At a press conference held today in Toronto, Warner Music Canada recording artist Blue Rodeo announced details for their new album and upcoming cross-Canada tour, including Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre.
One of Canada’s most iconic bands, Blue Rodeo will release their 14th studio album, 1000 Arms on Oct. 28. The group also announced that they will head back out on the road in 2017 performing new songs for fans with 30 concerts scheduled in 23 cities, beginning Jan. 11, 2017 in Thunder Bay.
The band also answered fans questions about the album and tour via a Facebook Live stream.
Prior to making the announcements, the band premiered the video for the album’s first single, Jim Cuddy’s mocking take on celebrity, Superstar. The video clip was directed by the band’s longtime collaborator Chris Mills who reimagines Blue Rodeo as a Riot Grrl band.
Fans pre-ordering 1000 Arms will automatically receive four album tracks including Superstar. The CD and heavy-weight vinyl can be ordered beginning today from www.bluerodeo.com.
Tickets for the 1000 Arms Tour go on sale Oct. 28. Every ticket will include a digital copy of 1000 Arms.
1000 Arms was recorded over the winter of 2015/16 at Blue Rodeo’s Woodshed Studios. The album shares its name with the Jim Cuddy-penned song inspired by a podcast Jim was listening to.
“The podcast was about allowing your community to help you,” said Cuddy. “When we were going over titles, we were thinking about our musical community, what it means to us and how much we would do for each other. That was what we were thinking about the most, so it seemed like an appropriate title.”
The 12-track album was co-produced and engineered by Tim Vesely, a founding member of the Rheostatics. Jim and his longtime bandmate Greg Keelor credit Vesely with helping influence the sound of the new album. The engineer had been listening to some of the band’s older records and commented that Jim and Greg weren’t singing together as much as they used to. The revelation caught the band off guard but the result brought the band back to what has always been one of their strengths.
“We made a very concerted effort to sing together on this album, either with direct harmonies or call and response, and we really enjoyed that,” said Cuddy.
In the thirty years since forming, Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million albums, won countless Juno awards, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and have been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
Tickets are available by phone 1-877-763-2849 as well as online at www.valleyfirsttix.com, and in person at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC) and Wine Country Visitor Centre
Tickets (including GST) $33.50, $63.50 and $83.50 (Plus FMF & Service charges).
