Birds of Chicago LIVE FROM SPACE due for release on April 21st....
Birds of Chicago, Live from Space, captures this rising band in its most joyous, full tilt, rock and roll circus mode. JT Nero and Allison Russell - whose twinned voices already seared their way into so many hearts on their 2013 debut, are joined here by the family band - who take you from raucous rave ups to hushed sermons and back again with ease and swagger. These are songs of everyday magic, hope and heartache - captured on one summer night in front of their hometown fans with no overdubs, splices or edits - play it loud!
Bio
Birds of Chicago is a collective based around JT Nero and Allison Russell. Whether touring as duo or with the full family band, Nero and Russell have emerged as two of the most compelling new voices in North American Roots music.
For several years Russell and Nero’s respective bands, Po' Girl (Vancouver, BC) and JT and the Clouds(Chicago, IL), have collaborated extensively, but in 2011’s Mountains/Forests, released under the JT Nero banner, they tapped into the true, bewitching power of their voices together on an entire record. It also featured the full cast of characters that would round out the Birds of Chicago ensemble - the Clouds and Michelle McGrath, the luminous singer and picker from the hidden hills of Southeast Ohio.
The record received critical raves and won them new fans on both sides of the Atlantic, and created a great deal of excitement for the self-titled official debut Birds of Chicago album, released in January 2013.
Nero’s fractured country-soul voice wrapped in Russell’s silver and gold tones is a fine thing. Not too perfect, not at all saccharine, you’ll hear echoes of mountain gospel, street corner doo-wop, classic soul. Accompanied by just a banjo and a guitar, it’s chilling. Fired by a full band, it’s a full tilt revival.
Nero and Russell are most at home on the road - pick almost any night in the next two years and you can bet they will be in some festival, theatre, pub, roller rink (they wish) or living room, dovetailing their voices, singing their songs of hope, despair, love.... and electric seahorses. And honey bee apocalypses. And ice cream. It's familiar and strange stuff - the everyday and the magical. Come see 'em, they won't be hard to find.
“two of the most compelling new voices in American roots music.” Chicago Sun-Times · “Achingly gorgeous” Chicago Tribune
“striking … a spry imagination … gorgeous” The Irish Times · “never less than interesting and quite often spectacularly wonderful.” Maverick
“Long May They Fly”. NetRhythms · “Roots music made in heaven.” No Depression
“Birds of Chicago excels through the sheer variety and complexity of its sound. These birds can soar.” The Telegraph
Birds of Chicago ∙ UK & Ireland Tour ∙ April-May 2014
Featuring JT Nero & Allison Russell with Joe Faulhaber (guitar) & Will Waghorn (drums, percussion)
APRIL - UK
Thurs 24 Portsmouth The Square Tower
Fri 25 Whitstable The Royal Native Oyster Stores
Sat 26 Lewes The Elephant & Castle
Sun 27 Birmingham The Kitchen Garden Café
Mon 28 Cropredy The Brasenose Arms
Tues 29 Hempstead, nr. Saffron Walden The Bluebell Inn
Weds 30 London Green Note
MAY - Ireland & N. Ireland
Fri 2 Dundalk Vantastival
Sat 3 Enniskillen Ardhowen Theatre
Sun 4 Belfast The Black Box, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival NB. Noon show
Mon 5 Dingle, Co. Kerry McCarthy's Bar, Féile na Bealtaine Music & Arts Festival
Thurs 8 Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Raheen House Hotel
Fri 9 Cork Cypress Avenue
Sat 10 Ballybofey, Co. Donegal Balor Arts Centre
Sun 11 Dublin Upstairs @ Whelan’s