The Handsome Family: on tour in the UK & Ireland

Dark country folk duo The Handsome Family will be on tour in the UK and Ireland this May to promote the reissue of their Singing Bones. If The World Should End In Fire from that album is an uncanny summation of the current clusterfuck right now. Brett and Rennie Sparks will surely dig into the rest of their catalog of Gothic Americana as well.

The Handsome Family: on tour in the UK & Ireland

photo: Jason Creps

Dark country folk duo The Handsome Family will be on tour in the UK and Ireland this Summer. It's been awhile since their last trip across the big pond, but a live video from 2021 proofs that Brett and Rennie Sparks are in good shape to deliver the goods.

The Handsome Family: European Spring tour dates

Dark country folk duo The Handsome Family will be hitting the road again for a European Spring tour, playing shows in Ireland, the UK, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmrak and Norway.

Live dates:

• 04/27 Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street
• 04/28 Belfast, United Kingdom @ St. Anne's Cathedral
• 04/29 Cork, Ireland @ Crane Lane
• 04/30 Kilkenny, Ireland @ Kilkenny Roots Festival
• 05/02 Valencia, Spain @ Loco Club
• 05/03 Madrid, Spain @ Teatro Lara
• 05/04 Aviles, Spain @ Teatro Palicio Valdes
• 05/06 Hengelo, Netherlands @ Metropool
• 05/07 Rotterdam, Netherlands @ Rotown

The Handsome Family: European Fall tour dates

Dark country folk duo The Handsome Family will be hitting the road again for a European Fall tour, playing shows in Germany, The Netherlands, France and Italy.

Live dates:

• 09/22 cologne, germany @ gebäude 9
• 08/23 hannover, germany @ cafe glocksee
• 09/24 hamburg, germany @ reeperbahn festival
• 09/26 frankfurt, germany @ zoom
• 09/28 berlin, germany @ postbahnhof
• 09/29 munich, germany @ milla
• 10/01 eindhoven, the netherlands @ de kapel
• 10/02 breda, the netherlands @ mezz
• 10/03 groningen, the netherlands @ grand theatre
• 10/04 utrecht, the netherlands @ ekko
• 10/08 paris, le point ephemere
• 10/10 milan, italy @ il maglio
• 10/11 rome, italy @ monk club
• 10/12 ravenna, italy @ bronson
• 10/13 turin, italy @ hiroshima mon amour

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: tour dates

Dark country folk duo The Handsome Family will be hitting the road again for an USA Summer tour. Europe is next in the Fall.

USA dates:

• 07/31 Santa Fe, NM @ The Santa Fe Bandstand (free show w/ special guest Pawn Drive
• 08/18 Minneapolis, MN @ Walker Art Center ((free show )
• 08/20 Iowa Vity, IA @ The Englert Theater
• 08/22 Louisville, KY @ Decca Cellar Lounge*
• 08/23 Nashville, TN @ The Basement*
• 08/25 Hickory, NC @ House Concert (email for info)*
• 08/26 Greensboro, NC @ The Blind Tiger*
• 08/28 Arlington, VA @ Iota Club and Cafe*
• 08/29 Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade*
• 08/30 New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge*
• 08/31 Charleston, RI @ Rhythm & Roots Festival*
• 09/05 Chicago, IL @ Hideout Block Party/Onion AV Fest

* w/ Richard Buckner supporting

European dates:

• 10/09 Bilbao, Spain @ Azkena
• 10/10 Barcelona, Spain @ Sala la (2) Apolo
• 10/11 Madrid, Spain @ Sala Sol
• 10/12 Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz), Spain @ Monkey Week Festival @ Teatro Pedro Muñoz Seco2
• 10/14 Bergen, Norway @ Lille Ole Bull
• 10/15 Stavanger, Norway @ Cementen
• 10/16 Oslo, Norway @John Dee
• 10/17 Tromso, Norway @Blaa Rock
• 10/18 Trondheim, Norway @ Moskus
• 10/20 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Bremen
• 10/21 Odense, Denmark @ Posten
• 10/22 Aalborg, Denmark @ Studenthuset
• 10/25 Malmo, Sweden @ Kulturbolaget
• 10/26 Stockholm, Sweden @ Nalen
• 10/29 London, UK @ lslington Assembley Hall

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: Denmark added to European tour

Country folk duo The Handsome Family have added two shows in Denmark and an another show in Sweden to their European tour.

Live dates:

• 04/26 Stockholm, Sweden @ Stacken
• 04/27 Göteborg, Sweden @ Pustervik
• 04/28 Aarhus, Denmark @ Radar
• 04/29 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Musikcaféen
• 04/30 Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Paradiso
• 05/02 Deventer, The Netherlands @ Burgerweeshuis
• 05/02 Hengelo, The Netherlands @ Metropool
• 05/03 The Hague, The Netherlands @ Paard van Troje
• 05/09 Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
• 05/10 Hebden Bridge, UK @ The Trades Club
• 05/12 Brighton, UK @ Komedia
• 05/14 100 Club London, UK @ 100 Club
• 05/16 Newbury, UK @ Arlington Arts Centre

More date tba.

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: more Dutch dates and a show in Sweden added to European tour

Country folk duo The Handsome Family have added shows in Sweden and The Netherlands to their European tour. All confirmed dates so far:

• 04/27 Göteborg, Sweden @ Pustervik
• 04/30 Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Paradiso
• 05/02 Deventer, The Netherlands @ Burgerweeshuis
• 05/02 Hengelo, The Netherlands @ Metropool
• 05/03 The Hague, The Netherlands @ Paard van Troje
• 05/09 Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
• 05/10 Hebden Bridge, UK @ The Trades Club
• 05/12 Brighton, UK @ Komedia
• 05/14 100 Club London, UK @ 100 Club
• 05/16 Newbury, UK @ Arlington Arts Centre

More date tba.

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: shows in Holland and the UK

Country folk duo The Handsome Family will be playing in Europe this Spring. Confirmed dates so far:

• 04/30 Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Paradiso
• 05/09 Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
• 05/10 Hebden Bridge, UK @ The Trades Club
• 05/12 Brighton, UK @ Komedia
• 05/14 100 Club London, UK @ 100 Club
• 05/16 Newbury, UK @ Arlington Arts Centre

More date tba.

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: live @ Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival, tour dates

Watch country folk duo The Handsome Family performing at the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival in San Francisco, CA - 2013/10/05.

Australia & New Zealand dates:

• 10/10 Manly, Australia @ The Moonshine Bar (free show)
• 10/12 Melbourne, Australia @ Melbourne Festival
• 10/13 Sydney, Australia @ The Basement
• 10/14 Brisbane, Australia @ The Blackbear Lodge
• 10/16 Adelaide, Australia @ The Grace Emily
• 10/19 Masterton, New Zealand @ Kokomai @ King Street Live
• 10/20 Napier, New Zealand @ House Concert
• 10/22 Wellington, New Zealand @ Bodega
• 10/23 Lyttelton, New Zealand @ Naval Point Yacht Club
• 10/24 Leigh, New Zealand @ Sawmill Café
• 10/25 Auckland, New Zealand @ Galatos

USA dates:

• 11/08 Seattle, WA @ The Sunset $
• 11/09 Portland, OR @ The Doug Fir Lounge $
• 11/10 Eugene, OR @ Sam Bond's $
• 11/12 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord $
• 11/13 Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage (supporting Mary Gauthier)
• 11/14 Davis, CA @ The Mondavi Center: Jackson Hall, UC Davis #
• 11/15 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Rio Theatre #
• 11/16 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Rio Theatre #
• 11/18 Arcata, CA @Humboldt State University (Van Duzer Theatre) #
• 11/19 Chico, CA @ Cal. State University (Laxson Auditorium) #
• 11/21 Santa Barbara, CA @ UC Santa Barbara(Campbell Hall) #
• 11/22 Los Angeles, The Bootleg Theater

$ support act Wildewood
# supporting Andrew Bird

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: "Woodpecker" video, new album "Wilderness" 05/14

Country folk duo The Handsome Family will release their new album Wilderness on May 14th. They have made a video for Woodpecker. The clip was directed by Chris Hefner. Brett and Rennie Sparkswill be touring behind the new album in the UK and the USA.

The album is released by Carrot Top Records - the Deluxe Box edition includes: the album on LP (w/ download code) and a companion book of essays & art by Rennie Sparks, 6-postcard set, & 11x17" Poster.

Listen to Owls, one of the new album's tracks.

UK live dates (w/ support act Snowapple)

• 05/16 Liverpool @ The Kazimier
• 05/17 Manchester @ The Ruby Lounge
• 05/18 Glasgow @ The Arches
• 05/19 Gateshead @ Gateshead Old Town Hall
• 05/21 Sheffield @ Greystones
• 05/22 Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club
• 05/24 Kirkbymoorside @ The Band Room
• 05/25 Hebbden Bridge @ The Trades Club
• 05/26 Leicester @ The Musician
• 05/28 Norwich @ Norwich Arts Centre
• 05/29 London @ Islington Assembly Hall
• 05/30 Bristol @ The Fleece
• 05/31 Oxford @ The Bullingdon

USA live dates:

• 06/20 Cambridge,MA @ Club Passim ^
• 06/21 Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts ^
• 06/22 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine ^
• 06/23 Hudson, NY @ Club Helsinki ^
• 06/27 New York, NY @ The Slipper Room ^
• 06/28 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live ^
• 06/29 Brooklyn, NY @ The Knitting Factory ^
• 07/19 Minneapolis,MN @ The Cedar Cultural Center $
• 07/20 Madision, WI @ @ The High Noon Saloon (early show) $
• 07/22 Chicago, IL @ FREE SHOW @ Pritzker Pavillion
• 07/24 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
• 07/25 Bloomington IN @ The Bishop *
• 07/26 Louisville, KY @ Headliners #
• 07/27 Athens, OH @ The Union *
• 07/28 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark *

^ w/ Sean Rowe
$ w/ Azita
# w/ Cathy Irwin and Danny Barnes
* w/ Danny Barnes

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: new album "Wilderness" 05/14, tour dates

Country folk duo The Handsome Family will release their new album Wilderness on May 14th. Brett and Rennie Sparks will be touring behind the new album in the UK and the USA. The CD release party will be held in their hometown Albuquerque on May 4th.

The album is released by Carrot Top Records - the Deluxe Box edition includes: the album on LP (w/ download code) and a companion book of essays & art by Rennie Sparks, 6-postcard set, & 11x17" Poster.

Listen to Spider, one of the new album's tracks.

CD release show:

• 05/04 Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits
  (CD Release show w/ Pawn Drive and Next Three Miles)

UK live dates (w/ support act Snowapple)

• 05/16 Liverpool @ The Kazimier
• 05/17 Manchester @ The Ruby Lounge
• 05/18 Glasgow @ The Arches
• 05/19 Gateshead @ Gateshead Old Town Hall
• 05/21 Sheffield @ Greystones
• 05/22 Leeds @ Brudenell Social Club
• 05/24 Kirkbymoorside @ The Band Room
• 05/25 Hebbden Bridge @ The Trades Club
• 05/26 Leicester @ The Musician
• 05/28 Norwich @ Norwich Arts Centre
• 05/29 London @ Islington Assembly Hall
• 05/30 Bristol @ The Fleece
• 05/31 Oxford @ The Bullingdon

USA live dates:

• 06/20 Cambridge,MA @ Club Passim ^
• 06/21 Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts ^
• 06/22 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine ^
• 06/23 Hudson, NY @ Club Helsinki ^
• 06/27 New York, NY @ The Slipper Room ^
• 06/28 Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live ^
• 06/29 Brooklyn, NY @ The Knitting Factory ^
• 07/19 Minneapolis,MN @ The Cedar Cultural Center $
• 07/20 Madision, WI @ @ The High Noon Saloon (early show) $
• 07/22 Chicago, IL @ FREE SHOW @ Pritzker Pavillion
• 07/24 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
• 07/25 Bloomington IN @ The Bishop *
• 07/26 Louisville, KY @ Headliners #
• 07/27 Athens, OH @ The Union *
• 07/28 Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark *

^ w/ Sean Rowe
$ w/ Azita
# w/ Cathy Irwin and Danny Barnes
* w/ Danny Barnes

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: UK tour in May

photo: Mark Owen

Brett and Rennie Sparks, better known as the Gothic folk duo extraordinaire The Handsome Family, will be on tour in the UK in May.

Live dates:

• 05/16 Leeds @ The Brudenell
• 05/17 Glasgow @ St. Andrews In The Square
• 05/19 Belfast @ Spring & Airbrake
• 05/21 Bristol @ The Fleece
• 05/23 Liverpool @ Leaf
• 05/24 Manchester: Chorlton Arts Festival @ St Clements
• 05/25 Oxford @ The Bullingdon Arms
• 05/26 Norfolk And Norwich Festival
• 05/27 London @ The 100 Club

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: tour dates

photo: Mark Owen

The Handsome Family released a rarities album this Summer - Scattered: A Further Collection of Lost Demos, Orphaned Songs and Odd Covers. The alt.folk duo will support the release with a tour beginning in early January.

Live dates:

• 01/19 Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC
• 01/20 Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
• 01/21 Doug Fir, Portland, OR
• 01/22 Sam Bond's Garage, Eugene, OR
• 01/25 Freight and Salvage, Berkeley, CA
• 01/26 Cafe DuNord, - San Francisco, CA
• 01/28 Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles, CA
• 01/29 McCabe's Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA

» handsomefamily.com

The Handsome Family: tour dates

photo: Mark Owen

The Handsome Family, arguably one the best American dark folk twosomes, embarks on a West Coast Tour and a stint at a Canadian festival. They return to Europe in October. Definitely Spain, hopefully some other places.

• 07/14 Seattle @ Tractor Tavern
• 07/15 Vancouver @ the Biltmore
• 07/16 Dawson City Music Festival
• 07/17 Dawson City Music Festival
• 07/21 Portland @ Doug Fir
• 07/23 San Francisco @ Bottom of the Hill
• 07/24 Santa Cruz @ the Crepe Place
• 07/25 Los Angeles @ Spaceland
• 07/26 Los Angeles @ McCabe’s
• 07/29 Tucson @ the Congress

» handsomefamily.com

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus

Finally got around to purchasing the DVD of this brilliant documentary:

SEARCHING FOR THE WRONG-EYED JESUS is a captivating and compelling road trip through the creative spirit of the South featuring 'Alt Country' singer Jim White and his beaten-up Chevy Impala drifting past churches, trailer parks, prisons, truck stops, biker bars and coalmines to a superb musical soundtrack. Jim's roadside encounters with musical mavericks like the Handsome Family, Johnny Dowd, David Eugene Edwards, ex-New York Doll David Johansen and Melissa Swingle add to the atmosphere with their live performances. Plus there's old time banjo player Lee Sexton; rockabilly mountain gospel choirs and novelist Harry Crews telling grisly stories down a dirt track.

» searchingforthewrongeyedjesus.com
» plexi.co.uk/wrongeyed.html

More good news about Jim White. He told me last night after the Hellwood show in Amsterdam that there will be a new album in March.

» jimwhite.net