The Huntress and Holder of Hands, the musical project of MorganEve Swain, have shared Doctrine, the second single their forthcoming album Babylon, due June 5th. We covered the album announcement and lead single Promethean last month; Doctrine sees the project sharpen its political register with a thumping kick.
Swain — whose project took shape in the aftermath of the 2014 death of her husband and musical partner Dave Lamb (Brown Bird) — has lived with the song for almost a decade. “‘Doctrine’ is a protest song,” she says. “It was written in 2017 and has gone through several sonic iterations before landing here. Honestly, I was hoping it would be obsolete by now, but instead these words now feel like an incantation we need more than ever.”
Babylon was recorded at Providence’s Machines With Magnets and Dirt Floor Studio in Middletown, CT, with an expanded ensemble: Matt Swain (Two Feet) on drums, Joel Thibodeau (Death Vessel) and Penn Sultan (Museum Legs, Last Good Tooth) on percussion and atmosphere, Christopher Sadlers on electric bass, and Liz Isenberg and Emily Dix Thomas on cello, bowed string bass and vocal harmonies. Swain leads on electric guitar, violin and vocals.
To mark the release, the band have announced a Providence record release show on June 18th at the Uptown Theatre Upstairs alongside DakouDakou and BERM, with further East Coast dates running through summer and into autumn. Swain will also perform with The Devil Makes Three through the season.
Pre-order Babylon via Bandcamp: https://thehuntressmusic.bandcamp.com/album/babylon
The Huntress and Holder of Hands – Tour Dates
6/14/26 – Middletown, CT @ Dirt Floor Studio (w/ Rodeo Parade)
6/18/26 – Providence, RI @ Uptown Theatre Upstairs (Record Release Show w/ DakouDakou and BERM)
6/19/26 – Hudson, NY @ Park Theater (w/ The Glass Hours)
6/21/26 – New London, CT @ The Oasis Pub (w/ A Former Friend)
7/17/26 – Cambridge, MA @ Lizard Lounge Cambridge (w/ Wyn & The White Light)
7/18/26 – New Haven, CT @ Me and The Other Mom’s House Show (w/ Old Milk Mooney)
9/10/26 – N. Falmouth, MA @ The Lounge at The Daily Brew (w/ The Glass Hours)
9/12/26 – Portland, ME @ TBA
9/19/26 – Egremont, MA @ The Buttonball Barn (w/ DiTrani Brothers)
The Devil Makes Three – Tour Dates
8/7/26 – 8/9/26 – Alta, WY @ Servant Jazz Quarters
9/4/26 – 9/6/26 – Charlestown, RI @ Rhythm and Roots Festival
9/24/26 – 9/27/26 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond