ARLO MCKINLEY & EARLY JAMES
The pairing of ARLO McKINLEY and EARLY JAMES presents a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to experience together two relatively young and fresh American artists who are both rewriting the rules in Americana and associated fields by making music that is honest and idiosyncratic, and committed to finding genuine home truths.
ARLO McKINLEY, heads to Australia on the back of his acclaimed third album This Mess We're In.In 2019, at a show in Nashville, a fan came up and introduced himself. That fan was John Prine, and Arlo's life was soon changed forever, as he became the last artist signed by the late songwriting legend to his pioneering Oh Boy label. This Mess We're In was recorded at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis with an ace band that includes drummer Ken Coomer (Wilco), guitarist Will Sexton and keyboardist Rick Steff (Lucero, Cat Power). Producer Matt Ross-Spang, who's worked with Jason Isbell and Margo Price, is back as well, and for the first time McKinley incorporated strings into some of songs, reflecting his love of artists like Nick Drake and Nick Cave.
Alabama man, EARLY JAMES, released his second album, Strange Time to Be Alive last year. The 29-year-old was discovered by Dan Auerbach working in Birmingham, Alabama; impressed by what he heard, the Black Keys man signed him to his Easy Eye Sound label. Early’s first album Singing For My Supper received huge acclaim (it was as a “luminous debut” according to Mojo) for its cosmic and singular amalgamation Southern blues, country, folk, pop, and jazz; the new one features a guest appearance from Sierra Ferrell and a more electrified sound. Early James has been compared to Tom Waits and while there is something of the surreal and old industrial of late period Waits in his music – the new album’s title is suggestive of that, and more - he sings of life as a progressive Southern man in a world increasingly at odds with progressive notions.
Discover new heroes and get deep with Arlo and Early this March.
TOUR DATES
MARCH
8 - ELTHAM HOTEL, NSW
9 – DOO BOP, BRISBANE, QLD
11,12 – PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL, VIC
14 – BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, MELBOURNE, VIC
16 – THE GREAT CLUB, SYDNEY, NSW
18, 19 – BLUE MOUNTAINS FOLK FESTIVAL, NSW