Rodrigo y Gabriela Make Summer Plans

Rodrigo y Gabriela has followed through on their promise to add more dates to a U.S. summer excursion that begins in July. This week’s tour announcement coincides with the release of the act’s new album.

After re-recording a selection of tunes from their first two studio albums for 2012’s Area 52 with C.U.B.A, 9 Dead Alive marks the band’s first collection of new material in five years.

NPR praises 9 Dead Alive as a return to Rodrigo y Gabriela’s roots, “reminding listeners why they fell in love with the Mexican duo in the first place. The album finds them at the peak of their musical flexibility, dexterously weaving elements of heavy metal with flamenco.”

The review adds, “This new album is extremely stripped down and minimalistic, a treat both for those who’ve been following the duo since the beginning, and also for those who recently discovered them: letting listeners eavesdrop on a private conversation spoken between two friends, in the universal language of the guitar.”

Photo: John Davisson
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Fairgrounds Racecourse, New Orleans, La.

Tune in to “Conan” on TBS to see Rod and Gab perform May 8. We’ll bet they just might show off one of their new songs.

Earlier this year Rodrigo y Gabriela just had one date on their summer schedule – an Aug. 17 gig at Red Rocks. Now, their July and August calendar is filled with a dozen dates. Check out the itinerary below:

July 25 – Camden, N.J., Wiggins Park (XPoNential Music Festival)
July 26 – Cockeysville, Md., Oregon Ridge Park (Believe In Music Festival)        
July 27 – Newport, R.I., Fort Adams State Park (Newport Folk Festival­)  
July 31 – Vienna, Va., Filene Center At Wolf Trap 
Aug. 5 – Wilmington, N.C., Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre           
Aug. 6 – Charlotte, N.C., Fillmore Charlotte           
Aug. 8 – Nashville, Tenn., Ryman Auditorium        
Aug. 10 – Louisville, Ky., Iroquois Amphitheater   
Aug. 13 – Grand Rapids, Mich., Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park          
Aug. 14 – Milwaukee, Wis., Riverside Theatre        
Aug. 15 – Chicago, Ill., Aragon Ballroom    
Aug. 17 – Morrison, Colo., Red Rocks Amphitheatre

The band will also appear at Gathering of the Vibes in Bridgeport, Conn., in August. The festival has not yet revealed its daily lineup.

A fan club presale is ongoing now for Vienna, Wilmington, Charlotte, Nashville and Chicago. General onsales are scheduled Friday, May 2.

For more information visit RodGab.com.

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