaller...Once Aoife and Jarosz took that section, it created this feeling of being supported by friends or ancestors or internal voices of encouragement—it’s like we subconsciously arranged the song in a way that aligns with all the lyrical themes of the album.”

The long-awaited sophomore album follows the Grammy-nominated 2018 debut See You Around, which nabbed Americana Music Association Awards and International Folk Music Awards, #1s on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums and Folk Albums charts (where it remained charting for 7 months).

I’m With Her will tour North America in support of Wild and Clear and Blue starting in June. The trio has partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting Conscious Alliance’s mission to end hunger nationwide and feed families in need. Learn more at www.consciousalliance.org. Get your tickets now HERE.

Track listing:

01. Ancient Light

02. Wild and Clear and Blue
03. Sisters of the Night Watch
04. Different Rocks, Different Hills
05. Standing on the Fault Line
06. Mother Eagle (Sing Me Alive)
07. Only Daughter
08. Find My Way to You
09. Strawberry Moonrise
10. Year After Year
11. Rhododendron

Tour Dates: 

6/5 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
6/6 - Bloomington, IN - Buskirk-Chumley Theater
6/7 - Ann Arbor, MI - Michigan Theater
6/8 - Grand Rapids, MI - Frederik Meijer Gardens
6/10 - Madison, WI - Capitol Theater
6/11 - Goshen, IN - Sauder Concert Hall
6/13 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
6/14 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitzgerald Theater
6/15 - Iowa City, IA - The Englert Theatre
6/17 - Kansas City, MO - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
6/19 Telluride, CO - Telluride Bluegrass Festival
7/10 - Interlochen, MI - Interlochen Center for the Arts *^
7/11 - Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theatre *^
7/12 - Asheville, NC - Asheville Yards Amphitheater *^
7/13 - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre *^
7/15 - Vienna, VA - Wolf Trap *
7/16 - Westport, CT - Levitt Pavilion^
7/18 - Oak Hill, NY - Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
7/19 - Portland, ME - Thompson's Point *^
7/20 - Burlington, VT - The Green at Shelburne Museum *^
7/21 - Northampton, MA - The Pines Theater *^
7/23 - Richmond, VA - Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden *^
7/24 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre *^
7/25 - Lafayette, NY - Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards *^
7/26 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
9/25 - Oklahoma City, OK - Tower Theatre
9/26 - Dallas, TX - The Majestic Theatre
9/27 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
9/29 - Santa Fe, NM - The Lensic Performing Arts Center
10/1 - San Diego, CA - Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego
10/2 - Los Angeles, CA - John Anson Ford Theatre

10/3 - Santa Barbara, CA - Campbell Hall
10/6 - Davis, CA - Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
10/8 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
10/9 - Bellingham, WA - Mount Baker Theatre
10/10 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
10/11 - Boise, ID - Egyptian Theatre
10/13 - Jackson, WY - Center for the Arts
10/14 - Aspen, CO - Harris Concert Hall
10/15 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
11/4 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall
11/5 - Toronto, ON - Koerner Hall
11/7 - Princeton, NJ - McCarter Theatre Center
11/8 - Boston, MA - Boch Center Shubert Theatre
11/9 - York, PA - Venue TBA
11/11 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
11/12 - Rocky Mount, VA - Harvester Performance Center
11/14 - Charleston, SC - Charleston Music Hall
11/15 - Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
11/16 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

*co-headline with Iron & Wine
^ support from Ken Pomeroy
+ support from Keenan O'Meara

Lord Huron readies album 'The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1' for summer; major American tour throughout the year

Lord Huron — the project of Los Angeles-based songwriter, musician and visual artist Ben Schneider — announces The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, the new album out July 18 via Mercury Records, along with the new single, “Looking Back.” 

The band began teasing the new album over the last few months with singles/videos, “Who Laughs Last” and “Nothing I Need,” which is currently in the Top 10 at Adult Alternative radio.

The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, Lord Huron’s fifth album, was written and co-produced by Schneider. Alongside Schneider are his band members Tom Renaud, Mark Barry and Miguel Briseño, and a host of collaborators, including actress Kristen Stewart (on “Who Laughs Last”) and Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino (on “Fire Eternal”). The album title references the mysterious machine featured on the cover art. Schneider asks: “What if you could choose your fate like choosing a song on a jukebox? What if your finger slipped and you got the B-side instead? What if you misunderstood the meaning of the dang song to begin with?”

Lord Huron’s most recent release “Looking Back” also serves as the album’s opener. Expanding on the song’s theme, Schneider notes, “The weight of your past can distort your present and future, the way massive celestial objects warp the fabric of the universe. Like a bowling ball on a trampoline. This song wonders if it’s possible to let go, or if looking back is a fundamental law of existence.”

Listen to Lord Huron’s “Looking Back”

Later this month, Lord Huron kicks off an entirely sold-out spring tour in celebration of the 10th anniversary of their album Strange Trails. 

Pre-order/save The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1

Watch/Stream:
“Looking Back”
“Who Laughs Last (feat. Kristen Stewart)” video
“Nothing I Need” video

The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1 Track list:

1. Looking Back
2. Bag of Bones
3. Nothing I Need
4. Is There Anybody Out There
5. Who Laughs Last (feat. Kristen Stewart)
6. The Comedian
7. Watch Me Go
8. Fire Eternal (feat. Kazu Makino)
9. It All Comes Back
10. Used To Know
11. Digging Up the Past
12. Life is Strange

Lord Huron Tour Dates:

Thu. May 22 - Reno, NV @ The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort - SOLD OUT *
Fri. May 23 - Boise, ID @ Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden - SOLD OUT *
Sun. May 25 - Missoula, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater - SOLD OUT *
Mon. May 26 - Missoula, MT @ KettleHouse Amphitheater - SOLD OUT *
Wed. May 28 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - SOLD OUT *
Thu. May 29 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre - SOLD OUT *
Sat. May 31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Sandy Amphitheater - SOLD OUT *
Sun. June 1 - Denver, CO @ Outside Festival
Fri. July 18 - Indianapolis, IN @ Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park - SOLD OUT ^
Sat. July 19 - Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed - SOLD OUT ^
Sun. July 20 - Chicago, IL @ Fairgrounds at Salt Shed - SOLD OUT ^
Tue. July 22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Armory - SOLD OUT %
Wed. July 23 @ Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre - SOLD OUT %
Fri. July 25 - Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle %
Sat. July 26 - Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle %
Sun. July 27 - Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park %
Tue. July 29 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion #
Wed. July 30 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden #
Fri. Aug. 1- Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavillion at The Mann %
Sun. Aug. 3 - Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway - SOLD OUT %
Tue. Aug. 5 - Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek %
Thu. Aug. 7 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors @
Fri. Aug. 8 - Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! Outdoor - SOLD OUT @
Sat. Aug. 9 - Rochester Hills, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre @
Wed. Oct. 15 - Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley !
Fri. Oct. 17 - Portland, OR @ Moda Center !
Sat. Oct. 18 - Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena !
Sun. Oct. 19 - Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion !
Tue. Oct. 21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Event Center - SOLD OUT !
Thu. Oct. 23 - Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha - SOLD OUT !
Fri. Oct. 24 - St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena !
Sat. Oct. 15 - Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena !
Mon. Oct. 27 - Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory !
Wed. Oct. 29 - Houston, TX @ 713 Music Hall !
Thu. Oct. 30 - Austin, TX @ Moody Center $
Sat. Nov. 1 - Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre - SOLD OUT $
Sun. Nov. 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum $

* with Molly Lewis
^ with Indigo De Souza
% with Lee Fields
# with Waxahatchee
@ with S.G. Goodman
& with Pillow Queens
! with Kevin Morby
$ with Feist

Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach reveals 2025 music series

The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach's annual Fine Art Show announces the return of its popular outdoor music series. Live performances run daily from July 2-August 29.

The lineup ranges from R&B, smooth jazz, tributes, country favorites and more. 

"We're thrilled to bring back our signature live music series that our guests have come to love and look forward to each summer," said Christine Georgantas, Director of Exhibits and Events at the Festival of Arts. “This summer's line-up features fan-favorite performers and a few exciting new talents, making every night at the Festival an experience of great art, music, and community.”

During its two-month summer season, audiences can enjoy daily live concerts as well as six weekly concert series. Tribute Wednesdays, running July 2 through August 27, features some of Southern California’s most popular tribute bands. Audiences can look forward to performances by Pretzel Logic celebrating the music of Steely Dan, Savor honoring Santana, and Missus Jones paying tribute to Amy Winehouse.

On Thursdays, the Festival’s beloved Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate series returns July 3 through August 28. Sponsored by Charles Schwab and Cambria Estate Winery, this evening series blends live jazz with gourmet chocolate and wine pairings for a multi-sensory experience. Guests can enjoy smooth sounds from artists like The Amanda Castro Band, Scott Wilkie, and Spencer Day while sipping curated wine flights and indulging in treats (additional fee applies).

Festivalgoers in search of toe-tapping rhythms and heartfelt performances will enjoy Southern Nights: Country & Blues, taking place Friday evenings from July 11 through August 29. This lively series brings the spirit of the South to summer nights with blues riffs, country tunes, and feel-good vibes. Highlights include performances by The Salty Suites, honky-tonk standout Victoria Bailey, and acclaimed blues artist Eric Lindell.

Saturday afternoons from July 5 through August 9 come alive with Concerts on the Green, a vibrant daytime series showcasing award-winning jazz and funk performances on the Festival’s picturesque outdoor stage, surrounded by art and ocean breezes. Returning by popular demand are celebrated performers such as Poncho Sanchez, Grace Kelly, and Brian Bromberg. 

As the sun sets on Saturdays, the energy continues with Tribute Saturdays, running July 5 through August 16. This evening series will bring the sounds of rock and pop legends back to life with high-energy tribute acts such as Surf City All Stars, Gypsy Dreams (a tribute to Fleetwood Mac), and The Cream of Clapton Band. 

Closing out the weekend at the Festival of Arts is Soulful Sundays, a series dedicated to soul, R&B, and gospel-infused jazz. From bluesy ballads to uplifting rhythms, patrons will experience smooth vocals and rich rhythms of artists like Derek Bordeaux, Adryon de León, and Terry Steele as they take the stage from July 6 through August 24.

Performances are nightly from 5:30 to 7pm, as well as Saturdays from 1 to 2:30pm (excluding August 23 for a private ticketed event) and select Sundays from 12 to 1:30pm. Concerts at the Festival of Arts are extremely popular and attendees are encouraged to plan ahead by arriving early or purchasing guaranteed seating in advance. Guaranteed seating is available by purchasing a ticket in the reserved section (“Nightclub” VIP seating), which includes admission to both the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show and the concert. Limited free seating is available for each concert with Festival admission. For more information and to purchase seating, visit www.foapom.com/summer-art-show/music-schedule.

Set in the arts destination of Laguna Beach, the Festival of Arts offers guests opportunities to browse and purchase artwork from 120 local artists, enjoy art classes, special events, and more.

To stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, follow the Festival on social media at @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.

GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION

DATES & TIMES

July 2 – August 29, 2025
Monday - Thursday: 4pm – 11:30pm
Friday - Sunday: 11am – 11:30pm
Closed July 4, Early closing August 23 at 1pm

TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission: Monday - Thursday $10, Friday - Sunday $15
Students & Seniors: Monday - Thursday $7, Friday - Sunday $11
Children 6 – 12: Daily $5
Free Admission for Children 5 and under, Military, and Laguna Beach Residents.

Festival of Arts Membership:

Upgrade your summer by becoming a Festival of Arts member! Members receive free admission to the fine art show for themselves and a guest all summer long, plus invites to exclusive events and other VIP perks. Membership starts at $60. To view the membership levels and for more information, visit www.foapom.com/support/membership

LOCATION

Festival of Arts Grounds650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS

(800) 487-3378

www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Festival of Arts, a non-profit 501(c)(3), has always been a local leader that has helped with the growth and development of the community and the arts in Laguna Beach. Established in 1932, the Festival of Arts’ mission is to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts. For nearly every summer for 90 years, the Festival of Arts has produced two world-class events: The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters. Together both shows attract more than 200,000 visitors each year.

The band James to embark on first major North American headline tour in 15+ years; Performing album 'Laid' in full

This tour should feature some amazing setlists. I missed the jaunt with Johnny Marr, so I really hope to catch this one. During the '90s, I interviewed two members of James (including when the band joined one of the last original Lollapalooza tours). Read on for details...

British alt-pop band James will return to North America this fall for the first full headline tour in more than 15 years, performing beloved 1993 album Laid in its entirety for the first time ever. Each night will open with a full performance of Laid, followed by a second set featuring hits, rarities, deep cuts, and fan favorites from across their catalog—including material from their latest UK chart-topping album Yummy.\

The tour starts in September in Atlanta (see routing below). VIP Soundcheck packages are available, offering fans early access to the venue, a chance to witness the final three songs of the band’s soundcheck, a live Q&A with members of James, exclusive, limited edition merch items, and early access to merchandise shopping. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://wearejames.com.

With over 25 million albums sold and a 40+ year legacy, James remains one of the most revered bands to emerge from Manchester’s alternative scene. Laid, produced by Brian Eno and released in 1993, remains a cornerstone of that legacy - selling over 1 million copies worldwide and spawning transatlantic anthems like the title track and “Say Something.” Despite its cultural impact, this marks the first time the band has ever performed the album in full on tour.

“So looking forward to returning to North America,” said vocalist Tim Booth. “This time the album Laid will be the centrepiece of the set lists with the addition of deep cuts and favorites. Catch us before the end of the world and soak in the uplift of our nine piece love bomb.”

The upcoming North American tour follows James’ acclaimed 2024 co-headline run with Johnny Marr, which was met with widespread praise from both fans and critics. 

James returned from a 6-year hiatus in 2008 and have since entered one of their most creative and acclaimed periods, culminating in Yummy (2024)—their first studio album to top the UK Albums Chart. Their 2023 orchestral project Be Opened By The Wonderful celebrated the band’s 40th anniversary.

North American Tour Dates:

Wednesday, September 3rd – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

Thursday, September 4th – Cannery – Nashville, TN
Saturday, September 6th – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC
Sunday, September 7th – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Tuesday, September 9th – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
Wednesday, September 10th – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, September 14th – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Toronto, ON
Monday, September 15th – Beanfield Theatre – Montreal, QC
Wednesday, September 17th – Globe Iron – Cleveland, OH
Thursday, September 18th – Majestic Theatre – Detroit, MI
Saturday, September 20th – Riot Fest* – Chicago, IL
Sunday, September 21st – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
Tuesday, September 23rd – Boulder Theatre – Boulder, CO
Thursday, September 25th – Commonwealth – Salt Lake City, UT
Saturday, September 27th – The Bellwether – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, September 28th – Ohana Festival* – Dana Point, CA
Tuesday, September 30th – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
Thursday, October 2nd – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Saturday, October 4th – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
Sunday, October 5th – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC

*Festival appearances will not include a full performance of Laid

Photo by Ehud Lazin, courtesy Prospect PR