James McMurtry and Band First Tour of Europe

In 2009, James McMurtry and his band will tour Europe for the first time. McMurtry is touring in support of his new album, Just Us Kids, which has received “Best of the Year” accolades from publications such as The Washington Post, Mojo, Los Angeles Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Legendary musician, Ian McLagan (Faces), will join McMurtry’s band on keyboards for the tour. Austin singer/songwriter, Jon Dee Graham, will open most of the dates. Both McLagan and Graham appear on Just Us Kids.

TOUR DATES:
1/16 Nuremburg, DE K4
1/17 Lauchhammer, DE Real Music Club
1/18 Berlin, DE Cafe Zapata
1/20 Hamburg, DE Knust
1/21 Leipzig, DE Nato
1/22 Heilbronn, DE Red River Saloon
1/23 Eppstein, DE Wunderbar Weite Welt
1/24 Geislingen/Steige, DE Rätsche
1/25 Zürich, CH El Lokal
1/27 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
1/28 Den Haag, NL Paard van Troje
1/29 Den Bosch, NL W2
1/30 Diksmuide, BE Club 4AD
1/31 Bristol, UK Polish Club
2/01 Glasgow, UK Oran Mor (Celtic Connections Festival) *
2/02 Belfast, IE Errigle Inn
2/03 Dublin, IE Whelan’s
2/04 Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
2/05 Newcastle, UK The Cluny
2/06 Nottingham, UK The Maze
2/07 London, UK Luminaire
2/08 London, UK Luminaire

*Jon Dee Graham opening all dates on tour except Celtic Connections Festival

Concert For The (Texas) Coast

This goes out to my home state: Concert For The Coast is a Texas-wide event on Oct. 26, 2008, featuring 10 venues in 10 cities with over 100 artists ( like Band of Heathens, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Gary P Nunn, Rodney Parker and many others), with both acoustic and full band performances, coming together for one cause, to help the recovery process of the millions hit hard by Hurricane Ike.

All events have a suggested donation of $10 per person to enter.  Each event will also feature raffles as well as auctions
of artist merchandise, autographed memorabilia and other items donated by local merchants.  There will also be an online auction concurrent with the events.

Many are struggling without the basic necessities of food, water and shelter. Radio Free Texas has proven that it is a community that cares.  In this spirit, the idea for Concert For The Coast was born.  Radio Free Texas has partnered with others in the Texas Music community to bring a multi city, multi venue benefit event that will help bring much needed relief to the coastal communities and those that call it home.

For more information about the Concert For The Coast benefit event, please contact Nate Smith by calling 512-912-6082 or emailing at nate@tx-live.com

Neko Case 2008 Tour Dates

Scarlett-maned alt.country chanteuse Neko Case is taking some time away from celebrating poetry to partake in an early 2008 road trip. Currently only 6 dates in the northeastern part of the U.S., Twang Nation will let you know if more dates are added, or when a new solo release is due, when we do.

Eric Bachmann, of Crooked Fingers and ex-Archers of Loaf fame, will open all dates.

01-25 Tarrytown, NY – Music Hall
01-26 Ithaca, NY – State Theater
01-27 Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
01-31 Albany, NY – The Egg
02-01 Providence, RI – Lupo’s
02-02 Northampton, MA – Calvin Theater

Case’s label, Anti Records, had recently reissued her back catalog with, alas, no extras or additional goodies.