Photo credit: Heather Pollock
Cowboy Junkies will visit the UK for the first time in four years as part of their ‘Celebrating 40 Years and Beyond’ tour. The extensive run of shows includes a prestigious London date at The Palladium on May 11th. To coincide with the tour ‘Open To Beauty’, a 3LP or 2CD set that looks back at the band's releases this century is set for release on May 1st via Cooking Vinyl. More about one of Canada’s finest bands, the upcoming collection, and full tour dates follow:
Cowboy Junkies have announced an extensive, "Celebrating 40 Years and Beyond" UK tour for April and May this year, When they last played the UK in 2022, The Telegraph said: “Taking their influences from classic blues and folk but also the punk of their youth, the band roamed across a wide musical terrain, overlaying their songs with a hushed intricacy. This was beautiful...Dates are as follows:
April
29/4 – BATH Komedia
30/4 – BEXHILL De La Warr Pavillion
May
3/5 – EDINBURGH Queen’s Hall
4/5 – ULVERSTON The Coro
6/5 – SUNDERLAND The Fire Station
7/5 – BIRMINGHAM Town Hall
9/5 – LEEDS Howard Assembly Rooms
10/5 – MANCHESTER New Century
11/5 – LONDON The Palladium
13/5 – MILTON KEYNES The Stables
14/5 – NORWICH Norfolk & Norwich Festival
Tickets on sale January 30: https://cowboyjunkies.com/tour/
Coinciding with the tour, Cowboy Junkies are to release a 3-LP collection of songs from their 21st century releases to date, entitled Open To Beauty and out on May 1 via Cooking Vinyl. This ‘Best Of’ set will revisit selected tracks from albums Open, One Soul Now, Early 21st Century Blues, At The End of Paths Taken, Renmin Park, Demons, Sing In My Meadow, The Wilderness, All That Reckoning, Songs of the Recollection and Such Ferocious Beauty. Open To Beauty will be available as a 3 LP, 2 CD and digital set.
“We are now 25 years into this century, the beginning of which saw us leave the world of major labels and return to making music as an independent band. We figured this was as good a time as any to look back, reassess, and reflect on the music that we have recorded over these past two and a half decades and, hence, Open to Beauty - The Best of the 21st Century.”
The enduring power of Cowboy Junkies’ music was in evidence recently when their signature performance of Lou Reed's “Sweet Jane” was featured in the final episode of Netflix TV series Stranger Things.
About Cowboy Junkies
Sometimes revolutions begin quietly.
In 1988, Cowboy Junkies proved that there was an audience waiting for something quiet, beautiful and reflective. The Trinity Session was like a whisper that cut through the noise -- and it was compelling. It stood out amid the flash and bombast that defined the late 80's. The now classic recording combined folk, blues, and rock in a way that had never been heard before and went on to sell more than a million copies. Their ability to communicate volumes before the lyrics kick in defines an enduring career. Where most bands chase trends, the Junkies have stayed their course, maintaining a low-impact excavation of melody and evocative language delivered sotto voce in singer Margo Timmins’ feathery alto.
Formed in Toronto in 1985, Margo was joined by siblings Michael Timmins on guitar, Peter Timmins on drums, and Michael’s lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass to begin a journey that has evolved over 29 albums. “I’ve known Alan longer than I’ve known Pete,” says Michael. “We were friends before Pete was born.”
Unlike most long-lasting groups, Cowboy Junkies have never had a breakup or taken a sanity-saving hiatus. There’s an appreciation of each other that keeps them constantly working. “It’s that intimacy and understanding of what each one of us brings to the table,” says Michael. Michael, the oldest, is the chief architect; songwriter, and guitarist, who works with Margo on sculpting the emotional planes and vocal performances before bringing in younger brother Peter on drums and lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass to create the soundscapes that have made Cowboy Junkies a band that defies categories.
“The expectations and responsibilities of our roles are a big part of the band’s ethos. We’re still amazed that we’re doing things our way and continuing to grow the band, but the longer we are at it, the more fun it’s become. We don’t take it for granted,” Michael offers. “We do what we do,” Margo agrees, “and it feels right for all of us. After 30-plus years of playing together, the band and its music are more important to us than ever. The music we make brings each of us a great sense of contentment, a knowledge of place, and a sense of doing what we were meant to do.”
