Pokey LaFarge will return with Rhumba Country on May 10, 2024 via New West Records. The 10–song set was co-produced by Chris Seefried, Elliot Bergman, and LaFarge and was recorded in Los Angeles, CA & Chicago, IL. On Rhumba Country, he reveals his newly heightened devotion to making music that channels pure joy. He says, “There was a time when I glorified sadness because I lost sight of who I was, but now I understand that creating and expressing joy is my gift, and gifts are meant to be shared.” Reclaiming his voice, LaFarge has recorded his boldest album yet.
After crisscrossing the nation for the last half-decade looking for a home, LaFarge found himself in Mid-Coast Maine. Upon arriving, the Illinois-born singer/songwriter/actor pursued a major life change, working 12-hour days on a local farm—a turn of events that catalyzed an extraordinary burst of creativity and redefined his sense of purpose as an artist. As he immersed himself in the album’s creation, LaFarge began dreaming up a kaleidoscopic sound informed by his love of music from far-ranging eras and corners of the globe, including mambo, tropicalia, rocksteady, and mid-century American rock-and-roll. He pares his songs down to the essential throughout the album, ornamenting each track with subtle details and showcasing his distinct voice and ineffable charisma.
His boundless curiosity for music from other cultures was vital in shaping the album’s captivating sound. “Listening to a lot of music from around the world helped simplify my approach,” he notes, naming Brazilian singer/composer Jorge Ben among his key inspirations. “The more you listen to music from around the world, you realize everybody’s got their form of country music,” he says. “It goes back to why I named the album Rhumba Country in the first place: it’s poking fun at the futility of boxing everything into a few genres, ‘What is folk music? What is country or soul?’ I’ve always bucked at all those boundaries and found it much more exciting to create my own genre.”
The video for the album’s first single was just released and can be heard/seen below. “Sister Andre.” LaFarge said, “Sister André is a love song for those who are lonely and looking and waiting to love and be loved. An encouragement to never give up the patient pursuit. It could come at any time! Encouragement, in this case, comes from Sister André, who inspired this song the day of her passing after 118 years of age.”
Pokey LaFarge also announced his initial North American and UK tour dates in support of Rhumba Country. Launching May 3 in Woodstock, NY at Levon Helm’s Studio, the trek features stops at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, The Bluebird in Denver, CO, Los Angeles’ legendary The Troubadour, and more. See tour dates below, with many more to be announced.
Pokey LaFarge’s Rhumba Country will be available across digital platforms, on compact disc, and standard black vinyl. Limited Gold vinyl and compact disc editions both autographed by Pokey LaFarge, will be available via Independent Retailers and are available for pre-order NOW via NEW WEST RECORDS.
Pokey LaFarge Rhumba Country Track Listing:
1. One You, One Me
2. For A Night
3. Run Run Run
4. Like A Sailor
5. Sister Andre
6. So Long Chicago
7. It’s Not Over
8. Home Home Home
9. Made To Be Loved
10. You Make My Garden Grow
Pokey LaFarge On Tour:
3/20 & 3/21 – Boise, ID – Treefort Festival
5/3 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studio
5/4 – Washington, DC – Kennedy Center
5/5 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House
5/10 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi Fi Annex
5/11 – Bloomington, IL – Castle Theatre
5/12 – Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsey
5/14 – Davenport, IA – Redstone Room
5/15 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
5/16 – Duluth, MN – The West Theatre
5/18 – Viroqua, WI – Historic Temple Theater
5/30 – Frankfort, KY – The Grand Theatre
5/31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Three Rivers Festival
6/1 – Cincinnati, OH – Memorial Hall
6/2 – Columbia, MO – Rose Park
6/4 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
6/6 – Ft Collins, CO – Washington’s
6/7 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
6/8 – Salt Lake City, UT – Fort Desolation
6/10 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
6/11 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
6/12 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
6/14 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
6/15 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
6/21-6/23 – Mount Salon, VA – Red Wing Festival
8/9-8/11 – Lyons, CO – Rocky Mountain Folk Festival
8/16 – Devon, UK – Beautiful Days
8/17 – Brighton, UK – Chalk
8/18 – Birmingham, UK – Castle & Falcon
8/20 – Liverpool, UK – Philharmonic
8/21 – Dublin, IE – Whelans
8/22 – Belfast, UK – Ulster Sports Club
8/23 – Edinburgh, UK – La Belle Angel
8/24 – Buckinghamshire, UK – Towersey Festival
8/25 – Leicestershire, UK – The Long Road
