Elvis Costello lines up 'Secret' spring tour
Elvis Costello has lined up a few spring concert dates in the US as he continues to back last summer's "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane," the veteran rocker's 25th studio album.
Following a Feb. 7 date in Edmonton, Alberta, Costello will kick off the outing with an April 8 solo performance in Napa, CA. Later that same month, Costello will hit a few southern US venues with The Sugarcanes, featuring the same lineup that helped him record his most recent album. Those dates include an April 29 appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Fest and a May 1 slot at Wilkesboro, NC's MerleFest.
The trek closes with a pair of late-May performances in Dallas, where Costello will be backed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Currently confirmed dates are included at right.
"Secret, Profane & Sugarcane," Costello's most recent studio album, surfaced last June. The set was recorded over three days at Nashville's Sound Emporium Studio, and was released on Starbucks' Hear Music label, which is available at participating Starbucks outlets in the US and Canada, as well as at traditional music retailers.
The album was produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, who also co-wrote two songs, "Sulphur to Sugarcane" and "The Crooked Line," the latter of which features guest vocalists Jim Lauderdale and Emmylou Harris. Costello also collaborated with Loretta Lynn for the second time in his career, on "I Felt The Chill."
On other fronts, Costello recently launched the second season of his Sundance Channel music/talk series, "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...," with a Dec. 9 episode featuring Bono and The Edge. Additional confirmed guests for the seven-part second season include Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Ron Sexsmith, Neko Case, Ray LaMontagne, Nick Lowe, Levon Helm, Richard Thompson and Allen Toussaint.
February 2010
7 - Edmonton, Alberta - Winspear Centre
April 2010
8 - Napa, CA - Napa Valley Opera House
11 - San Diego, CA - Balboa Theatre
24 - Richmond, VA - The National
27 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
29 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
May 2010
1 - Wilkesboro, NC - MerleFest
15 - Reno, NV - Peppermill Resort
28, 29 - Dallas, TX - Meyerson Symphony Center
Barenaked Ladies Planning 'Good Time' Release, Olympics Gigs
The Barenaked Ladies will release their 11th studio album, All in Good Time," on Mar. 30 following a string of live dates at the Super Bowl and Vancouver Winter Olympics. The band has already been previewing the album's first single, "You Run Away," on a recent U.S. road trip, and the official track will hit radio later this month.
"This is a really important record for us and we're really proud of it," frontman Ed Robertson said in a statement. "We're redefining who we are, and how we communicate as a band, and as friends."
Recording for "All in Good Time" began in spring of 2009 in Toronto, where Roberston and his bandmates teamed up with producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda and mixed the album with Bob Clearmountain (Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones). "Good Time" will be released on Barenaked Ladies' Raisin Records through an exclusive worldwide deal with EMI Music.
"The album has an emotional rawness to it that we may have shied away from in the past," added Robertson. "I think we pushed ourselves to heavier places, and also allowed for some really spacious moments. We can't wait to play these songs live."
Barenaked Ladies have so far lined up three gigs leading up to the album release -- a Feb. 6 performance at the pre-Super Bowl event "Taste of the NFL," plus a Feb. 16 gig at the Olympic Victory Ceremony in Vancouver and the Olympic Village Free Show in Whistler on Feb. 17. Ticket information is available at tasteofthenfl.com and vancouver2010.com.