4x GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell has announced her new album, The Returner. The record will be released on September 8th, 2023, via Fantasy Records and is available for pre-order HERE. Today, she has shared the title-track from the album. The Returner was written and co-produced by Allison along with dim star (her partner JT Neroand Drew Lindsay) and was recorded over Solstice week in December 2022 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, CA. It features Russell’s “Rainbow Coalition” band of all female musicians along with special guest appearances from the legendary Wendy & Lisa, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark and Hozier.

Allison Russell on The Returner:

“My goal with The Returner – sonically, poetically, and spiritually – is a radical reclamation of the present tense, a real time union of body, mind, and soul. This album is a much deeper articulation of rhythm, groove, and syncopation. Groove as it heralds the self back into the body, groove as it celebrates sensual and sexual agency and flowering, groove as an urgent call to action and political activism.

In just a word, it’s funkier. But as is the history of anything funky, it’s never just a party. It is a multiverse of energies that merges the celebration and the battle cry. For while an embrace of the present tense is a celebration, it is equally an unquestioning leap into battle – cultural, political, environmental.”

Allison Russell will be on tour throughout the summer and fall in support of The Returner including two nights next week spent at The Gorge Amphitheatre supporting Joni Mitchell’s performance. She  was also a part of the band for Mitchell’s historic Newport Folk Festival 2022 return. Other highlights include Black Deer Festival, Farm Aid, Glastonbury, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival, WXPN’s XPoNential Festival and a UK tour in support of Hozier. Full tour dates are listed below:

* = w/ Brandi Carlile & Marcus Mumford

% = The Joni Jam w/ Joni Mitchell 

^ = supporting Hozier

June 09 – The Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA*

June 10 – The Gorge Amphitheatre – Quincy, WA*%

June 17 – Black Deer Festival – Chatham, UK

June 18 – Noches Del Botánico – Madrid, SPAIN

June 21 – Band on the Wall – Manchester, UK

June 22 – The Bullingdon – Oxford, UK

June 23 – Glastonbury – Somerset, UK

June 25 – Queens Park Big Top – Glasgow, UK^

June 27 – Gleneagle Inec Arena – Killarney, IRELAND^

June 30 – Malahide Castle – Dublin, IRELAND^

July 02 – The Piece Hall – Halifax, UK^

July 05 – Tønder Festival Friendly Takeover – Copenhagen, DENMARK

July 10 – Festival d’été de Québec – Hydro Québec Stage – Québec, CANADA

July 14 – RBC Ottawa Bluesfest – Ottawa, CANADA

July 15 – SOMMO Festival, Cavendish, CANADA

July 22 – Appalachian Summerfest – Boone, NC

July 27 – River & Blues Concert Series at Rockefeller Park – New York, NY

July 28 – Ossipee Valley Music Festival – South Hiram, ME

July 29 – Out of Space – Evanston, IL

Aug 04 – Kaslo Jazz etc Summer Music Festival – Honeymoon Bay, CANADA

Aug 06 – Canmore Folk Music Festival – Canmore, CANADA

Aug 12 – Burnaby Roots and Blues Festival – Burnaby, CANADA

Aug 13 – Regina Music Festival – Regina, CANADA

Aug 17 – Whistler Summer Concert Series – Whistler, CANADA

Aug 18 – Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival – Salmon Arm, CANADA

Aug 20 – Catbird Music Festival – Bethel, NY

Aug 26 – Badlands VanFest – Drumheller, CANADA

Aug 27 – Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival – Victoria, CANADA

Sept 09 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival – Bristol, TN

Sept 15 – Harvest Music Festival – Fredericton, CANADA

Sept 16 – CityFolk Festival in Ottawa, CANADA

Sept 22 – FreshGrass Festival – North Adams, MA

Sept 24 – XPoNential Music Festival – Camden, NJ

Photo Courtesy: Dana Trippe