Isobel Campbell

Isobel Campbell announces 1st US tour

Kati Llewellyn and Amy Phillips report:

Now probably isn't the best time to be missing from the Belle and Sebastian lineup. With yesterday's Pfork 9.1 rating of If You're Feeling Sinister: Live at the Barbican and the upcoming release of The Life Pursuit, most of us would be ecstatic if ever given the chance to join up with the indie pop gods.

Isobel Campbell, however, holds a drastically different opinion from your average cardigan-wearing kid (for reasons that are likely described in that Belle and Sebastian biography we keep meaning to read but haven't gotten around to yet). As previously reported, the former B&S member will release two solo records this year, the first of which, Ballad of the Broken Seas, is due out on V2 on January 30 in the UK and March 7 in the US.

The sweet-voiced chanteuse will support the album with her first-ever North American tour as a solo artist, which will take her to Canada, the West, the East, and, of course, Chicago, all in just a week and a half. Backing Campbell will be several Glasgow luminaries: Eugene Kelly of the Vaselines/Eugenius/Captain America and Jim McCulloch of the Groovy Little Numbers/Soup Dragons on vocals and guitar, Dave McGowan of Teenage Fanclub/Vera Cruise covering the multi-instrumental end, and Dave Gormley of no bands in particular on drums.

Screaming Trees/Queens of the Stone Age growler Mark Lanegan, who collaborated with Campbell on Ballad, may or may not show up for a guest appearance or two. And this writer may or may not show up for work tomorrow. Ah, to be a rock star!

Seeing other people:

03-04 Toronto, Ontario - Revival Bar
03-05 Chicago, IL - Schubas
03-07 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour
03-08 San Francisco, CA - Café du Nord
03-09 Seattle, WA - The Triple Door
03-10 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
03-12 Boston, MA - TBD
03-13 New York, NY - Joe's Pub
03-14 Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live
03-15 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw

Before she heads Stateside, Campbell will trot `round the UK with the same band in tow. The tour kicks off on Valentine's Day.:

02-14 Manchester, England - Night & Day
02-15 Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
02-16 Norwich, England - Arts Centre
02-17 Nottingham, England - Social
02-18 Dublin, Ireland - Sugar Club
02-20 Brighton, England - Komedia
02-21 London, England - Bush Hall
02-22 Cardiff, Wales - The Point
02-23 Birmingham, England - Glee Club
02-25 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC2