Gruff Rhys kicking off tour w/ Y Niwl, BAM premiering his movie @ BAMcineFest (Genesis & Pentagram films too)

May 18, 2011

Gruff Rhys kicks off his North American tour tonight at Knitting Factory and tickets are still available. He’s over here supporting his new solo album, Hotel Shampoo, and will wind his way around the country before ending back up here in New York for a show at Mercury Lounge on June 15.

A mostly mellow affair, with detours into Bossa Nova and ’70s MOR territory, Hotel Shampoo is another fine record from the hardest working indie musician in Wales. Where previous visits have involved just Rhys and a tablefull of junkshop keyboards and other oddball instruments, this time Gruff will be backed by Y Niwl, the finest surf band in Wales, who’ll also get their own opening set. Rhys is one of the most charismatic performers around, do go if you can.

In other news, Rhys’ travelogue tour film Separado! will make it’s NYC debut on June 18 as part of the BAMcineFest. No word yet as to whether Rhys will be at the screening. Like Rhys himself, the film is charming, scruffy, funny and full of good songs. Tickets to all BAMcinefest selections — including the Pentagram documentary Last Days Here, and The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye — go on sale May 23.

All Gruff Rhys tour dates are below, along with videos, trailers and album streams.

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Gruff Rhys – Hotel Shampoo

Gruff Rhys – Sensations in the Dark

Gruff Rhys – 2011 North American Tour Dates
5/18 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
5/19 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
5/20 Washington, DC @Red Palace
5/21 Carrboro, NC @Local 506
5/22 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
5/24 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
5/25 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
5/27 Austin, TX @ Mohawk
5/28 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
5/30 Tempe, AZ @ Sail Inn / Rhythm Room
5/31 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
6/1 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
6/2 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop/ Popscene
6/3 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
6/4 Vancouver, Canada @ Biltmore
6/5 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
6/8 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
6/9 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
6/10 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
6/11 Toronto, Canada @ Horseshoe Tavern
6/14 Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
6/15 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge