On April 24, singer-songwriter Joe Pug will release a new studio album entitled The Great Despiser. For his new album, the Chicago-based folk artist drafted The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn to sing backup vocals on the title track. The 11-song album was recorded in Chicago with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Califone).
The Great Despiser is the follow-up to Pug’s critically acclaimed debut album Messenger. NPR Music praised the album, saying “it’s nearly impossible to avoid drawing comparisons between Pug and folk legends like Bob Dylan or contemporaries like Josh Ritter.”
Pug embarks on a nationwide headlining tour this month to commemorate the release of The Great Despiser. Stream the album’s first single “Hymn #76” here.
Joe Pug Tour Dates:
February 21 Manchester, UK The Castle Hotel
February 22 Bristol, UK Bonaventure Social Club
February 23 London, UK The Borderline
February 24 Dublin, IRE The Sugar Club
February 25 Belfast, UK Black Box
February 26 Glasgow, YK Captain’s Rest
March 14-18 Austin, TX SXSW
March 19 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan Theater*
April 20 Dallas, TX Club Dada†
April 21 Austin, TX The Parish
April 22 Oklahoma City, OK Blue Door
April 24 Albuquerque, NM Low Spirits
April 25 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom
April 26 San Diego, CA The Casbah
April 27 Los Angeles, CA The Satellite
April 29 Pioneertown, CA Pappy and Harriet’s
April 30 Santa Cruz, CA Crepe Place
May 1 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
May 3 Vancouver, BC The Media Club
May 4 Portland, OR The Doug Fir
May 5 Seattle, WA The Crocodile
May 6 Pullman, WA Tower Theater
May 9 Boise, ID Neurolux
May 10 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
May 12 Denver, CO The Bluebird
May 13 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
May 14 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway
May 16 Madison, WI Frequency
May 17 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Eatery
May 18 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
May 19 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall‡
May 20 Bloomington, IN The Bishop‡
May 22 Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe‡
May 23 Cleveland, OH The Beachland Tavern‡
May 24 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café‡
May 26 Toronto, ON The Horseshoe‡
May 27 Ottawa, ON Mavericks‡
May 29 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall**
May 31 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom‡
June 2 Washington, DC 9:30 Club**
June 3 Charlottesville, VA The Southern‡
(additional dates to be announced)
*supporting Levon Helm
†supporting Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
‡with support from David Wax Museum
**co-headline with David Wax Museum