The Low Anthem To Release New Album, 6/17

The Low Anthem are scheduled to release their new album, Eyeland on June 17 via Washington Square Records.  Pre-sales begin May 20.  They've released an album teaser…check it out below.

An unprecedented collection of multi-dimensional future folk crafted with true vision and emotional depth, EYELAND follows an extraordinary five-year journey for The Low Anthem. What began as a "vague and rather abstract" short story by co-founder/singer/guitarist Ben Knox Miller became real life as Low Anthem immersed themselves in the creation of their own Eyeland Studios, developing Providence's once obsolete Columbus Theatre into an innovative recording space and live concert venue. EYELAND proves a prism of the album's inner themes, refracting Miller and co-founding drummer/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Prystowsky's sonic escapades into a full-blown Möbius strip of music and meaning. Low Anthem's lofty aspirations and creative capriciousness resonate throughout songs like "Her Little Cosmos," "The Pepsi Moon" and "Behind The Airport Mirror," their elegiac arrangements and lyrical frankness marked by shimmering ambience and a hauntingly defiant tension. Psychedelic in the truest sense of that overused word, EYELAND is a perspective-shifting musical experience at once elliptical and intangible yet still precise and powerfully personal. 

Having spent the better part of the decade in their own hermetically sealed universe, The Low Anthem will introduce the world to EYELAND via a world tour, their first in four years. A complete itinerary and ticket information will be announced soon. For updates, please visit www.lowanthem.com/site/touring.

Newport Folk Festival: Fort Stage, 7/31

Newport Folk Festival: July 31 @ Fort Adams, Newport, RI

I took in the Newport Folk Festival again this year. The weather was magnificent and there was plenty of good music to listen too. With camera in hand, I took in the sounds and ate "outdoor" food which, if you know me, is shocking! Check out photos from Saturday, July 31 ... the Fort Stage.

Nneka kicked off things on the Fort Stage. If you haven't had a chance to check her out you should. She made a variety of serious faces. I wasn't sure if she was feeling some sort of pain, metaphorically or literally and if we should be feeling and frowning the same way too. At any rate, she was good.

More photos of Nneka's set, HERE.

Up next, The Low Anthem. They played the Newport Folk Festival last year only on the much smaller Waterside Stage which has moved locations and received a name change. I've come to realize that on record, I'm not all that into the band. But, The Low Anthem are a good live band. They're one of those bands whose members rotate on instruments.

More photos of The Low Anthem's set, HERE.

Brandi Carlile took the stage next. I'd been hearing about how good she is. She was okay, but I wasn't as blown away by her as I expected to be based on the word of mouth that had filtered through my ears. She covered The Beatles, "I've Just Seen A Face" and Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues" during her set.

More photos of Carlile's set, HERE.

Calexico took the stage next. Their sound was heavily tinged with the Mexican folk sound. It wasn't my thing but several people I spoke to, were seriously digging them.

More photos of Calexico's set, HERE.

Crowd favorite Andrew Bird took the stage next. He whistles and fiddles. I'm sorry I just wasn't feeling him though I find him much more enjoyable live than I do on record. The audience loved him so I was clearly in the minority!

More photos of Bird's set, HERE.

The headliner for the day, John Prine, put on a stellar set and was shown some major love by the audience. Jim James, who performed his own set earlier that day on another stage joined Prine. The highlight of his set for me was "Angel From Montgomery." Being the first time I've had the opportunity to see him perform, it was a treat to hear the man himself do the song.

More photos of Prine's set, HERE.