We are pleased, no wait OVERJOYED to announce that Kurt Vile & Courtney Barnett will be touring North America this fall with an all-star band. This announcement comes alongside the news that the two have completed a collaboration album that will be released later this year…

(photo credit: Danny Cohen)

The inter-continental duo will share the stage, performing songs off their upcoming album as well as delving into their respective back catalogues and covering a bunch of classics, all backed by their band ‘The Sea Lice,’ a revolving cast of musicians including Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint), Rob Laakso (The Violators, The Swirlies, Mice Parade) and Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sky Larkin and touring member of Sleater-Kinney and Wild Beasts). “A cookin’ band and an intercontinental country duo for the ages—minus the country,” says Vile.

Courtney recalls the seeds of the collaboration:

“In 2014 I scored a support slot opening for Kurt at the Abbotsford Convent [outside Melbourne]. We met briefly after the show but I was a bit nervous and didn’t wanna bother him, just grateful for the gig. Years later we started bumping into each other on the festival circuit all around the wide world and we became friends. He hit me up when he was coming to Melbourne next and said he thought we could work together.”

As Kurt tells it:

“I just love her voice in general… great lyrics of course… I love all her music but the song that really hit me was “Depreston”—I know it’s popular but her voice is so good in that song and it’s so pretty and sincere… i’m a sucker for that kinda song: instant classic.

It started out as, maybe we’ll do a split 7″ together but then I figured let’s make it a 12″ so it doesn’t get lost in the world, shoot for 5 songs. It wasn’t until i had another KV tour booked for the following summer in Oz that we thought we should record as much as we can, just see what happens, no major goal to make it a full length, but it came together that way ‘cause the vibe was so strong with everyone.”



For Courtney, the admiration is mutual:

I’m a huge Kurt fan. Smoke Ring was one of my first purchases on vinyl. I was getting over a big break-up, unemployed and drifting and I would just lie on my bed and listen to ‘Peepin’ Tom’ on repeat. One of the most beautiful and luscious albums I ever heard. Me and Jen fell in love to that album.”

Kurt and Courtney have partnered with Plus 1 so that $1 from every ticket goes to support the ACLU and their work defending and protecting our individual rights and liberties. Support for the Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile (and The Sea Lice) tour will be Australian songwriter Jen Cloher.

The album is the result of 8 days in the studio spread over almost 15 months when Courtney and Kurt’s respective touring schedules allowed for them to be in the same place at the same time. It will be released later this year jointly by Matador Records, Marathon Artists and Milk! Records.

Tickets for the tour go on sale on Friday, but you can grab them early using the code BLUEBERRYHILL today starting at noon in your local market.

TOUR DATES

Wednesday, October 11 – House Of Blues, San Diego, CA

Saturday, October 14 – The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA

Sunday, October 15 – Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, October 18 – Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA

Friday, October 20 – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR

Saturday, October 21 – Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA

Sunday, October 22 – The Showbox, Seattle, WA

Wednesday, October 25 – Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN

Thursday, October 26 – Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL

Friday, October 27 – Rockerfeller Chapel, Chicago, IL

Saturday, October 28 – Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL

Monday, October 30 – Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI

Tuesday, October 31 – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Wednesday, November 1 – Beacon Theatre, New York, NY

Friday, November 3 – Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, PA

Saturday, November 4 – Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA

Thursday, November 9 – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

Friday, November 10 – McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX

Saturday, November 11 – ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Austin, TX

KURT ONLINE