ALLISON RUSSELL’S SPOTIFY SINGLES OUT TODAY, COVERS HOZIER’S “TAKE ME TO CHURCH”

Four time GRAMMY Award-nominated and JUNO Award-winning singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell has released her Spotify Singles, an incredible new rendition of “Stay Right Here” from her new album, The Returner, along with a beautiful cover of Hozier’s “Take Me To Church” featuring the Resistance Revival Chorus, both recorded at the Power Station in NYC this summer. Spotify Singles, which has had over 300 artists to date, allows musicians to reimagine one of their own songs and a song that they love.

LISTEN / SHARE SPOTIFY SINGLES
“TAKE ME TO CHURCH” (HOZIER COVER) & “STAY RIGHT HERE”

Russell, who released her second solo album, The Returner last month, has embarked on a major U.S. headlining tour that kicked off earlier this week and will wrap up in January of 2024. Highlights include The El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on November 1st, Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on November 30th and The Basement East in Russell’s adopted hometown of Nashville on January 11th and 12th. Prior to the headlining dates she appeared at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival, FreshGrass Festival, Farm Aid, XPoNential Music Festival and more. This week she has also announced an appearance at Stagecoach and will support Tyler Childers on his US arena tour. Tickets are on sale now. Full tour dates below.

The Returner was written and co-produced by Allison along with dim star (her partner JT Nero and Drew Lindsay) and was recorded over Solstice week in December 2022 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA. It features Russell’s “Rainbow Coalition” ensemble: Elenna Canlas, Elizabeth Pupo-Walker, Ganessa James, Joy Clark, Kerenza Peacock, Larissa Maestro, Mandy Fer (Sway Wild), Megan Coleman, Meg McCormick , SistaStrings (Chauntee & Monique Ross) , Wendy & Lisa (Wendy Melvoin & Lisa Coleman aka The Revolution) and Wiktoria Bialic. 

Since the release of her debut solo LP two years ago, Outside Child, Russell’s often devastating, deeply moving, cathartic celebration of survivor’s joy has become one of the most acclaimed albums of the past 10 years. Now comes the second chapter, The Returner, a body-shaking, mind-expanding, soulful expression of liberation, love, and self-respect that serves as a fierce declaration of joy for all survivors that have made it to the other side. Allison, JT, and Drew, built The Returner from the bottom up with a rhythm-first, genre-fluid approach. The improvisational energy of great female artists sparked the album’s fierce joy, and provided a wider canvas for Allison’s immense, unlimited talent. In all, the new album doesn’t just deliver on the promise of the last two years, it exceeds all reasonable (and unreasonable) expectations and affirms Allison Russell’s place among music’s most vital artists⎯and The Returner, as one of 2023’s most essential recordings.

WATCH ALLISON PERFORM THE ALBUM’S TITLE TRACK 
ON CBS SATURDAY MORNING

Following a diverse career as a featured member of acclaimed bands including Po’ Girl, Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters, Russell finally dared to release her solo project in 2021. "It’s an album of strength and affirmation, not victimization,” said The New York Times in their profile on Russell and Outside Child. Following the album’s release, Russell performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ellen, Late Night With Stephen Colbert, CBS Saturday Morning, Austin City Limits, The Kelly Clarkson Show made her Opry debut and appeared at the Country Music Hall of Fame and performed at the 2022 GRAMMY’s Premiere Ceremony.

The accolades for Russell have been immense. In addition to her four GRAMMY Award nominations, she has earned three 2022 Americana Award nominations and a win for Album of the Year, two International Folk Music Award wins, a 2022 JUNO Award nomination for ‘Songwriter of the Year,’ and her first-ever JUNO Award win for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. Russell received two 2021 Americana Awards nominations, won three Canadian Folk Music Awards, two UK Americana Music Awards, and more. She was recently nominated for Song of the Year and Artist of the Year for the 2023 Americana Awards. In addition, Russell has consistently used her newfound platform to elevate, educate and inspire; curating the history making Once And Future Sounds: Roots and Revolution set for the Newport Folk Festival in 2021 and mobilizing this year’s triumphant Love Rising All-Star benefit concert in support of LGBTQIA+ causes in Nashville - raising over $550,000 and calling national attention to Tennessee’s dangerous anti-trans and anti-drag laws. Russell has also announced a book deal with Flatiron/MacMillan for her debut novel, a memoir based on her life and the material that inspired Outside Child and The Returner.

BUY / STREAM THE RETURNER

TOUR DATES
Oct 19 - Terminal West - Atlanta, GA
Oct 20 - Princess Theatre - Decatur, AL
Oct 21 - Toulouse Theatre - New Orleans, LA
Oct 25 - 3TEN ACL Live - Austin, TX
Oct 28 - The Lensic - Santa Fe, NM 
Oct 29 - MIM Music Theater - Phoenix, AZ
Nov 01 - El Rey Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Nov 03 - HopMonk Tavern - Novato, CA - SOLD OUT
Nov 04 - Sweetwater - Mill Valley, CA - SOLD OUT
Nov 05 - The Center for the Arts - Grass Valley, CA
Nov 07 - Hult Center for the Performing Arts - Eugene, OR
Nov 09 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR - SOLD OUT
Nov 10 - Admiral Theatre - Bremerton, WA
Nov 11 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA - SOLD OUT
Nov 13 - The State Room - Salt Lake City, UT
Nov 15 - Boulder Theater - Boulder, CO
Nov 16 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
Nov 17 - Roaring Fork Sessions - Aspen, CO
Nov 29 - World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA
Nov 30 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
Dec 02 - Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts - Katonah, NY
Dec 03 - Infinity Hall Hartford - Hartford, CT
Dec 07 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA
Dec 08 - Portland House of Music - Portland, ME - SOLD OUT
Dec 09 - Levon Helm Studios - Woodstock, NY - SOLD OUT
Jan 11 - The Basement East - Nashville, TN
Jan 13 - Sheldon Theater - St. Louis, MO
Jan 14 - Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
Jan 16 - St. Cecilia Music Center - Grand Rapids, MI
Jan 18-24 – Brandi Carlile’s Girls Just Wanna Weekend – Riviera Maya, Mexico
Jan 26 – TradFest – Dublin, Ireland
Jan 28 – Oran Mor – Glasgow, Scotland
Jan 29 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK
Jan 30 – Lafayette – London, UK
Feb 23 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Feb 24 – Tidemark Theatre – Campbell River, BC
Feb 26 – Creekside Theatre – Lake Country, BC
Feb 27 – Kimberley Arts Council Centre 64 – Kimberley, BC
Feb 29 – Festival Place – Sherwood Park, AB
Mar 1 – Bella Concert Hall – Calgary, AB
Mar 2 – Broadway Theatre – Saskatoon, SK
Mar 3 – The Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB
Mar 6 – The Studio – Hamilton, ON
Mar 8 – The Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Mar 9 – War Memorial Hall – Guelph, ON
Mar 10 – London Music Hall – London, ON
Mar 12 – Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts – Kingston, ON
Mar 14 – National Arts Centre – Ottawa, ON
Mar 15 – Le Studio TD – Montreal, QC
Mar 16 – Imperial Bell – Quebec City, QC
Mar 18 – Wilmot United Church – Fredericton, NB
Mar 19 – Capitol Theatre – Moncton, NB
Mar 21 – Light House Arts Centre – Halifax, NS
Mar 22 – Lunenburg Opera House – Lunenburg, NS
Apr 27 - STAGECOACH - Indio, CA
May 27 - CFG Bank Arena - Baltimore, MD*
Aug 6 – Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB*
Aug 8 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC*
Aug 10 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR*
Aug 11 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR*

Photo Credit: Dana Trippe // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES

PRAISE FOR ALLISON RUSSELL

“That same hope permeates the buoyant rhythm of The Returner and continues pushing Russell forward in pursuit of joy.”  - EXCLAIM!

“It was only a matter of time before she made her album for the ages. The Returner is that album.” - UNCUT (9 out of 10) 

“Allison Russell delivers soul-stirring show… She not only demonstrated her wonderful voice, laden with soul, gospel and raw emotion, but also showed she can play multiple instruments, including clarinet and banjo, and craft poignant songs in both official languages.” –
The Ottawa Citizen

"The Returner is a promise that Russell is giving back more than she's received, which has always felt like her ethos. The way the Montreal-raised singer lifts others up — fellow artists and fans alike — is a spiritual experience, no matter your convictions." - CBC Music

"Allison Russell proved to be the strongest vocalist over the two-day festival..." -
Glide Magazine

"The resilient songwriter maintains a throughline of gratitude with an impeccable knack for storytelling.  If you’re looking for an enduring album to seek refuge and celebrate the ambivalence of life, this one’s for you." - RANGE Magazine

“With its increased twin focus on grooves and celebration, it might not be inaccurate to call the album a party, albeit with the understanding that the celebration is a hard-fought party.” - VARIETY

“The Returner is a musical tapestry that reflects unity and intimacy and captures the essence of human existence through its rich lyrics and melodies.” - Dominionated

"Emblazoned with words as arrows, a banjo as her bow and her clarinet as an extension of her voice, Russell unapologetically wields the wind of her lived experience of violent abuse, sheer survival and remarkable redemption. The result is mesmerizing."- Post & Courier

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