Kelly Willis Returns With First New Project In Over A Decade

Kelly Willis is set to release a new album, Back Being Blue, May 18 on Premium Records/Thirty Tigers. She’ll hit the road April 19 on a North American tour to perform songs from the new project, her seventh full-length studio album. Willis’ husband Bruce Robison produced the album analog style in his recording studio in Texas.

“I attempted to make music that could fit in any era but leans on the simplicity of the music that first inspired me,” said Willis. “Roots rockabilly country blues, to narrow it down for you! Kind of a Nick Lowe meets Skeeter Davis meets Crystal Gayle. Sounds that were in full blaze when I first moved Austin. Roots, rockabilly, country, blues, to narrow it down for you! Kind of a Nick Lowe meets Skeeter Davis meets Crystal Gayle. Sounds that were in full blaze when I first moved Austin.”

Back Being Blue is Willis’ first solo project since her 2007 LP Translated from Love, and she wrote six of the 10 tracks with help from Rodney Crowell on the additional four. Other notable guests on the record include Eleanor Whitmore (of The Mastersons and Steve Earle and the Dukes), Mark Spencer (of Son Volt) and Trevor Nealon (of Band of Heathens). 

Kelly Willis Tour Dates:
April 19— Austin, TX—KGSR’s Unplugged at Shady Grove
April 25—Fort Worth, TX—The Yard
May 18—Bastrop, TX—Bastrop Music Festival
May 19—Houston, TX—Mcgonigel’s Mucky Duck
May 20—Gruene, TX—Gruene Hall KNBT Music Festival
May 26—Dallas, TX—Kessler Theater
June 2—Austin, TX—Stateside Theater
June 4—Cambridge, MA—Atwoods
June 5—New York City, NY—The Loft at City Winery
June 6—Pawling, NY—Daryl’s House
June 8—Alexandria, VA—Birchmere
June 9—Norfolk, VA—North Point House Concerts
June 10—Annapolis, MD—Rams Head On Stage
June 16—Eden, TX—Green Apple Arts Center
June 22—Gruene, TX—Gruene Hall
June 23—Franklin, TN—The Franklin Theatre
June 24—Atlanta, GA—Smithe’s Olde Bar
June 29—Columbus, OH—Natalie’s
June 30—Chicago, IL—TBD
July 1—St Louis, MO—Off Broadway
July 21—Gateshead, UK—Sage Gateshead
July 23—Bristol, UK—Redgrave Theatre
July 24—London, UK—The Lexington
July 25—Nottingham, UK—The Maze
July 27—Bury, UK—The Met
July 28—Leeds, UK—Seven Arts
July 29—Edinburgh, UK—Voodoo Room