Wardruna announce new album 'Kvitravn' & North American tour

February 11, 2020

Just a couple weeks after that sold-out Heilung North American tour ended, likeminded dark Nordic folk band Wardruna have announced a new album and North American tour. The album is called Kvitravn and it drops June 5 via By Norse Music in the US and Sony/Columbia worldwide. The first single is coming February 21, so stay tuned for that. Here’s an idea of what to expect from the album, via press release:

In a rich musical tapestry, WARDRUNA use a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments such as Kravik-lyre, Trossingen-lyre, Taglharpa, Sootharp, Langeleik, Crwth, Goat- horn, Lur, Bronze-lur, flute, Moraharpa, and the record also features guest appearances by a small group of prominent traditional singers, spearheaded by Kirsten Bråten Berg, one of the most important custodians of Norwegian traditional song. Throughout these 11 songs, KVITRAVN discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs.

“To recite and copy the past is not very difficult, but to understand and integrate ancient thoughts, tools and methods with real purpose into a creation that is relevant to the modern era is truly challenging and remains our prime goal in our work,” WARDRUNA founder Einar Selvik reveals.

“Although the album carries a variant of my own totemic artist name, it has, in this context, little to do with me but rather refers to the symbolism and legends of sacred white animals found in Nordic and other cultures all over the world. These highly regarded ghostly creatures, whether a raven, snake, bear, moose, reindeer, elephant or lion,–are in animist traditions seen as prophetic, divine messengers, and guardians representing renewal, purity and a bridge between worlds.”

The tour includes shows in DC, Brooklyn, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Minneapolis, Vancouver, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Oakland, LA, Dallas, and more.

The Brooklyn show happens on September 26 at Kings Theatre, a gorgeous venue and a pretty amazing place to see Wardruna’s live show. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (2/14) at 10 AM with presales starting Thursday (2/13) at 10 AM. All dates are listed below.

UPDATE: PRESALE PASSWORD HERE.

While you wait for the new music, watch a video of Wardruna performing at Red Rocks in 2019, below.

Wardruna — 2020 Tour Dates
24-Sep Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
25-Sep Washington, DC Warner Theatre
26-Sep Brooklyn, NY Kings Theatre
28-Sep Boston, MA The Orpheum Theater
29-Sep Montreal, QC M Telus
30-Sep Toronto, ON Meridian Hall
2-Oct Chicago, IL Auditorium Theatre
3-Oct Minneapolis, MN The State Theatre
6-Oct Calgary, AB Jack Singer Concert Hall
8-Oct Vancouver, BC Queen Elizabeth Theatre
9-Oct Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
10-Oct Salem, OR Elsinore Theatre
12-Oct Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
14-Oct Oakland, CA Paramount Theatre
16-Oct El Cajon, CA Magnolia
17-Oct Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre
18-Oct Mesa, AZ Ikeda Theatre
20-Oct Dallas, TX The Majestic Theatre