Features
Bettye LaVette Joins Robert Plant Tour
Bettye LaVette’s upcoming album “Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook” features 13 covers including her take on Led Zeppelin’s “All My Love.” The R&B singer is about to get even closer to the blues-rock band when she joins singer Robert Plant as an opening act on his July tour.
Plant is hitting the road for a 12-city tour along with a group of musicians he’s calling “The Band of Joy.” Many years ago he was part of a different act called Band of Joy, along with drummer John Bonham, before making it as Led Zeppelin. The new “Band of Joy” features Patty Griffin, Darrell Scott, Byron House, Marco Giovino and his co-producer Buddy Miller. In addition to accompanying Plant on the road, the group also appears on his new album, set for release in late summer or early fall.
Photo: Doug Seymour
The tour kicks off July 13 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tenn., and wraps up July 31 at Bayfront Park Amphitheatre in Miami.
LaVette will open eight dates of the trek beginning with the July 20 show at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, and on through Miami’s gig.
Additional dates include Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre in Tucson, Ariz. (July 26), Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas (July 23), Stubb’s Bar-B-Q/ Waller Creek Amphitheatre in Austin, Texas (July 26), Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Ala. (July 28), and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Fla. (July 30).
Photo: David Leyes
Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre gets a whole lotta love from Robert Plant.
Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is LaVette’s third album for ANTI- and the follow-up to 2007’s Grammy-nominated The Scene of the Crime.
The album has already earned praise from both the press and fellow artists.
“I’ve been on the same stage with Bettye twice in the last year and have been captivated each time,” Sheryl Crow said. “On her new album, Bettye finds her own way into these legendary songs yet still is able to remain faithful to the spirit in each of them. Her unique phrasing and raw honesty enables us to appreciate the words in these classics in a whole new way. Just a master class in song interpretation.”
Elvis Costello praised LaVette’s version of The Beatles classic hit “The Word,” saying, “It’s hard to believe that Bettye LaVette’s version of ‘The Word’ didn’t exist before this moment.”
Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is set for release May 25. The album also includes tunes by Traffic, The Animals, George Harrison, Pink Floyd, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, Derek and the Dominos, Elton John and The Who.
Fans cans check out LaVette’s “All My Love” April 25 with its exclusive premier on AOL’s “Spinner.” LaVette will also be showing off her interpretations June 23 with a performance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
Click here for Bette LaVette’s official website.
Click here for Robert Plant’s official website.