Yesterday afternoon, Tift Merritt announced that she just signed to North Carolina-based indie label Yep Rec Records, and is readying her new album, Traveling Alone, for an October 2nd release. This will be Merritt’s fifth studio album, and was preceded by the release of the acoustic Sweet Spot EP in February, in conjunction with her performance on the CW’s “Hart of Dixie” television show.
Tift writes,
I am awfully proud of and excited to announce this new record! We sure had a great time making it. To make a record that was raw & real & live off the floor – it was really a dream for me to do that with such an amazing cast.
I’m also awfully excited to take it on home to Yep Roc. It feels like family to have this record cared for and coming to you from North Carolina. I can’t wait to get back out on the road with these new songs and my lovely musical family. I hope we see you soon out there.
Love tift
Traveling Alone was recorded in Brooklyn with Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Spoon) and features a guest appearance by Andrew Bird and well as performances by Marc Ribot, Rob Burger (Lucinda Williams, Iron & Wine, Rufus Wainwright), John Convertino (Calexico), Eric Heywood (The Jayhawks, Son Volt, Alejandro Escovedo) and Merritt’s longtime collaborator Jay Brown.
Merritt will tour with Mary Chapin Carpenter throughout the summer in preparation for Traveling Alone’s release. Tour dates are listed below.
Watch a video of Tift singing “Engine to Turn” from 2010’s See You On The Moon:
Tift Merritt 2012 Tour Dates
* with Mary Chapin Carpenter
6/27 Asbury, NJ – Stone Pony (with Josh Ritter)
7/18 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Hall *
7/19 Kent, OH – Kent Stage *
7/21 Iowa City, IA Englert Theatre *
7/22 Wichita, KS The Orpheum *
7/25 Denver, CO – Denver Botanic Gardens *
7/26 Layton, UT – Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater *
7/28 Calgary, AB – Calgary Folk Music Festival
7/31 Fargo, ND – Fargo Theatre *
8/01 Apple Valley, MN – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater *
8/03 Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre *
8/04 Bayfield, WI – Big Top Chautauqua *
8/15 Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center *
8/22 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre *
8/23 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre *
8/24 Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Botanical Garden *
9/14-16 Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
9/22 Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
9/23 New York, NY – City Winery
