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Spirit Family Reunion will take to the road in support of their sophomore album Hands Together, released this past April 14th. The 12-song set was mixed by Paul Q. Kolderie (Radiohead, Pixies, Uncle Tupelo) and produced by the band in Coney Island, N.Y. Hands Together followed up the New York band’s critically acclaimed 2012 debut No Separation, a grassroots self-release that resulted in over 10,000 albums sold side-of-stage. Also issued on the band’s own label, Hands Together was released for the first time worldwide (through InGrooves Fontana in the U.S.)
After more than 250 live shows in support of their debut, Spirit Family Reunion have become a live favorite, stunning audiences at the Newport Folk Festival, Stagecoach, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass among other festivals, and touring with Levon Helm, Alabama Shakes, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Dr. Dog, Felice Brothers, Blitzen Trapper, Trampled by Turtles, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Their spirited live show has received critical acclaim, with the SF Weekly naming them one of the best performances at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, noting, “The charge in the air was celebratory. We had been baptized.” On seeing the band live for the first time, Detroit’s Metro Times wrote, “It was like when (Jon) Landau discovered Springsteen. When Aretha discovered Ray Charles.” NPR Music’s Bob Boilen stated that the band were his favorite find at the 2012 Newport Folk Festival.
In an effort to have no divide between the band and its audience, Spirit Family Reunion started playing live in New York City subway stations, farmers’ markets and street corners in 2009 before taking their performances to live music venues. The overflowing energy and lack of separation between the band and audience translated to the stage and also inspired the title of their debut album, one filled with a sound they call “open-door gospel”: gospel music not tied to any specific denomination.
Hands Together was tracked in a temporary studio once belonging to hardcore producer Don Fury and was recorded by the band’s longtime engineer (and longer-time bike mechanic) Andrew Gerhan (Sonny & the Sunsets). It was housed in one of the oldest buildings located on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, above the bumper cars, across from the elevated train and in between Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and the infamous Cyclone rollercoaster. Recording took place in bouts between tour dates, with sessions starting in late winter 2014 and completed in early fall when the area was a ghost town. (During the summer months in between, it was a circus outside.) The band maintained their high-energy classic sound in these sessions, armed such tools as a custom handmade banjo, thrift-store washboards and marching drums, and a vintage Neumann tube microphone they sang around. The studio setting also led to experimenting with some new sounds such as echoplex tape delay, a plastic recorder, and a portable electric organ called a “hymnmaster,” which according to the Internet does not seem to exist.
The band is confirmed to perform at Newport Folk Festival, Red Wing Roots, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, and Mountain Jam, Austin City Limits and at the Los Angeles Bluegrass Situation 2015.
Spirit Family Reunion on tour:
Fri., May 29 CHATTANOOGA, TN Nightfall Concert Series
Sat., May 30 CINCINNATI, OH Bluegrass & BBQ Fest
Tues., June 4 BROOKLYN, NY Mast Brothers
Fri., June 5 HUNTER, NY Mountain Jam
Mon., June 8 LOUISVILLE, KY The New Vintage
Tue., June 9 ST. LOUIS, MO Off Broadway
Thur., June 11 DENVER, CO The Larimer Lounge
Fri., June 12 LANDER, WY Brewfest
Sat.-Sun., June 13-14 JACKSON, WY Contour Music Fest
Wed., June 17 DAVENPORT, IA Redstone Room
Thur., June 18 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Triple Rock Social Club
Fri., June 19 DES MOINES, IA Vaudeville Mews
Sat., June 20 CHICAGO, IL City Winery
Mon., June 22 COLUMBUS, OH Woodland Tavern
Tue., June 23 CLEVELAND, OH Mahall’s
Wed., June 24 BUFFALO, NY The Waiting Room
Thur., June 25 ROCHESTER, NY Party in the Park
Fri., June 26 LONDONERRY, VT Frendly Gathering
Fri., July 3 SAN FRANCISCO, CA The Chapel
Sat., July 4 DAVIS, CA Davis Community Park
Sun., July 5 PETALUMA, CA Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Tue., July 7 LOS ANGELES, CA The Mint
Thur., July 9 SAN DIEGO, CA Soda Bar
Sun., July 12 MT. SOLON, VA Red Wing Roots Music Fest
Sat., July 18 NORTHAMPTON, MA Iron Horse
Sun., July 19 PORTSMOUTH, NH Prescott Park
Sat., July 25 NEWPORT, RI Newport Folk Festival
Fri., July 31 FLORENCE, MA Pines Theatre at Look Park
Fri., Aug. 21 RUSSELL, MA Apple Jam
Sun., Aug. 23 WOODBRIDGE, NJ Music on Main Street
Fri., Sept. 4 WILKES BARRE, PA Kirby Chandelier Series
Sat., Sept. 5 NEWTOWN, CT Edmond Town Hall
Sun., Sept. 13 BURLINGTON, VT Grand Point North
Sat., Sept. 19 BRISTOL, TN/VA Bristol Rhythm & Roots
Sat., Oct. 3 LOS ANGELES, CA Bluegrass Situation Festival, Greek Theater
Fri., Oct. 9 ROSELAND, VA The Festy Experience
Sat., Oct. 10 CLAYTON, NC Clayton Shindig
Sun., Oct. 11 AUSTIN, TX Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival
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