Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, activist and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell (Po’ Girl, Birds of Chicago, Our Native Daughters) has announced her new album, The Returner, to be released on September 8th via Fantasy Records. The album follows her powerful 2021 debut Outside Child, a cathartic celebration of survivor’s joy on which she confronted personal childhood traumas, including sexual abuse and having to live on the streets. Russell found healing in community and music, a cathartic power that was clear to hear on her debut. This follow-up is filled with joy and resilience. It is described as a body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of liberation, love, and self-respect that serves as a fierce declaration of joy for all survivors that have made it to the other side.
The Returner features her “Rainbow Coalition” band of all-female musicians, along with special guest appearances from the legendary Wendy & Lisa, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, and Hozier.
Today she shared the visualiser video for the title track and shared the following on the album:
“My goal with The Returner – sonically, poetically, and spiritually – is a radical reclamation of the present tense, a real time union of body, mind, and soul. This album is a much deeper articulation of rhythm, groove, and syncopation. Groove as it heralds the self back into the body, groove as it celebrates sensual and sexual agency and flowering, groove as an urgent call to action and political activism.
“In just a word, it’s funkier. But as is the history of anything funky, it’s never just a party. It is a multiverse of energies that merges the celebration and the battle cry. For while an embrace of the present tense is a celebration, it is equally an unquestioning leap into battle – cultural, political, environmental.”
Tour Dates
* = w/ Brandi Carlile & Marcus Mumford
% = The Joni Jam w/ Joni Mitchell
^ = supporting Hozier
June 09 – The Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA*
June 10 – The Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA*%
June 17 – Black Deer Festival – Chatham, UK
June 18 – Noches Del Botánico – Madrid, SPAIN
June 21 – Band on the Wall – Manchester, UK
June 22 – The Bullingdon – Oxford, UK
June 23 – Glastonbury – Somerset, UK
June 25 – Queens Park Big Top – Glasgow, UK^
June 27 – Gleneagle Inec Arena – Killarney, IRELAND^
June 30 – Malahide Castle – Dublin, IRELAND^
July 02 – The Piece Hall – Halifax, UK^
July 05 – Tønder Festival Friendly Takeover – Copenhagen, DENMARK
July 10 – Festival d’été de Québec – Hydro Québec Stage – Québec, CANADA
July 14 – RBC Ottawa Bluesfest – Ottawa, CANADA
July 15 – SOMMO Festival, Cavendish, CANADA
July 22 – Appalachian Summerfest – Boone, NC
July 27 – River & Blues Concert Series at Rockefeller Park – New York, NY
July 28 – Ossipee Valley Music Festival – South Hiram, ME
July 29 – Out of Space – Evanston, IL
Aug 04 – Kaslo Jazz etc Summer Music Festival – Honeymoon Bay, CANADA
Aug 06 – Canmore Folk Music Festival – Canmore, CANADA
Aug 12 – Burnaby Roots and Blues Festival – Burnaby, CANADA
Aug 13 – Regina Music Festival – Regina, CANADA
Aug 17 – Whistler Summer Concert Series – Whistler, CANADA
Aug 18 – Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival – Salmon Arm, CANADA
Aug 20 – Catbird Music Festival – Bethel, NY
Aug 26 – Badlands VanFest – Drumheller, CANADA
Aug 27 – Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival – Victoria, CANADA
Sept 09 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival – Bristol, TN
Sept 15 – Harvest Music Festival – Fredericton, CANADA
Sept 16 – CityFolk Festival in Ottawa, CANADA
Sept 22 – FreshGrass Festival – North Adams, MA
Sept 24 – XPoNential Music Festival – Camden, NJ
The Returner – Track List:
1. Springtime (04:11)
2. The Returner (03:51)
3. All Without Within (03:13)
4. Demons (04:29)
5. Eve Was Black (06:04)
6. Stay Right Here (04:10)
7. Shadowlands (04:13)
8. Rag Child (03:04)
9. Snake Life (04:38)
10. Requiem (06:14)