ONDARA SET TO EMBARK ON NORTH
AMERICAN “REBIRTH” TOUR IN SUPPORT OF
NEW ALBUM SPANISH VILLAGER NO: 3
UUNVEILS VIDEO FOR “A SHAKEDOWN IN BERLIN” TODAY
In celebration of his critically acclaimed new album, Spanish Villager No: 3—Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ondara is set to kick off his North American “Rebirth” Tour on May 23rd in Milwaukee. The tour will be a stripped down affair with Ondara performing solo every evening in intimate settings with stops in Los Angeles, Austin, Seattle and more, with two additional shows in Vancouver and Winnipeg set to go on sale this Friday; see below for a complete list of dates. See HERE for additional info and to purchase tickets. SPANISH VILLAGER NO: 3 TRACKLIST
In conjunction, Ondara shares a video for “A Shakedown in Berlin” from Spanish Villager No: 3 today— watch/share the video HERE.
Of the upcoming “Rebirth” Tour, Ondara recalls, “now as I return to the road after the pandemic-induced hiatus, as I reintroduce myself to you in this new chapter of my life, it feels like a perfect opportunity to deliberately revisit that feeling, to go back to the beginning, and connect with you again in those same intimate spaces where we met for the first time. This is the intention behind the rebirth tour. To recreate and revisit that feeling we both had when we first met, but to approach it with more intention this time, to be fully present and cherish every moment.”
Ondara will also serve as direct support to duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela for a run of dates in June on the East Coast and Midwest.
The album is predominately produced by Ondara and Mike Viola (Jenny Lewis, Dan Wilson) with contributions from Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes, Sebastian Steinberg, Tim Kuhl and Jeremy Stacey. The collection of songs features a much more full, electric sound.
Of the album, Ondara states, “This collection of work and the work that lies ahead in presenting it to the world, is a metaphor for my spiritual path. There is death and resurrection in it, a peeling of layers, a pursuit of the truest form of the self in the universe. Ironically, the adaptation of the Spanish Villager character has made me more acquainted with myself. By creating an obvious demarcation between the art and the artist, I have charted two paths of maturation. One path is the maturation of the Spanish Villager as a work of art, as a character in a narrative, as a commodity partaking in the mandatory sport of capitalism; The other is my own personal maturation into a spiritual, integrated, and useful member of society.”
The namesake behind the new album is The Spanish Villager: a mysterious man with a potent message who has proven to be a versatile guy: he’s the subject of a short story Ondara wrote and turned into a graphic novel, and now a new album.
Spanish Villager No: 3 follows his 2020 sophomore album, Folk N’ Roll Vol 1: Tales of Isolation, and his 2019 debut album, Tales of America, which was released to widespread critical praise, receiving a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. Ondara also received a nod for Best Emerging Act at the 2019 Americana Awards.
Critical acclaim for Spanish Villager No: 3 is below and read more in Ondara’s interactive quote sheet HERE:
“It's a completely new sonic package that embraces both his
intriguing
voice and a unique accent that remains present when he sings.”—NPR Music
“… continues the narrative found throughout his discography, but it feels
more weighty and soulful compared to his previous acoustic folk releases."—Consequence
“Ranging from a whisper to roar, soaring through lyrics that few would have the
courage to sing, Ondara’s voice is a beautiful and powerfully evocative instrument."—No Depression
“…it's a rockier, more refined and atmospheric collection than its predecessors…”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ondara grew up in Nairobi, Kenya listening to American alt-rock and making up his own songs for as long as he can remember. At an early age he fell in love with the music of Bob Dylan and was granted a visa through the immigration lottery system. He chose Minneapolis as his home to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter with Dylan in mind. He began making his way in the local music scene, continually writing songs about what he saw, felt and experienced in a place far different from home. Ondara has toured extensively including sold out European performances, a completely sold-out headlining U.S. tour, appearances at festivals nationwide including Xponential Festival, Newport Folk Festival and Edmonton Folk Festival, and opened for the likes of The Lumineers, First Aid Kit, Neil Young, The Head & The Heart, and more.
For more information, please contact Krista Williams, Kendall Abelman or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.
1. An Alien in Minneapolis
2. A Blackout in Paris
3. A Seminar in Tokyo
4. A Shakedown in Berlin
5. A Drowning in Mexico City
6. A Prophet of Doom
7. A Seasonal Amnesia
8. A Nocturnal Heresy
9. A Suspicious Deliverance
10. A Witch and A Saint
11. A Contrarian Odyssey
12. An Alien in Minneapolis
– Edit (DIGITAL ONLY)
ONDARA TOUR DATES
May 23 /// Milwaukee, WI /// Shank Hall
May 25 /// Minneapolis, MN /// The Cedar Cultural Center
May 27 /// Omaha, NE /// Slowdown
May 30 /// Denver, CO /// Bluebird Theater
May 31 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// The State Room
June 2 /// Seattle, WA /// Tractor Tavern
June 3 /// Portland, OR /// Mississippi Studios
June 5 /// San Francisco, CA /// The Independent
June 7 /// Los Angeles, CA /// Lodge Room
June 8 /// Phoenix, AZ /// Valley Bar
June 10 /// Austin, TX /// 3TEN Austin City Limits Live
June 11 /// Dallas, TX /// House Of Blues Cambridge Room
June 13 /// St. Louis, MO /// City Winery
June 14 /// Madison, WI /// Orpheum Theater*
June 16 /// Chicago, IL /// Chicago Theatre*
June 17 /// Detroit, MI /// Aretha Franklin Amphitheater*
June 19 /// Nashville, TN /// The Ryman*
June 20 /// Atlanta, GA /// Symphony Hall*
June 22 /// Durham, NC /// Carolina Theatre*
June 23 /// Wilmington, NC /// Greenfield Lake Amphitheater*
June 24 /// Washington D.C. /// 9:30 Club*
June 27 /// Brooklyn, NY /// Kings Theatre*
June 28 /// Kennet Square, PA /// Longwood Gardens*
June 29 /// Medford, MA /// Chevalier Theater*
June 30 /// Woodstock, NY /// Levon Helm Studios
July 1 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Thunderbird Music Hall
July 3 /// Toronto, ON /// Horseshoe Tavern
July 4 /// Montreal, QC /// Montreal Jazz Festival
July 27 /// Vancouver, BC /// The Cobalt
July 28 /// Calgary, AB /// Calgary Folk Festival
July 31 /// Winnipeg, MB /// Park Theatre
* with Rodridgo Y Gabriela
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