Heartless Bastards Announce Summer Touring Plans

Fat Possum Records have announced that the Heartless Bastards have confirmed their summer 2009 touring schedule. The band recently finished their first tour overseas and are fresh off a performance at Bonnaroo as well as some dates supporting Wilco.

Next up for the Austin, TX-based quartet are three of this summer's most high profile tours supporting Jenny Lewis, The Decemberists and The Avett Brothers, as well as being invited by Andrew Bird himself to open for him at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and festival performances at Lollapalooza, All Points West, Outside Lands and Austin City Limits. Main Bastard Erika Wennerstrom and her new backing band (Dave Colvin on drums, Jesse Ebaugh on bass and Mark Nathan on guitar) are touring in support of the critically acclaimed The Mountain, and garnering new fans and rave reviews at a feverish pace. After the band's set at SXSW this year, the New York Times exclaimed, "Wennerstrom took the stage and knocked everybody down," while Details called her an "unstoppable frontwoman." Rolling Stone hailed, "Wennerstrom finds a softer side on her band's third album -- but still finds time to howl like a 'nads- free Robert Plant."

The Decemberists' guitarist Chris Funk said, "It's been a few years since I've had a voice on repeat in my mind. This voice seems to arrive in my ears while sound checking, often before the shows on a pre-show play list and after shows too -- the songs are just perfect and the band has found their spots behind this incredible woman. A unique and enduring artist arrived into our world once again."

Heartless Bastards recently had the opportunity to record their incendiary live set for the Austin City Limits TV show, which will air nationwide later this fall. The episode pairs them with one of their favorite bands and musical influences, Sonic Youth, and includes a special guest appearance by good friend Alex Maas of The Black Angels recreating with Wennerstrom the classic June Carter and Johnny Cash duet on Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter."

Wennerstrom and Maas (with a little help from Colvin and Ebaugh), started a side project called Sweet Tea. Recorded earlier this year, Sweet Tea is their unique collaborative take on classic country and Fat Possum will release the first single digitally later in July, comprising the studio version of "If I Were A Carpenter," and the Ray Price classic "Crazy Arms." A collector's, limited edition white vinyl 7" will be made available in both band's websites and at live shows later in the year; it will hit stores nationwide September 1st.

Audio: Sweet Tea - "If I Were A Carpenter"

Heartless Bastards tour dates:

• 6.22.09 Austin, TX - Stubb's Outside w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.23.09 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.24.09 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.26.09 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.27.09 Mobile, AL - Alabama Music Box w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.29.09 Orlando, FL - The Plaza Theatre w/ Jenny Lewis
• 6.30.09 Jacksonville, FL - Freebird Live w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.01.09 Athens, GA - 40 Watt w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.02.09 Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.03.09 Richmond, VA - The National w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.05.09 Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.06.09 Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.07.09 Fayetteville, AK - George's Majestic Lounge w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.10.09 Los Angeles, CA - The Greek Theatre w/ Andrew Bird
• 7.11.09 Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theatre w/ Jenny Lewis
• 7.31.09 Jersey City, NJ -Liberty State Park - All Points West Music & Arts Festival
• 8.02.09 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
• 8.03.09 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus w/ the Decemberists
• 8.05.09 Madison, WI - Orpheum Theatre w/ the Decemberists
• 8.06.09 Chicago, IL - Metro w/ Decemberists (Offical Lollapalooza Aftershow)
• 8.07.09 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza! Exact day and time TBD
• 8.08.09 Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room w/ the Decemberists
• 8.11.09 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre w/ the Decemberists
• 8.14.09 Pittsburg, PA - Byham Theatre w/ the Decemberists
• 8.15.09 Schwenksville, PA - Philadelphia Folk Festival
• 8.16.09 Holyoke, MA - Mountain Park w/ the Decemberists
• 8.25.09 Salt Lake City, UT - Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre w/ the Avett Brothers
• 8.26.09 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory w/ the Avett Brothers
• 8.28.09 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre w/ the Avett Brothers
• 8.29.09 Jacksonville, OR - Britt Fest w/ the Avett Brothers
• 8.30.09 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park- Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival
• 10.03.09 Austin, TX - ACL Festival

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