Folk-Pop Artist Shannon Lay Kicks Off Tour in North America and Europe
Photo Credit: Denée Segall
Tonight, L.A.’s folk-pop artist Shannon Lay embarks on a multi-date tour with Mikal Cronin through North America and Europe, starting in San Francisco at The Independent and finishing up at the end of February in Brighton, UK.
Fresh off the heels of her latest album August— which refers to the exact month when she quit her day job two years ago to pursue music full-time— Lay brings stirring acoustic guitars and soft vocals to culminate into a soothing, gorgeous display over twelve flourishing tracks. “Death Up Close” opens the album exquisitely, with feathery light melodies layered over saxophone and string instruments that lazily fade in and out.
In many ways, the release was her liberation as an artist. About the album, Lay explains, “I always picture music as this river. Everyone’s throwing things into this river, it’s a place you can go to and feed off of that energy, and feel nourished by the fact that so many people are feeling what you’re feeling. It’s this beautiful exchange.”
A quiet resolve rumbles through “Nowhere” next to steady looping percussion, whereas the record’s most delicate moments come to fruition in “November,” backed with a timeless aura and hauntingly melancholic picking reminiscent of the beloved Jim Croce. Her emotion is palpable— her thoughts cautiously meandering with an intentional purpose while submerged in endless contemplation.
The title track comes in as a gentle gallop with steady movements, mirroring the natural flow of rapids. “I was thinking about creating something with momentum. I started out with just the guitar and Laena Geronimo came in and added that gorgeous drone and when Nick Murray put his drum touch in there it was exactly what I never knew it would be.”
Pick up Shannon Lay’s new record, August, online or at independent retailers across North America now.
Tour Dates
Nov. 06 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
Nov. 08 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *
Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Fox Cabaret *
Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern *
Nov. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club *
Nov. 15 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
Nov. 16 - Detroit, MI - Deluxx Fluxx *
Nov. 17 - Toronto, Canada - Horseshoe Tavern *
Nov. 18 - Montreal, Canada - Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B. *
Nov. 19 - Allston, MA - Great Scott *
Nov. 20 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
Nov. 22 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts *
Nov. 23 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall *
Nov. 24 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall *
Nov. 25 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
Nov. 26 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
Nov. 27 - Austin, TX - Barracuda *
Nov. 30 - Tucson, AZ - Toole *
Dec. 01 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah *
Feb. 10 - Munich, DE - Milla *
Feb. 11 - Cologne, DE - Bumann & SOHN *
Feb. 12 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain *
Feb. 13 - Aarhus, DK - TAPE *
Feb. 14 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen *
Feb. 15 - Stockholm, SE - Nalen *
Feb. 17 - Oslo, NO - Ingensteds *
Feb. 18 - Gothenburg, SE - Oceanen *
Feb. 19 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (SkyBar) *
Feb. 20 - Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet *
Feb. 21 - Brussels, BE - Botanique *
Feb. 22 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain *
Feb. 24 - Bristol, UK - The Louisiana *
Feb. 26 - Manchester, UK - Soup Kitchen *
Feb. 27 - Glasgow, UK - The Hug & Pint *
Feb. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club *
Feb. 29 - Brighton, UK - The Hope & Ruin *
* w/ Mikal Cronin
