When I first heard about Memphis singer/songwriter Valerie June she was a member of the roots collective The Wandering. She was part of a roster including Luther Dickinson, Shannon McNally, Amy LaVere, and Sharde Thomas. June singing and banjo allowed her to stand out deliriously talented bunch.
On the track “Twined and Twisted,” (hear it below) Valerie’s soaring vocals, serenaded by delicate acoustic guitar, reminds me a bit Nina Simone, a bit Buffy Sainte Marie. And yet she is wholly her own.
June’s debut album “Pushin’ Against A Stone” is co-produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach with Kevin Augunas. It’s due out 8/13 on Concord Records.
Valerie June – “Twined and Twisted”
Valerie June – 2013 Tour Dates
Jul 19 Gent Jazz Festival Gent, Belgium
Jul 21 Latitude Henham Park, United Kingdom
Jul 25 THEATRES ROMAINS DE FOURVIERE Lyon, France
Jul 27 New Music Supper Club London, United Kingdom
Jul 28 Cambridge Folk Festival Cambridge, United Kingdom
Aug 01 Zomerparkfeest Venlo, Netherlands
Aug 02 Esperanzah Festival Floreffe, Belgium
Aug 03 Camp Bestival Dorset, United Kingdom
Aug 10 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
Aug 14 City Winery New York, NY
Aug 15 Tin Angel Philadelphia, PA
Aug 17 Chenango Blues Festival Norwich, NY
Aug 18 IOTA Club & Cafe Arlington, VA RSVP
Aug 24 Rock En Seine Paris, France
Aug 25 Cabaret Verts Charleville-Mézières, France
Aug 30 Zurich Open Air Zurich, Switzerland
Aug 31 Electric Picnic County Laois, Ireland
Sep 01 End of the Road Festival Gardenstown, United Kingdom
Sep 06 Into the Great Wide Open Vlieland, Netherlands
Sep 08 Bestival Isle Of Wight, United Kingdom
Nov 09 La Cigale Paris, France
Nov 10 Stereolux Nantes, France
Nov 12 Bikini Toulouse, France
Nov 13 Le 106 Rouen, France
Nov 19 Moods Zurich, Switzerland
Nov 22 Tivoli Utrecht, Netherlands
Nov 25 Thekla Bristol, United Kingdom
Nov 26 Islington Assembly Hall London, United Kingdom