News Roundup: Civil Wars, Beck, Neutral Milk Hotel

Last fall, with a big tour on the horizon and a new album in the works, the Civil Wars surprised everyone by announcing a hiatus in light of “internal discord and irreconcilable differences in ambition.” The tour was cancelled, and the album — which had already been documented in a series of tweets and Instragram photos, some of which showed Joy Williams recording her vocal tracks while holding her newborn baby — was presumably shelved. Until today, that is. According to a new press release, the Civil Wars’ self-titled sophomore album will be out this summer. No tour dates have been announced, though, which could mean that this civil war has yet to reach a truce. More details here.

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After announcing a handful of unplugged gigs, Beck has confirmed an upcoming acoustic album. The genre-bending artist began writing songs for the new record in 2008, and finished it in a “burst of inspiration” after polishing off last year’s Song Reader project. The tour will include a stop at the Newport Folk Festival and an Americanarama gig with Bob Dylan, Wilco, and Ryan Bingham. The acoustic shows will feature rootsy, stripped-down versions of his past hits, as well as a handful of new tunes.

Beck Tour Dates

5/19 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
5/20 San Francisco, CA – Davies Symphony Hall (Song Reader event)
7/02 Paris, France – Days Off Festival !
7/27 Wantagh, NY – Americanarama Festival * !
07/28 Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival !
07/30 Portland, ME – State Theatre
08/02 Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilion ^
08/04 Brooklyn, NY – Prospect Park Bandshell (Celebrate Brooklyn) ^

* with Bob Dylan, Wilco, Ryan Bingham
^ with full band
! solo, acoustic

Good news for Neutral Milk Hotel fans. The reunited band has started to unveil tour dates, with a promise of “more to come.” Since the last scheduled date is on December 1st, it stands to reason that this reunion will stretch into 2014, as well.

Neutral Milk Hotel 2013 Tour Dates