Joe Pug Readies The Great Despiser, Tour

On April 24, singer-songwriter Joe Pug will release a new studio album entitled The Great Despiser. For his new album, the Chicago-based folk artist drafted The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn to sing backup vocals on the title track. The 11-song album was recorded in Chicago with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Califone).

The Great Despiser is the follow-up to Pug’s critically acclaimed debut album Messenger. NPR Music praised the album, saying “it’s nearly impossible to avoid drawing comparisons between Pug and folk legends like Bob Dylan or contemporaries like Josh Ritter.”

Pug embarks on a nationwide headlining tour this month to commemorate the release of The Great Despiser. Stream the album’s first single “Hymn #76” here.

Joe Pug Tour Dates:

February 21            Manchester, UK            The Castle Hotel
February 22            Bristol, UK            Bonaventure Social Club
February 23            London, UK            The Borderline
February 24            Dublin, IRE            The Sugar Club
February 25            Belfast, UK            Black Box
February 26            Glasgow, YK            Captain’s Rest
March 14-18            Austin, TX            SXSW
March 19            Ann Arbor, MI            Michigan Theater*
April 20            Dallas, TX            Club Dada†
April 21            Austin, TX            The Parish
April 22            Oklahoma City, OK            Blue Door
April 24            Albuquerque, NM            Low Spirits
April 25            Phoenix, AZ            Crescent Ballroom
April 26            San Diego, CA            The Casbah
April 27            Los Angeles, CA            The Satellite
April 29            Pioneertown, CA            Pappy and Harriet’s
April 30            Santa Cruz, CA            Crepe Place
May 1            San Francisco, CA            Bottom of the Hill
May 3            Vancouver, BC            The Media Club
May 4            Portland, OR            The Doug Fir
May 5            Seattle, WA            The Crocodile
May 6            Pullman, WA            Tower Theater
May 9            Boise, ID            Neurolux
May 10            Salt Lake City, UT            Urban Lounge
May 12            Denver, CO            The Bluebird
May 13            Kansas City, MO            Record Bar
May 14            St. Louis, MO            Off Broadway
May 16            Madison, WI            Frequency
May 17            Minneapolis, MN            7th Street Eatery
May 18            Chicago, IL            Lincoln Hall
May 19            Chicago, IL            Lincoln Hall‡
May 20            Bloomington, IN            The Bishop‡
May 22            Columbus, OH            Rumba Cafe‡
May 23            Cleveland, OH            The Beachland Tavern‡
May 24            Pittsburgh, PA            Club Café‡
May 26            Toronto, ON            The Horseshoe‡
May 27            Ottawa, ON            Mavericks‡
May 29            Boston, MA            Brighton Music Hall**
May 31            New York, NY            Bowery Ballroom‡
June 2            Washington, DC            9:30 Club**
June 3            Charlottesville, VA            The Southern‡

(additional dates to be announced)

*supporting Levon Helm

†supporting Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

‡with support from David Wax Museum

**co-headline with David Wax Museum