The El Paso band featuring Jim Ward announced its first full-length studio album since 2006’s Threes. Trust The River will be released on April 10 (Dine Alone Records) – its first for the label. Along with this news, Sparta has also announced spring tour dates and released a video for lead single “Believe.” Of the single Ward notes, “‘Believe’ is a song that’s been on my desk for 10 years, I’ve recorded numerous versions but couldn’t quite get it where I thought it was ready until now. Once we had the basic track I sent it to my friend Carlos Arevalo from Chicano Batman for some guitar touches and was over the moon with his contribution. I couldn’t think of a better song from Trust The River to kick this new chapter off.”

When it comes to his long and fruitful career in music, Jim Ward is not guided by vanity or money or some grand narrative in which he’s the central player. It’s all about the song, the melody, the lyric.  So in late-2017, when he began making heavier, more riff-laden music, he rang his Sparta bandmate of more than 20 years, bassist Matt Miller, and began work on Trust The River, the band’s first album since 2006’s Threes.

Of the band’s absence Ward notes, “I’ve made a real point to never break up a band, mostly because if you look at my history it’s filled with on-and-off-again projects. As much as I can control it, I don’t want there to be permanence.” 

Making the album was a multi-month songwriting process that culminated in some of the most inspired recording sessions of his career, with help from Miller, drummer Cully Symington, and guitarist Gabriel Gonzalez.  Also joining them was Austin-based musician-producer, David Garza. 

U.S. TOUR DATES
04/23/20 – San Francisco CA @ Bottom of the Hill
04/24/20 – Los Angeles CA @ Troubadour
04/25/20 – San Diego CA @ Soda Bar
04/29/20 – New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
04/30/20 – New York NY @ Mercury Lounge
05/01/20 – Philadelphia PA @ Boot & Saddle
05/02/20 – Philadelphia PA @ Boot & Saddle
05/03/20 – Somerville MA @ ONCE Ballroom