The Huntress and Holder of Hands, who recently announced the release of their debut album (Avalon, Sept. 15), kick off a three week U.S. tour on Sept. 15 in the band’s hometown of Warren, R.I at Hope & Main.
“Warren has been experiencing an influx of music and art, and I’m thrilled to be part of that,” explains The Huntress and Holder of Hands’ founder and beloved member of the duo, Brown Bird. “It feels incredible to finally be bringing this project out into the world, and to begin and end in Warren and Providence feels like a ‘coming home’ to the musical life and community I belong in.”
The dates come as the band shares the first full song from the forthcoming, 10-song release, “Borealis” (http://soundcloud.com/supplyanddemand/borealis).
Avalon tour dates:
September 15 Warren, RI Common Fence Music Presents at Hope & Main
September 16 Strafford, NH Pawtuckaway Takedown
September 17 Northampton, MA The Parlor Room
September 19 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
September 20 Philadelphia, PA Boot & Saddle
September 21 Pittsburgh, PA Diesel Club
September 22 Lakewood, OH Mahalls
September 24 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
September 26 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
September 27 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
September 29 Davenport, IA Redstone Room
September 30 Indianapolis, IN Square Cat Vinyl
October 2 Washington, DC The Black Cat
October 5 Burlington, VT Arts Riot
October 6 Providence, RI The Columbus Theatre
Previously announced dates:
July 27 Providence, RI Burnside Park Summer Series
August 3 Greenfield, MA Root Cellar
August 4 Portland, ME Space Gallery
“I had a very conscious realization that either I start writing my own music or I never touch music ever again,” Swain says of her decision to return to music following the passing of her musical partner and husband Dave Lamb. “It seemed totally black-and-white to me. I thought, ‘If I don’t do this now, and if too much time passes, I’ll never do it.’
Just as Brown Bird was taking flight, with a handful of acclaimed albums, nonstop touring, and a star-making performance at the Newport Folk Festival, Lamb was diagnosed with leukemia. Though the year-long ordeal that followed was full of incredible support and unwavering hope, he succumbed in April 2014, gone far too soon at 36, leaving Swain on her own to carry a torch for the duo’s brief but enduring legacy.
Swain sings, plays viola, guitar, bass and ukulele in The Huntress and Holder of Hands. Rounding out the line-up are Emily Dix Thomas (cello/vocals), Liz Isenberg (double bass/vocals), James Maple (drums) and Spencer Swain (electric bass/violin).
