Carrie & Lowell Tour
The Carrie & Lowell Tour was the sixth concert tour by American recording artist Sufjan Stevens. The tour supported his seventh studio album, Carrie & Lowell (2015). The tour began in the spring of 2015. Stevens played over 100 shows in North America, Australasia and Europe.
Tour by Sufjan Stevens | |
Promotional poster for the tour | |
Associated album | Carrie & Lowell |
---|---|
Start date | April 10, 2015 |
End date | March 8, 2016 |
Legs | 5 |
No. of shows | 59 in North America 15 in Australasia 28 in Europe 102 Total |
Sufjan Stevens concert chronology |
Background
The tour was announced in January 2015, with tickets going on sale January 30, 2015.[1] In April, shows in the Europe were announced.[2] Following his festival appearance in Sydney, Stevens mentioned wanting to do a full tour in Australia.[3] The dates were released in September 2015.[4]
Critical reception
The tour was well received by concertgoers and critics. Piet Levy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote: "But the approach was absolutely appropriate for what is clearly a deeply personal body of work, one whose sentiments of abandonment and regret and nostalgia resemble what audience members have experienced during their own complicated lives".[5] The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber praised the concert in Washington, D.C.. He wrote: "Seeing Stevens live is like upping the contrast in a photo. Carrie & Lowell sounds much the same throughout—it's mostly acoustic, mostly percussion-free, and definitely not a jam—but in concert there are higher highs and lower lows and a wider array of sounds".[6] The concert in Pittsburgh was attended by Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He stated: "Between the acoustics of Heinz Hall, a microphone he must have spent a fortune on, exquisite melodies and a voice that glides so beautifully from whisper to falsetto, it was a stunning effect. With multi-instrumentalists Casey Foubert, Dawn Landes, 'Zardok' and drummer James McAlister, it was five-person symphony blending delicate strings with moody electronics, percussion and choral vocals that built to sneaky crescendos that don’t appear on the record".[7]
In the United Kingdom, the shows received glowing reviews, all getting five out of five stars. For the Dublin concert, Siobhán Kane of The Irish Times stated: "Atmosphere is something Stevens brings to The Helix, a sympathetic space for his show, lending itself well to his invitation to church; at one point mirrorballs and clever lighting suggests stained glass windows which, along with the confiding nature of the performance, provide a genuinely transcendental experience. Something the haunting Vesuvius, with a semblance of choreography, harnesses".[8] During the Edinburgh festival, Charlotte Runcie of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "It was a soothing and nourishing coda after the eardrum-bursting swoops earlier in the night. From sublime to fragile, sombre to beautiful, and universal to intimate, this was an exhilarating concert of perfect balance, with Stevens the best he has ever been".[9] For the London show, David Smyth from the London Evening Standard wrote: "Stevens is always capable of making beautiful, emotional acoustic music but prone to eccentric projects such as collections about Christmas or a Brooklyn freeway — and the still, quiet anguish of his new material is devastating. During the main body of the performance he did not speak between songs. The repeated refrain of 'Fourth of July' — 'We're all gonna die' — could not have been clearer".[10]
Opening acts
- Cold Specks (North America—Leg 1, select dates)[11]
- Little Scream (North America—Leg 1, select dates)[11]
- Moses Sumney (North America—Leg 1, select dates)[11]
- Helado Negro (North America—Leg 1, select dates)[11]
- Gallant (North America—Leg 2)[12]
- Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear (Europe, select dates)[13]
- Mina Tindle (Europe, select dates)[13]
- Basia Bulat (Europe, select dates)[13]
- Austra (Europe, select dates)[13]
- Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens (New York City, May 1)
- Dawn Landes (Dallas)*
*Landes also performed as part of Stevens's backing band.
Example Setlist
The following setlist was obtained from the June 3, 2015 concert, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.[14]
- "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)"
- "Death with Dignity"
- "Should Have Known Better"
- "Drawn to the Blood"
- "All of Me Wants All of You"
- "Eugene"
- "John My Beloved"
- "The Only Thing"
- "Fourth of July"
- "No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross"
- "Carrie & Lowell"
- "The Owl and the Tanager"
- "In the Devil's Territory"
- "The Dress Looks Nice on You"
- "To Be Alone with You"
- "Futile Devices"
- "Casimir Pulaski Day"
- "Blue Bucket of Gold"
- Encore
- "Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois"
- "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!"
- "Chicago"
Tour dates
- Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
- A Vivid Live[21]
- B Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival[22]
- C Newport Folk Festival[23]
- D Rocky Mountain Folks Festival[24]
- E Edinburgh International Festival[25]
- F End of the Road Festival[26]
- G New Zealand Festival[27]
- H Auckland Art Festival[28]
Box office score data
Venue | City | Tickets sold / Available | Gross revenue |
---|---|---|---|
Beacon Theatre | New York City | 2,693 / 2,803 (96%) | $121,185[29] |
Palace Theatre | Columbus | 2,459 / 2,459 (100%) | $97,334[30] |
Northrop Auditorium | Minneapolis | 2,509 / 2,509 (100%) | $91,579[31] |
Chicago Theatre | Chicago | 6,931 / 6,931 (100%) | $218,327[31] |
Masonic Theater | Detroit | 3,041 / 3,500 (87%) | $120,296[30] |
Kings Theatre | New York City | 5,946 / 6,163 (96%) | $267,570[29] |
Wang Theatre | Boston | 3,363 / 3,514 (96%) | $134,198[32] |
Altria Theater | Richmond | 2,283 / 3,610 (63%) | $81,549[32] |
Durham Performing Arts Center | Durham | 2,622 / 2,712 (97%) | $95,275[33] |
Jones Hall | Houston | 2,368 / 2,817 (84%) | $89,968[34] |
Bass Concert Hall | Austin | 5,065 / 5,582 (91%) | $193,295[35] |
Fox Oakland Theatre | Oakland | 3,891 / 3,891 (100%) | $175,095[36] |
Arlington Theater | Santa Barbara | 1,883 / 1,883 (100%) | $95,124[37] |
Orpheum Theatre | Omaha | 1,400 / 2,097(67%) | $59,920[38] |
Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte | 1,421 / 2,327 (61%) | $53,677[37] |
Olympia Theater | Miami | 1,315 / 1,591 (83%) | $56,933[39] |
Alabama Theatre | Birmingham | 1,580 / 2,164 (73%) | $61,775[39] |
TOTAL | 50,770 / 56,553 (90%) | $2,013,100 | |
Personnel
- Production & Lighting Designer: Marc Janowitz[40]
- Content Designer: Josh Higgason[40]
- Lighting Director: Jason Rothberg[40]
- Band
- Guitar: Dawn Landes
- Bass guitar: Casey Foubert
- Drums: James McAlister
- Keyboards: Steve Moore
References
- DeVille, Chris (January 26, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens Announces Spring 2015 North American Tour". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Pollard, Alexandra (April 20, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens announces first UK tour in six years". Gigwise. Giant Digital. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Mann, Tom (May 8, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens planning summer 2016 tour". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Smith, Sarah (September 16, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens announces 2016 Australian tour". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Levy, Piet (April 24, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens bares his soul at the Riverside Theater". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Kornhaber, Spencer (May 6, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens, Sovereign of Sorrow". The Atlantic. Atlantic Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Mervis, Scott (November 4, 2015). "Concert review: Sufjan Stevens shows Pittsburgh fans what they've been missing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block Communications. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Kane, Siobhán (August 28, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens at The Helix: a radiant rendering of his seventh studio album". The Irish Times. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Runcie, Charlotte (August 31, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens, Edinburgh Playhouse, review: 'exhilarating'". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Smyth, David (September 3, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens, tour review: Stirring performance inspired by memories of his mother". London Evening Standard. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Beauchemin, Molly (March 11, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens Shares "Should Have Known Better"". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Middleton, Ryan (October 21, 2015). "Gallant Shares 'Weight In Gold' Video Ahead Of Sufjan Stevens Tour". Music Times. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Camp, Zoe (July 21, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens Announces Tour". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Martinez, Jose (June 8, 2015). "Live Review: Sufjan Stevens Inspiring Performance in LA". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Beauchemin, Molly (January 26, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens Announces Tour". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- "Concert review: Sufjan Stevens, Sydney Opera House". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. May 25, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Eakin, Marah (January 26, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens to play Illinois, Michigan, and a bunch of other states". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- Gibsone, Harriet (April 20, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens announces European tour". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Sources for tour dates in North America, Leg 2:
- Young, Alex (July 21, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens announces new US tour dates". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Eakin, Marah (July 21, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens announces more tour dates around his excellent Carrie & Lowell". The A.V. Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- Sources for tour dates in Australasia:
- "Sufjan Stevens Announces New Zealand Shows". Under the Radar. October 21, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Williams, Tom (September 16, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens 2016 Australian Tour Announced". Music Feeds. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Zuel, Bernard (May 23, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens review: Finding great joy from great sadness". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Reed, Ryan (February 11, 2015). "Bon Iver, the National, Spoon Headlining Eaux Claires Music Festival". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Boilen, Bob (July 26, 2015). "Dreams Do Come True: Sufjan Stevens At Newport Folk". National Public Radio. WRN Broadcast. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Gassman, Ian (August 17, 2015). "Review: Gillian Welch and Sufjan Stevens at 25th Annual Lyons Folks Festival". AXS. Anschutz Entertainment Group. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Pollock, David (August 31, 2015). "Sufjan Stevens, Edinburgh Playhouse, review: Tonal shifts leave seated pilgrims satisfied". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Renshaw, David (January 26, 2015). "Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens and The War On Drugs for End Of The Road festival". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Taylor, Andrew (November 30, 2015). "From Andy Warhol to The Flaming Lips: Summer's hottest arts tickets". The Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- Hunt, Tom (November 3, 2015). "Jazz legend Wynton Marsalis trumpets his excitement for Wellington festival visit". The Dominion Post. Fairfax Media. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127. July 18, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (20). July 4, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (13). May 9, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee: Prometheus Global Media. 127 (17). June 13, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127. June 6, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (15). May 23, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (16). May 30, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (19). June 27, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee: Prometheus Global Media. 126. January 30, 2016. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee. 127 (35). November 21, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- "Current Boxscore". Billboard. Nashville, Tennessee: Prometheus Global Media. 127 (36). November 28, 2015. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- "Jason Rothberg, Lighting Director for Sufjan Stevens". PLSN. Timeless Communications. July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.