Great Lake Swimmers - 2009 tour dates & new album info

Great Lake Swimmers @ Mercury Lounge – Jan 10, 2009 (more by Natasha Ryan)

Tony Dekker‘s Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world-though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still “mining for light in the dark wells,” still “tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design.”

The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years-with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen-Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.

Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It’s easy to hear why. His voice doesn’t need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it…

…LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.

Great Lake Swimmers have announced a ton of new tour dates, including some shows later this month where they’ll be opening for Jeff Tweedy, and one headlining show at Bowery Ballroom in NYC on April 17th. Tickets for that show are now on Am Ex presale. All dates below…

Great Lake Swimmers – 2009 Tour Dates
Jan 29- State Theatre, opening for Jeff Tweedy Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jan 30 – Locals Only Indianapolis, Indiana
Jan 31 – Foellinger Auditorium, opening for Jeff Tweedy Champaign, Illinois
Feb 7 – Hillside Inside @ the Sleeman Centre Guelph, Ontario
Mar 6 – Black Thorn Stick Cafe Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Mar 8 – The Ship Inn St. John’s, Newfoundland
Mar 11 – St. Matthews Church Halifax, Nova Scotia
Mar 12 – The Capital Fredericton, New Brunswick
Mar 14 – Le Cercle Quebec City, Quebec
Mar 19 – The Townehouse Sudbury, Ontario
Mar 20 – Loplops Sault Ste Marie, Ontario
Mar 21 – The Study Thunder Bay, Ontario
Mar 24 – The Exchange Regina, Saskatchewan
Mar 25 – Amigo’s Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Mar 26 – Grace Presbyterian Church Calgary, Alberta
Mar 27 – McDougall United Church Edmonton, Alberta
Mar 29 – St. James Hall Vancouver, British Columbia
Mar 30 – Norm Theatre at UBC Vancouver, British Columbia
Mar 31 – The Tractor Tavern Seattle, Washington
Apr 1 – Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Apr 3 – The Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, California
Apr 3 – The Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, California
Apr 4 – Spaceland Los Angeles, California
Apr 5 – Plush Tucson, Arizona
Apr 7 – Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Austin, Texas
Apr 8 – Hailey’s Denton, Texas
Apr 10 – The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 13 – Gravity Lounge Charlottesville, Virginia
Apr 14 – Black Cat (Backstage) Washington, Washington DC
Apr 15 – Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 16 – The Iron Horse Music Hall Northampton, Massachusetts
Apr 17 – The Bowery Ballroom New York, New York
Apr 18 – The Brattle Theater Cambridge, Massachusetts
Apr 20 – The Southgate House Newport, Kentucky
Apr 21 – Schuba’s Chicago, Illinois
Apr 22 – 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 23 – High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin
Apr 25 – Queen Elizabeth Theatre Toronto, Ontario