Great Lake Swimmers are happy to announce that they will be one of the headliners at the Filberg Festival in beautiful Comox, BC on Vancouver Island this July.
July 29 & 30 – Comox BC @ Filberg Festival
http://filbergfestival.com/the-festival/entertainment/schedule/
Great Lake Swimmers are happy to announce they will be performing at this year’s Harvest Picnic in Dundas, Ontario, along with a long list of awesome artists including; Cowboy Junkies, Rheostatics, Joel Plaskett Emergency, The Jim Cuddy Band, Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Gypsies, Jann Arden, and more.
Saturday August 27, 2016 – Gates at 11AM · Show at 12PM
Christie Lake Conservation Area, 1000 Highway #5 West in Dundas, Ontario
TIER 1 EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW – UNTIL SUNDAY MARCH 13th
Tickets available online at https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1120547
or by calling 1-888-732-1682
Also Available at Picks and Sticks, 140 Locke Street South, and Dr. Disc, 20 Wilson Street in Hamilton.
Great Lake Swimmers will release their new EP, Swimming Away, on March 25, 2016 via Nettwerk. The four song digital EP includes two covers, a Tom Waits classic, “Innocent When You Dream” and the aching PJ Harvey song “The Desperate Kingdom Of Love.” It also features two new songs, the starkly beautiful “Condition White,” which was commissioned for the series Torn From The Pages and is based on the novel Sleep by Nino Ricci, and finally the hypnotic title track “Swimming Away,” which is an unreleased outtake from latest album A Forest Of Arms.
Tony Dekker had this to say about the new ep: “Swimming Away” is an outtake we were working on for A Forest Of Arms. I think it stands alone as a departure from the sound of that record, and we wanted to showcase it here in the context of an EP. It has a fleeting, ephemeral feel, and digs in sort of hard on the harmonica and layered vocals. To complement it and to make a little suite of songs, I’ve added a track written for the Torn From The Pages author series in Toronto (conceived and hosted by Dave Bidini) called “Condition White,” based on author Nino Ricci’s intense new novel, “Sleep.” It was recorded in New Orleans. “Innocent When You Dream” is a cover of a Tom Waits classic that has been in our live set for many years, and this is our attempt to interpret this beautiful song. Lastly, “The Desperate Kingdom of Love” is one of my favorites from PJ Harvey. It stabs me in the heart, and feels appropriate here in this little collection of songs.”
LISTEN & SHARE NEW SINGLE “SWIMMING AWAY” BELOW: http://bit.ly/1RADF6h
In the coming weeks, Great Lake Swimmers will hit the road for several dates in Newfoundland and Labrador, in collaboration with Arts & Culture Centres and co-headlining with Elliott Brood. As well, the band has announced an in-store at Fred’s Records in St. John’s on March 30. A full list of dates can be found below.
Stay tuned for more information on Great Lake Swimmers in the coming weeks.
Great Lake Swimmers Newfoundland & Labrador Tour Dates:
* co-headlining w/ Elliott Brood
March 30 – St. John’s, NL @ Fred’s Records (IN-STORE)
March 31 – Gander, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 1 – Grand Falls-Windsor, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 2 – Stephenville, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 3 – Corner Brook, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 5 – Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 6 – Labrador City, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
April 7 – St. John’s, NL @ Arts & Culture Centre *
May 13 – Port Colborne, ON @ Lakeshore Catholic High School
August 19 – Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arms Roots & Blues Festival
August 20 – Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arms Roots & Blues Festival
August 21 – Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arms Roots & Blues Festival
Great Lake Swimmers return to Europe in April and May this year on the strength of their most recent album, A Forest Of Arms, and in support of a new EP (TBA).
This incarnation of the touring band will feature three core members: singer and songwriter Tony Dekker, banjo and guitarist Erik Arnesen, and upright bassist Bret Higgins. They will be playing music from across the catalogue with a focus on quieter songs for this intimate tour. Requests can be made at www.greatlakeswimmers.com or through DM on our Facebook page.
The opening act will be harpist Mary Lattimore (Thrill Jockey).
The band is also hoping to fill a few off-days with smaller shows and house concerts.
These dates are:
April 22, 2016 (near Geneva)
April 25, 2016 (near Valencia, ES)
April 29, 2016 (near Poitiers, France)
If anyone can host the band with a house concert or venue near the above areas, please contact: phil@weewerk.com. Thanks!
Confirmed tour dates:
April 16, 2016: Berlin (D) @ Kantine am Berghain
April 17, 2016: Dresden (D) @ Beatpol
April 18, 2016: Jena (D) @ Glashaus im Paradies
April 19, 2016: Köln (D) @ King Georg
April 20, 2016: Freiburg,(D) @ Swamp Freiburg
April 21, 2016: Schaffhausen (CH) @ Tap Tab
April 23, 2016: Barcelona (ES) @ Pop Bar
April 24, 2016: Madrid (ES) @ Taboo
April 26, 2016: Nîmes (F) @ Paloma
April 27, 2016: Bordeaux (F) @ Heures Heureuses (Darwin)
April 28, 2016: Paris (F) @ Petit Bain
May 1, 2016: Lille (F) @ L’Aeronef
May 3, 2016: London (UK) @ The Forge
May 4, 2016: Gent (B) @ Minard
May 5, 2016: Antwerpen (B) @ Roma
May 6, 2016: Maastricht (NL) @ Muziekgieterij
May 7, 2016: Amsterdam (NL) @ Sugarfactory
With support Mary Lattimore.
On May 13, 2016, I’ll be returning to my alma mater, Lakeshore Catholic High School, with my band Great Lake Swimmers to play a concert for students and the community of Port Colborne, Ontario. Proceeds from the night will go towards Lakeshore’s charity initiative with their sister school in Portsmouth, Dominica. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with friends and checking out the new Performing Arts Centre that has just been built. All are welcome to attend, and tickets are available by calling 905-835-2451 or emailing nancy.bodis@ncdsb.com. We hope to see you there! – Tony Dekker
May 13 – Port Colborne, ON @ Lakeshore Catholic High School
Great Lake Swimmers are teaming up with Arts & Culture Centres and friends Elliott Brood to tour Newfoundland and Labrador this spring. The Swimmers are also confirmed to perform at the 24th edition of the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival in British Columbia this August.
Tour Dates:
March 31 – Gander, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre http://tinyurl.com/jn54t9c
April 1 – Grand Falls-Windsor, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre
April 2 – Stephenville, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre
April 3 – Corner Brook, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre
April 5 – Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL @ Lawrence O’Brien Arts Center
April 6 – Labrador City, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre
April 7 – St. John’s, NL @ Arts and Culture Centre
August 19-20-21 – Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival
http://www.rootsandblues.ca/category/2016-performers/
(Swimmers live photo by Bob Ciolfi)
Great Lake Swimmers contributed a cover song for the Polaris Music Prize special 10″ cover session series and have a very limited number to offer fans via mail order.
POLARIS COVER SESSIONS NO.01 – Yellow Vinyl 10”
This limited edition release features three cover recordings:
A Side:
WHITEHORSE – “Bones Of An Idol” written by NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
B Side:
GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS – “I’m A Mountain” written by SARAH HARMER
SARAH HARMER – “Odessa” by written CARIBOU
– Check the link for order details from our friends at Maple Music:
http://www.maplemusic.com/product.asp?dept_id=1641&pf_id=1640-26&lang=EN
Massey Hall presents at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre – Torn from the Pages: Nino Ricci –
Born from the imagination of Rheostatic and host Dave Bidini, Torn From the Pages is an evening where the worlds of books and music collide; a frisson of prose and melody based on the work of a single artist. This innovative event will take place once again this autumn, featuring Governor General Literary Award winner, Nino Ricci.
Nobu Adilman, Tony Dekker (Great Lake Swimmers), Oh Susanna, Corin Raymond, Lucas Silveira and Michael Winter will debut newly-commissioned songs, stories, poems and more evoked and inspired by Ricci’s novel, Sleep.
Available online or at the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office (60 Simcoe St, Toronto), 416-872-4255
More info: www.masseyhall.com/eventdetail/TornPagesNinoRicci
Great Lake Swimmers will hit the road for thirteen dates in eastern Canada in support of their latest album, A Forest Of Arms. The tour will start on December 3 in Ottawa, ON and wrap up December 19 in Ridgeway, ON. A full list of dates can be found below. For more details and advance ticket links please visit the SHOWS page.
Eastern Canadian Tour Dates:
Dec 3 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre
Dec 4 – Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theatre
Dec 5 – Quebec City, QC @ Anti
Dec 6 – Ayer’s Cliff, QC @ Stanstead House Concert
Dec 8 – Miramichi, NB @ The Miramichi’s Home Concert
Dec 10 – Sackville, NB @ Thunder & Lightning Ideas Ltd.
Dec 11 – Saint John, NB @ Peppers Patio Pub
Dec 12 – Fredericton, NB @ Wilmot United Church
Dec 13 – Halifax, NS @ The Carlton Music Bar & Grill – SOLD OUT –
Dec 14 – Halifax, NS @ The Carlton Music Bar & Grill
Dec 15 – Halifax, NS @ The Carlton Music Bar & Grill
Dec 17 – Peterborough, ON @ Gordon Best Theatre
Dec 18 – Hamilton, ON @ Molson Canadian Studio
Dec 19 – Ridgeway, ON @ The Sanctuary
“A Forest of Arms is arguably one of the most dynamic and focused Great Lake Swimmers records to date.” – CBC Music
“… nothing will prepare you for the buoyant, Big Star-like wickedness of ‘I Must Have Someone Else’s Blue.’ Now that’s a tune.” – Toronto Star
“…Great Lake Swimmers have evolved into one of the country’s finest roots bands…” – Post City
Great Lake Swimmers will return to the U.S. in November for six dates in the Midwest in support of their latest record, A Forest Of Arms. The tour will start on November 16th in Columbus, OH and wrap up on the 21st in Traverse City, MI. Full list of dates can be found below.
Great Lake Swimmers U.S. Tour Dates:
Nov 16 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Café Club
Nov 17 – Fort Wayne, IN @ The Brass Rail
Nov 18 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
Nov 19 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Nov 20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Calvin College: Ladies Literary Club
Nov 21 – Traverse City, MI @ Dennos Museum Center / Milliken Auditorium
Please visit the SHOWS page for more details and advance ticket links.
NEW VIDEO FOR “I MUST HAVE SOMEONE ELSE’S BLUES” OUT NOW
The group also released the official video for the single, “I Must Have Someone Else’s Blues”, via Big Takeover last month.
Watch (& Share) the video HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrGVkbdRcPE
Critical Praise For A FOREST OF ARMS:
“The soundscapes created by Toronto’s Great Lake Swimmers are nothing if not panoramic… So lush is their sound at times, it’s easy to forget that the primary lead instruments are acoustic… A solid album with a number of beguiling songs and a lot of spirit…” – PopMatters
“Toronto quintet’s latest offering is packed with echoing vocals, soaring strings, and plenty of resounding acoustic guitar, double bass, and banjo.” – Consequence Of Sound
“They create a place where folk-rock meets country and bluegrass, and converge into a soothing, atmospheric lushness.” – Blurt
“’Don’t Leave Me Hanging’ is gorgeous—simple and direct.” – Pitchfork
“A Forest of Arms seamlessly creates sonic textures that inspire nature walks and drives across empty highways…” – Flood Magazine
