The New Pornographers’ highly anticipated new album The Former Site Of (Merge Records) is due March 27, 2026. In celebration of the upcoming release, the band is debuting the album track “Votive” alongside a new video.

Built around the sound of frontperson A.C. Newman’s mandolin, “Votive” builds from an atmospheric synth and keyboard opening into a wide-open jam. The video, animated by Michael Arthur, draws on the imagery of Newman’s lyrics alongside his and keyboardist/vocalist Kathryn Calder’s hooky refrain, “I didn’t see you there.”

On The Former Site Of, the tenth studio album from the acclaimed supergroup, ten short stories of people at personal and societal extremes are collected as meticulously crafted pop songs. The record was first crafted by Newman in his home studio before being brought to the band, composed of A.C. Newman, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey. The band is joined for the first time by storied session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple). Josh Wells (Destroyer, Black Mountain) will join as the touring drummer for the band’s upcoming dates in the Spring. 

Of the making of the album, Newman shares, “Having time in my studio really opened things up. I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there.”

The band will kick off their U.S. tour on April 22 at The Wilbur in Boston with stops at New York’s Webster Hall, Los Angeles’ Teragram Ballroom, Chicago’s The Metro, Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club and many more, with support from Will Sheff of Okkervil River. Tickets are available now at thenewpornographers.com, full details and a list of dates can be found below.

TOUR DATES

April 22—Boston, MA—The Wilbur*

April 23—New York, NY—Webster Hall*

April 24—Glenside, PA—Keswick Theatre*

April 25—Rochester, NY—Water Street Music Hall*

April 27—Detroit, MI—El Club*

April 29—Millvale, PA—Mr. Smalls Theatre*

April 30—Cleveland, OH—House of Blues*

May 1—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Hall*

May 2—Minneapolis, MN—The Fitzgerald Theater*

May 3—Chicago, IL—The Metro*

May 5—Englewood, CO—Gothic Theatre*

May 6—Salt Lake City, UT—The Commonwealth Room*

May 8—Seattle, WA—The Showbox*

May 9—Portland, OR—Aladdin Theater*

May 11—San Francisco, CA—The Castro Theatre*

May 12—Los Angeles, CA—Teragram Ballroom*

May 13—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom*

May 15—Austin, TX—Mohawk Outside*

May 16—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater*

May 17—Baton Rouge, LA—Chelsea’s Live*

May 19—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*

May 20—Saxapahaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom*

May 21—Washington, DC—9:30 Club*

*with Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)