MIRAMAR – Etana is happy to announce her first headlining North American tour in support of her critically-acclaimed third studio album Better Tomorrow on VP Records.
The reggae songstress kicked off the tour last night in Decatur, GA and will continue to headline shows in over 20 U.S. cities – spanning the South, Northeast, Midwest and Western region.
In addition to these more intimate club dates, she will be performing at major stage shows, including Portland’s Northwest World Reggae Festival, Austin Reggae Festival, Summer Jam 2013 in West Palm Beach, FL as well as the Irie Music Festival in Toronto, Canada. See most up-to-date tour schedule below.
(file photo) Etana at the recent IRAWMA event.
Etana will be accompanied by her four-piece band and two back-up vocalists on the road to give fans the ultimate listening experience, which she captured on her latest effort Better Tomorrow. The new album is a marked departure from her previous material, including The Strong One (2008) and Free Expressions (2011), and is a true testament to her evolved sound.
Etana’s indomitable spirit and inspiring songwriting uplifts generations both old and new on a Better Tomorrow. Instead of incorporating Jamaica’s popular digital riddims, she chose to be backed by all live instrumentation.
The album’s primary producer, Shane C. Brown of Kingston’s Juke Boxx Productions, and Stanley “Rellee” Hayden of A-Team Music executed her vision. She recorded all fourteen tracks at Kingston’s legendary Tuff Gong Studios with Jamaica’s finest modern-day musicians – including saxophonist Dean Fraser, guitarist Lamont Savory, keyboarist Kevon Webster, drummer Kirk Bennett, bassist Aeion Hoilett and percussionist Uziah “Sticky” Thompson.
“I wanted this album to feel like a concert performance and have everything go together, like chapters in a book, with all of the tracks played live by musicians (not digitally generated),” Etana explained.
Check out her most recent video for the album’s contagious single “Reggae”:
http://www.sflcn.com/multimedia.php?id=r6GMBCaagok
U.S. TOUR DATES:
Jun 27 @ Vibes Nite Club in Decatur, GA
Jun 28 @ Club Caribbean in New Orleans, LA
Jun 29 @ Groove Station in Kansas City, MO
Jun 30 @ Sky Lounge in Mishawaka, IN
Jul 02 @ One Pelham East in Newport, RI
Jul 04 @ Frankies in Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 06 @ Key Club in Newark, NJ
Jul 10 @ Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA
Jul 11 @ The New Parish in Oakland, CA
Jul 12 @ World Beat Cultural Center in San Diego, CA
Jul 13 @ Irie Music Festival in Toronto, Canada
Jul 14 @ Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA
Jul 16 @ Las Vegas Country Saloon in Las Vegas, NV
Jul 18 @ Copper Club in Ogden, UT
Jul 19 @ Cervantes’ Other Side in Denver, CO
Jul 20 @ The Hailey Rodeo Park in Hailey, ID
Jul 21 @ Rocky Point Cantina in Tempe, AZ
Jul 24 @ Zebra Lounge in Bozeman, MT
Jul 26 @ Nectar Lounge in Seattle, WA
Jul 27 @ Northwest World Reggae Festival in Portland, OR
Aug 24 @ Austin Reggae Festival in Austin, TX
Sept 1 @ Summer Jam 2013 in West Palm Beach, FL
Critics sing their praises about Better Tomorrow.
“soulful style and thoughtful lyrics…one of the most respected women in reggae today.”
– NPR TELL ME MORE
“keeping true to her socially conscious, vintage sound…would make Marley proud.”
-EBONY
“most vocally subtle and seamless album to date… finest piece of songwriting yet…scorching soulful roots…fuses Bob Marley with India.Arie”
– BBC
“most accomplished and well-designed album to date…empowering songwriting that poetically advocates high self-esteem and makes the modern everyday struggle sound valiant”
– ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“mature and confident sound with top-notch lyrical content and unique vocals…best album to date”
– ASSOCIATED PRESS
“serene”
– VIBE
