We are pleased to announce The Laura Veirs Podcast today.  What is it?

A podcast is a free sequential distribution of media.  That is, The Laura Veirs podcast will feature live videos, interview segments, behind the scenes glimpses and the like from Laura. We anticipate updating this weekly with something new.  The most popular way to ‘subscribe’ is via iTunes (mac or PC) which enables you to listen and view on your desktop, mp3 player or phone.  Simply click this button:

Advanced users may use this feed for their podcast aggregator or RSS reader:

http:lauraveirs.com/podcast.xml

Lastly, if you enjoy the Podcast, please consider leaving a customer review in iTunes to let others know about it.

Buy tickets here now!

• UK Tour w/ Old Believers, Cataldo
  • 01/17/10 Glasgow at Oran Mor
  • 01/18/10 Gateshead at The Sage
  • 01/19/10 Manchester at Academy 3
  • 01/20/10 Cambridge at Cambridge Junction
  • 01/21/10 Norwich at Norwich Arts Centre
  • 01/22/10 Oxford at Oxford Academy
  • 01/24/10 Leamington Assembly at Leamington
  • 01/25/10 Bristol at Thekla
  • 01/26/10 Brighton at Hanbury Club
  • 01/27/10 London at Union Chapel

It’s Time for Another Fan Video Contest!

Our Saltbreakers fan video contest was such a success that we’ve decided to hold another one, this time for a song called “I Can See Your Tracks” off the upcoming album July Flame. You can download the song here and view the lyrics here. The song features the amazing howling of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James.

To see the winning videos of our last contest, click here.

All submissions must be postmarked December 31st, 2009. View contest rules here.  Winners will be announced and winning videos posted on January 12, 2010 (the street date of the album).

First, second and third place winners will receive the following in prizes:

• Free promotion of your mad video skills on Laura’s myspace and webpages

• Laura’s complete signed back catalog (4 vinyl records (including the new album) 8 signed cds, 2 t-shirts and a signed limited edition “July Flame Songbook”)

• 4 backstage passes to a show near you

• A hand-sewn thank you note from Laura and band mates

We’re looking forward to seeing what you creative people do with this song!

Love,
Laura and the gang

“The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, Laura Veirs and Bill Frisell have one thing in common: When they wanted their music to sound amazing, they called on Tucker Martine for help.”

The mild mannered Martine talked thoughtfully and candidly with All Songs Considered director Bob Boilen between song selections including his projects, his clients’ projects and his inspirations.  A track from July Flame, originally on the chopping block found its way into the hearts and minds of Veirs and Martine, and into the interview.

Have a listen at NPR.org

Meanwhile Laura Veirs shared some insights on July Flame via the California Chronicle:

“I was losing it,” she said. “I thought, ‘I can’t write songs anymore.’ ”

During a trip to a farmer’s market in Portland, Veirs bought some peaches the seller had labeled “July Flame.” Later, while the singer and a friend were canning the fruit, a song idea began to congeal as well. The result, Veirs felt, was one of the best tunes she’d written.

“That tipped me over,” Veirs recalled. “I said, ‘I can do this again!’ ”

Veirs spent another year writing, eventually completing 80 songs. Thirteen were selected for the new record.

Read the entire interview here.

Laura and many other Pacific Northwest luminaries and creatives each contributed a sketch to a BARK auction, now underway on eBay.  What’s BARK you ask?

“Bark’s mission is to transform Mt. Hood National Forest into a place where natural processes prevail, where wildlife thrives and where local communities have a social, cultural, and economic investment in its restoration and preservation.”

More at their website.

Hi World, 

Greetings from Norfolk, VA. So far the tour has been going great.  Long drives in the van but we’re fine.  The Decemberists are kindly carrying our gear so no amp-heaving for us; we’re feeling un-exericised.  Good thing we’re on the 7th floor and the hotel elevator’s broken.

Thanks to all the kind people out there in the crowd…

xo Laura and the Flames

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Laura Veirs performs at the Bella Union bus, July 2008. Photograph by Rich Thane.

As a part of their series “Bella Union Week”, The Line Of Best Fit blog brought together Laura Veirs with former / sometime Portlander Peter Broderick, now labelmates in Britain.  It’s a nice interview that discusses the forthcoming July Flame in detail, the creative process, and makes a little room for free association.  Highly recommended reading.  And, if you haven’t heard Peter Broderick yet, find him on myspace.

So much is happening! Here’s the update below.

NEW RECORD: “July Flame” – coming soon!
Release date in Europe: January 11, 2010 on Bella Union Records (bellaunion.com)
Release date in North America: January 19 12, 2010 on Raven Marching Band Records (ravenmarchingband.com)

We are happy to report that LV’s new album is coming out on Bella Union Records in Europe, and her own label Raven Marching Band in N. America. Her first few albums came out on Bella Union (the home of Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, Midlake, and many other great artists), and Laura’s delighted to be back in the BU fold.

After much deliberation, we decided the best thing in North America is to leap into the unknown and start LV’s label “Raven Marching Band” in earnest. With Chad Crouch (prez. of Pdx label Hush Records) at the helm and an enthusiastic crew in place, we’re confident we’re going to kick buttocks getting this album out to the people.

Check out the new websites, too!
ravenmarchingband.com

TOUR: LV and the Hall of Flames opening for The Decemberists
The band is very excited to be headed out on this tour next week.  The band will be singing songs from the new album as well as some of the old classics.

See the shows page for the complete dates and links to buy tickets.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Love,
LV and the gang

Hey everyone! Laura Veirs and the Hall of Flames will be touring with the Decemberists this Fall. Check out the shows page for more info. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, August 1st.

New tour dates have been added in Athens, Chicago, and Minneapolis! Check out the sidebar for all the info.

Just got back from a great, short trip down and up the west coast. Eric thought of a hot name for the new band: “Laura Veirs and the Hall of Flames.” Thanks to all who came out to the shows, and thanks to the Flames: Annalisa Tornfelt, Keeley Boyle, Nelson Kempf and Eric Anderson. Watch for us on tour again later this year. Yay!

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