New album out on August 30
Joan Shelley has released her new song and music video “The Fading,” the third and final preview of her next album, Like the River Loves the Sea, out August 30th on No Quarter Records. Featuring harmonies from Bonnie “Prince” Billy and waves of violin, viola, and cello from Icelandic siblings Þórdís Gerður Jónsdóttir and Sigrún Kristbjörg Jónsdóttir, Shelley delivers scenic revelations of the grace in the chaos of nature, and how – as Mojo praises in an early 4-star review – “gleefully culpable we can be for the messes we make in our world.”
Watch the video for “The Fading” (animation by Lettie Jane Rennekamp):
The Louisville-native Shelley recorded and co-produced Like the River Loves the Sea over five days at Greenhaus Studios in Reykjavík, Iceland. The music, however, is ultimately rooted in her Kentucky homeland, a sentiment she sings in the final verse of “The Fading”: “And oh, Kentucky stays in my mind, it’s sweet to be five years behind. That’s where I’ll be when the seas rise, holding my dear friends and drinking wine.”
Of the song, Shelley says “[it] has to do with that moment when something breaks down: a river jumping the bank and causing a flood, a car breaking down, or a romantic breakup. If you can get through it, it is a precious moment. To stop and look around at the world, to see when a pattern hasn’t been working or no longer works. It’s a chance to change gears but also a chance to simply see. Look around a little.”
Like the River Loves the Sea includes 12 new songs, all written by Shelley, with production from James Elkington, guitar from Nathan Salsburg, and additional vocals from Shelley’s reunited trio Maiden Radio. In the UK, the album has already earned a 9/10 review from Uncut Magazine, and 4/5 stars from both Mojo and Q.
Listen to previous singles “Coming Down For You” and “Cycle,” which have garnered raves from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, Stereogum, and others.
Starting in September, Shelley brings the new music to over 30 tour dates across the US – find them all here and below.
Pre-Order Like the River Loves the Sea here.
Joan Shelley Tour Dates
Aug. 30 – Naperville, IL – The Union
Sept. 4 – Bloomington, IN – Landlocked Music
Sept. 6 – Sept. 8 – Louisville, KY – Pete Fest
Sept. 13 – Madisonville, KY – Glema Mahr Center For The Arts
Sept. 27 – Denver, CO – The Walnut Room ^
Sept. 28 – Fort Collins, CO – Elizabeth Hotel ^
Sept. 29 – Colorado Springs, CO – Lulu’s ^
Oct. 3 – Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan Lounge
Oct. 9 – Sisters, OR – Suttle Lodge
Oct. 10 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Oct. 11 – Seattle, WA – Auditorium
Oct. 12 – Bainbridge Island, WA – Treehouse Café
Oct. 24 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord *
Oct. 25 – Nashville, TN – City Winery Lounge
Oct. 26 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic *
Oct. 27 – Asheville, NC – Ambrose West
Oct. 29 – Charlotte, NC – Stage Door Theater *
Oct. 30 – Carrboro, NC – Back Room *
Nov. 1 – Roanoke, VA – Spot On Kirk *
Nov. 2 – Lexington, KY – The Burl *
Nov. 6 – Cincinnati, OH – Southgate House *
Nov. 7 – Nelsonville, OH – Stuarts Opera House *
Nov. 8 – Thomas, WV – Purple Fiddle *
Nov. 9 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java
Nov. 10 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern *
Nov. 13 – Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle *
Nov. 14 – Brooklyn, NY – Park Church Co-Op
Nov. 15 – Boston, MA – Cafe 939
Nov. 16 – Woodstock, NY – Colony *
Nov. 17 – Rochester, NY – Bop Shop Records *
Nov. 19 – Toronto, ON – Drake
Nov. 20 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark *
Dec. 4 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club #
Dec. 6 – Sheboygan, WI – Paradigm Coffee #
Dec. 6 – Stoughton, WI – Stoughton Opera House #
Dec. 7 – Milwaukee, WI – Collectivo Coffee #
Dec. 8 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk #
^ w/ Nathan Salsburg
* w/ Jake Xerxes Fussell
# w/ Daughter of Sword
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