John Moreland Returns With New Album ‘Birds In The Ceiling’ Out 7/22

Photo by Angelina Castillo

Singer/songwriter John Moreland has announced his forthcoming album Birds In The Ceiling, to be release on July 22nd via Bad Omens/Thirty Tigers. Birds In The Ceiling is Moreland’s sixth album and finds the esteemed artist, and producer Matt Pence, building on the ambient sonic experimentation that was introduced on 2020’s critically acclaimed album, LP5. Moreland also expands the scope of his guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, that is prevalent throughout the new album.  Listen to the album opener “Ugly Faces” (below) which perfectly sets the tone for Birds In The Ceiling.

While Moreland’s sound continues to evolve, the foundation for his songs remains built around his profound and pensive lyricism. His warm vocals offer an emotional resonance that simultaneously exudes intensity and restraint, making Birds In The Ceiling an intimate listening experience that blurs genre lines. Moreland’s wide ranging musical tastes and influences inform Birds In The Ceiling more than in any of his previous work, with touches of folk, retro-pop, rock, roots and drum-programming.

Lyrically, Birds In The Ceiling almost feels as though Moreland is singing into a mirror, talking to him himself directly and at times in the third person. Album standout “Generational Dust” looks at the difficulties in maintaining a personal foundation. “Lion’s Den” addresses disconnection and displacement, while “Dim Little Light” is a challenge to look beyond our own thoughts into the bigger picture. “Cheap Idols” calls out the superficial nature of what today’s society holds so high with the chorus, “Cheap idols dressed in expensive garbage / We can’t afford the deal we bargained”.

This summer, Moreland will be back on the road in support of Birds In The Ceiling (See list of dates below).

John Moreland Summer Tour Dates

May 7 – McAlester, OK – Dancing Rabbit Music Festival
July 16 – Madison, IN – Red Bicycle Hall  –
July 17 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Annex * –
July 22 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
July 23 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm’s Studios * –
July 24 – Buffalo, NY – Iron Works * –
July 26 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern *
July 28 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom * –
July 30 – St Louis, MO – Open Highway Music Festival
August 11 – Santa Fe, NM – Tumbleroot Brewing +
August 13 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole +
August 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Musical Instrument Museum +
August 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom +
August 17 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall +
August 18 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent + (SOLD OUT)
August 20 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge +
August 21 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern + (SOLD OUT)
August 22 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern + (SOLD OUT)
August 24 – Bozeman, MT – Live from the Divide +
August 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room +
August 27 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater +
August 28 – Fort Collins, CO – The Armory + (SOLD OUT)
August 29 – Colorado Springs, CO – Lulu’s Downstairs +
September 30 – Arnoldsville, GA – Wildwood Revival

* w/ The Dead Tongues
+ w/ S.G. Goodman
– on sale April 22nd at 10am ET

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