The Jayhawks visit 'Sanctuary Park' in August

Slated for Aug. 28 via Thirty Tigers, The Jayhawks' new album, Sanctuary Park, is prefaced by the lead single, “Keeping Our Heads Above Water.” A fall North American tour is confirmed.

For Sanctuary Park, The Jayhawks reunited with the legendary Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed), who helmed 2000 album Smile. When he heard frontman Gary Louris was seeking a producer, Ezrin immediately signed on and invited the band to his hometown of Toronto to record. “I love their music,” says Ezrin. “There is gentleness and a sweetness to their sound, and I found myself craving a little bit more of that.“

A conscious decision was made to highlight Louris’s songwriting, the band’s three-part harmonies, and the interplay between Louris, keyboard player Karen Grotberg, drummer Tim O’Reagan and bassist Marc Perlman. 

“Get us in a room together and there’s no one better; we have a certain musical magic that happens without even a word or a discussion.” Playing live in the studio made this record what it is... a time, a place, music of the moment.

Listen to “Keeping Our Heads Above Water”

While the album title references an actual location in Dundas, Ontario, Sanctuary Park is also a fictional place where distant memories re-emerge, childhood friends from years prior start speaking again, and teenage lovers start lives that their older selves are determined to renew. In these songs the hands of time tick past regrets and move toward greater possibilities.

The album was recorded in Canada with a Canadian producer and Canadian engineers in a Canadian studio. Lyrically, there are numerous references specific to Canada. After marrying his wife Stephanie, a born and bred proud Canadian, Louris became a permanent resident, giving him a somewhat unique view and perspective that has contributed to the content of these songs. 

Sanctuary Park arrives as the Minneapolis band marks their 40th year - the self-titled first album was released in 1986 and helped shape today’s Americana movement. 

 

The Jayhawks will be touring throughout the world in the fall of 2026 and spring of 2027.

Pre-Order Sanctuary Park

Track list:

1. Keeping Our Heads Above Water
2. Kingston Girl
3. Mr. Lincoln
4. Hands Upon The Wheel
5. Leap Of Faith
6. American Midnight
7. Always And A Day
8. Sanctuary Park
9. Familiar Strangers
10. It'll Be All Right Tonight
11. Rowing The Boat

Tour Dates:

Sat. July 18 - Aitkin, MN @ Aitkin County Fairgrounds
Sat. Aug. 1 - Boone, NC @ Appalachian State University: Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Thu. Aug. 6 - Fort Collins, CO @ Washington's
Fri. Aug. 7 - Steamboat Springs, CO @ Strings Music Pavilion
Sat. Aug. 8 - Boulder, CO @ Chautauqua Auditorium
Fri. Oct. 16 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
Sat. Oct. 17 - Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Sun. Oct. 18 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall
Wed. Oct. 21 - Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
Thu. Oct. 22 - Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Fri. Oct. 23 - New York, NY @ The Town Hall
Sat. Oct. 24 - Boston, MA @ Boch Center - Shubert Theatre
Wed. Nov. 11 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom
Thu. Nov. 12 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Fri. Nov. 13 - Nashville, TN @ CMA Theater
Sat. Nov. 14 - St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall
Tue. Nov. 17 - Lexington, KY @ Kentucky Theatre
Wed. Nov. 18 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
Thu. Nov. 19 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Fri. Nov. 20 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
Sat. Nov. 21 - Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre: Minneapolis
Wed. Dec. 2 - Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
Fri. Dec. 4 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
Sat. Dec. 5 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Tue. Dec. 8 - Grass Valley, CA @ The Center for the Arts
Wed. Dec. 9 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
Fri. Dec. 11 - Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
Sat. Dec. 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether