Sign up for our mailing list Real artists creating records on their own terms

Press

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

William Elliott Whitmore Announces Tour Dates With Low Anthem And James Vincent McMorrow

On his heralded new album Field Songs, exhilarating young troubadour William Elliott Whitmore lends a voice of absolute conviction and compassion to the struggles and perseverance of the American farmer. Still based on the small family farm in Iowa on which he was raised, Whitmore is an artist uniquely suited to capture this profoundly important and seemingly vanishing landscape.

It was this powerful connection between artist and subject which resonated so noticeably throughout Whitmore's recent interview and performance on the popular NPR radio show Talk of the Nation. As he spoke and played songs from his new album, calls came flooding into the station from farmers in the field, one even sitting on a tractor as he spoke. Listening to the show they were inspired to speak of their lives, the time honored rituals which they embrace and of the music which sustains them.

William Elliott Whitmore's appearance on NPR's Talk of the Nation, which has since become a favorite amongst listeners, can be heard by going here.

Whitmore is now taking to the road for some North American performance dates, bringing his unique and impassioned voice to a turbulent nation. He will be sharing a series of dates with celebrated folk rockers Low Anthem and then with young Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow on the West Coast.

A review of Whitmore's Field Songs at Pitchfork.com offered, "His deep, gnarled vocals suggest a particularly well-trod life... There's a dignity to his work, which is unfussy and ambivalent to trends... his voice is very much the focus. Weary and full of crags... it's impressively wide and strong, imbuing his compositions with a kind of welcome toughness. Folk music has a reputation for limpness, but Whitmore's vocals are energizing-- they give these tracks backbone."

Additional Acclaim For Field Songs:

"Field Songs" is a touching effort from an uncommon songwriter - a tender, fond reflection on rural America. "- Washington Post

"Through a unified blend of graceful melodies and powerful vocals, William Elliott Whitmore generates a sincere message - to reap a sweet harvest of happiness, listeners must work through the fields of pain." - Paste

"Field Songs is Whitmore's masterpiece thus far: unflinching, stubborn, demonstrative, and inspiring." - AllMusic

"Ground down to little more than banjo, unadorned acoustic guitar and foot stomps, his music is profoundly redolent of America's agricultural heartland, while his voice summons up the ghost of some atavistic gospel shouter." - Uncut Magazine

William Elliott Whitmore Tour Dates:

Aug. 19 - Keokuk, IA - Rollin on the River Music Fest
Sept. 10 - Columbia, MO - Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Fest
Sept. 10 - Columbia, MO - Mojo's w/ Murder By Death
Sept. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 15 - Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 16 - Marlinton, WV - Pocahontas County Opera House w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 17 - Richmond, VA - The Camel
Sept. 18 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 19 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 20 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern w/ Low Anthem
Sept. 23 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's w/ James Vincent McMorrow
Sept. 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theatre w/ James Vincent McMorrow
Sept. 25 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theatre w/ James Vincent McMorrow
Oct. 08 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
Oct. 21 - Seattle, WA - City Arts Festival @ Neumo's
Nov. 16 - London, England - Roundhouse w/ Low Anthem

William Elliott Whitmore's artist page

Browse by Artist

2430All Artists 67Mavis Staples 57Neko Case 56Dr. Dog 55The Milk Carton Kids 52Son Little 51Sean Rowe 50Tinariwen
44Glen Hansard 43Lost In The Trees 41Andy Shauf 37Saintseneca 36Delicate Steve 33Galactic 33Michael Franti and Spe... 32Xenia Rubinos 31Jolie Holland 30The Drums 30Calexico 29Tom Waits 28William Elliott Whitmo... 28Doe Paoro 28Madi Diaz 27Half Waif 27Man Man 27Yves Jarvis 26Christian Lee Hutson 26Girlpool 25Bettye LaVette 23Foxwarren 23The Antlers 23Jason Lytle 23Christopher Paul Stell... 22Sage Francis 22Booker T. Jones 22Gary V 22Cass McCombs 21Leyla McCalla 21Danny Elfman 21Islands 21Lido Pimienta 21Japandroids 20DeVotchKa 20Jeremy Ivey 20Daniel Lanois 19Purr 19The Dream Syndicate 19M. Ward 19Combo Chimbita 18Joe Henry 18Wilco 18So Much Light 17Grinderman 17Moor Mother 17Darrin Bradbury 17Jade Jackson 17Tim Fite 16Porter Wagoner 16Peter Silberman 16High Pulp 15Rafiq Bhatia 15Alfa Mist 15MJ Lenderman 15Glitterer 15Yann Tiersen 14James Brandon Lewis 14John K. Samson 13The Coup 13Rain Machine 13Ben Harper 13Busdriver 12Hey, King! 12Josiah Johnson 12Waxahatchee 12The Melodic 12Deafheaven 12Richard Reed Parry 11Kelly Hogan 11Ryan Pollie 11Beth Orton 11Bonny Doon 11Keaton Henson 11Curtis Harding 10Roky Erickson 10Jasmyn 10Dead Man's Bones 10Fleet Foxes 10The Tallest Man On Ear... 10Xavier Rudd 10Os Mutantes 10Beat Connection 10Katy Kirby 10Wynonna 10Ben Harper and Charlie... 10Bob Mould 10Slow Pulp 9The Locust 9Mose Allison 9Marketa Irglova 9Cameron Avery 9Kate Davis 9Kate Bush 9Ezra Furman 8Deradoorian 8Art Moore 8The Frames 8Sam Akpro 8Kristine Leschper 8Greg Graffin 8A Girl Called Eddy 7sunking 7Alec Ounsworth 7The Field 7Solillaquists of Sound 7Scott McMicken and THE... 6Sparklehorse 6Marc Ribot 6Kronos Quartet with Br... 6The Good Ones 6Ramblin Jack Elliott 6Broken Twin 6N.A.S.A. 6Pete Philly & Perquisi... 6Pops Staples 5The Swell Season 5Jackson+Sellers 5Mothers 5Cadence Weapon 5Walter Wolfman Washing... 5The Weakerthans 5Tweedy 5Plains 4Arc Iris 4Antibalas 4Muggs 4case/lang/veirs 4Petra Haden 4One Day As A Lion 4Eddie Izzard 3Mavis Staples & Levon... 3Danny Cohen 3Simian Mobile Disco 3Marianne Faithfull 3Sierra Leones Refugee... 3The Book Of Knots 2Savath & Savalas 2Lyrics Born 2Chuck E. Weiss 2Blackalicious 2Spoon (Europe only) 2Billy Bragg 2Screaming Lights (Euro... 2Title Fight 2Jeff Tweedy 2Various Artists: RANGO 1Rogue's Gallery 1Taylor Vick 1Solomon Burke 1Various Artists: ROGUE... 1Nick Cave & The Bad Se...
See Full List+