Acclaimed duo Shovels & Rope has announced the April 12th release of their new album, By Blood on Dualtone Music. Known for their honest, literate, and narrative-driven songwriting, Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent (aka Shovels & Rope) inject raw and fiercely passionate emotion into the 10 new tracks on By Blood. The husband and wife team just released the biting, personal track “The Wire” (Listen Now).
By Blood opens with the pulsating mantra of “I’m Comin’ Out”, a song with multiple subtexts ranging from the obvious, to a baby about to emerge, to showing up for the revolution with “the taste of blood in my mouth.” The “blood” referred to in the poignant title track is a message to their young daughter about the unbreakable union of family. As storytellers, Shovels & Rope create cinematic vignettes built around flawed characters who strive for greatness but are often overtaken by their shortcomings. Tracks such as the new wave-infused “The Wire” and the enduring epic “Carry Me Home” exude the vulnerability and fragility that comes with love. The duo puts their twist on the modern murder ballad in “Pretty Polly”, while an inspiring message of hope, strength, and acceptance is at the heart of the tale in “C’mon Utah”.
As with their previous work, By Blood was produced by Michael Trent and recorded at their in-home studio, recently upgraded to a new structure in their backyard. Outside of fiddle on one track (“Hammer”) and horns on another (“Twisted Sisters”), all instruments and vocals were performed by Hearst & Trent. By Blood is the follow up to the group’s 2016 album Little Seeds, which garnered critical praise, including The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Wired, Paste, Noisey, Relix and much more (View Highlights).
In an ever-changing music business and media landscape, Shovels & Rope continue to evolve, exploring new ways to express their creativity while maintaining the highest levels of integrity. Along with By Blood, 2019 will see the release of an illustrated children’s book based on the “C’mon Utah” story, as well their film “Shovels & Rope: The Movie”, turning the concert film format on its head. 2019 also marks the third year of Hearst & Trent’s highly anticipated High Water Festival on April 13th & 14th in their hometown of Charleston, SC (following the By Blood release). Curated by the duo, the intimate 10,000 capacity music and culinary event sold-out its first two years well in advance. The 2017 and 2018 lineups featured a select range of acclaimed artists, including The Shins, Brandi Carlile, Jeff Tweedy, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Dawes, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Band Of Horses, Lucius, Deer Tick, Julien Baker and many more. To view this year’s incredible line up, go to https://highwaterfest.com/.
Shovels & Rope have built a reputation as boldly honest, heart-on-sleeve artists who put everything into their craft and their incendiary live performances. 10 years in, Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent are on the brink of having their second child, and their little family band and business show no signs of slowing down. The release By Blood just affirms that we are all the better for it.
For press information about Shovels & Rope and the High Water Festival,
please contact Jim Flammia jim@alleyesmedia.com at All Eyes Media (615) 227-2770
Shovels & Rope Tour Dates
*with Tedeschi Trucks Band
April 13 – North Charleston, SC – High Water Festival
April 14 – North Charleston, SC – High Water Festival
May 24 – Axton, VA – Rooster Walk Festival
June 15 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 28 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater *
June 29 – Boca Raton, FL – Mizner Park Amphitheater *
June 30 – St. Petersburg, FL – Al Lang Stadium *
July 3 – Orange Beach, AL – Wharf Amphitheater *
July 5 – Charleston, SC – Volvo Car Stadium *
July 6 – Simpsonville, SC – Heritage Park Amphitheatre *
July 7 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion *
July 9 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek *
July 13 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion *
July 14 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center *
July 16 – Canandaigua, NY – Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands PAC *
July 19 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion *
July 20 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center at The Heights *
July 23 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre *
July 24 – Indianapolis, IN – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park *
July 26 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
July 27 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre *
July 30 – St. Louis, MO – The Fox Theatre *
July 31 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater *
August 2 – Atlanta, GA – The Fox Theatre *
August 3 – Atlanta, GA – The Fox Theatre *
November 11-14 – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – All The Best Festival