Birds of Play’s fourth album, Birdsongs of the American West, focuses on music in Folk and Bluegrass traditions, blending guitar, bass, mandolin, violin and close-harmony vocals. The album’s lyrics are inspired by “the natural world, the human condition and the ever-changing nature of relationships”.
The album’s first track is called “Texture” and its lyrics, written by lead vocalist, guitarist and bassist Alex Paul, set a contemplative tone.
The band members hail from homes in the mountains of Colorado and ranges of Wyoming, also including Jack Tolan on guitars, mandolin and vocals, Eric Shedd on bass, mandolin, guitar and vocals, and Anneke Dean on violin, guitar and vocals.
Though Alex Paul, who formed the band after winning a solo competition at the 2018 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, wrote several of the album’s 11 tracks, each bandmate has a writing credit and sings lead on their song.
The band picked up on ideas they launched with Murmurations Vol. 1 and Murmurations Vol. 2, for Birdsongs of the American West.
Birds of Play will support the album with a tour through the West and Pacific Northwest, starting July 20th, 2023 at the Rochester Hotel’s Secret Garden in Durango, Colo.
Tour Dates:
Thursday, July 20 – The Secret Garden at the Rochester Hotel, Durango, Colo.
Friday, July 21 – Creede Musical Arts Collective Festival, Creede, Colo.
Tuesday, July 25 – Haglund Ranch, Murray, Utah
Thursday, July 27 – Silver Moon Brewing, Bend, Ore.
Friday, July 28 – Revolution Hall, Portland, Ore.
Saturday, July 29 – Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, Leavenworth, Wash.
Wednesday, Aug. 2 – Frontier Home Concerts, Seattle, Wash.
Thursday, Aug. 3 – Kulshan Brewing Co. Trackside Beer Garden, Bellingham, Wash.
Friday, Aug. 4 – Birdsview Brewing Co., Concrete, Wash.
Saturday, Aug. 5 – Matchwood Brewing Co., Sandpoint, Idaho
Sunday, Aug. 6 – Live at Andre’s, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.
Wednesday, Aug. 9 – 1912 Center, Moscow, Idaho
Thursday, Aug. 10 – Longstaff House, Missoula, Mont.
Friday, Aug. 11 – Bozeman Folk Society, Bozeman, Colo.
Sunday, Aug. 13 – Concert on the Commons, Teton Village, Wyo.
Friday, Aug. 25 – TACAW – The Arts Campus At Willits, Basalt, Colo.
Saturday, Aug. 26 – Public House, Crested Butte, Colo.
Wednesday, Aug. 30 – Freight, Leadville, Colo.
Thursday, Aug. 31 – Tres Litros Beer Co., Salida, Colo.
Friday, Sept. 1 – Four Corners Folk Festival, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
