[Cover photo credit to Nicholas Sutton Bell]

Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leif Vollebekk has revealed new track “Southern Star”, a ballad which features background vocals by Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon and steel guitar by Cindy Cashdollar. His new album, Revelation, will be out on September 27, 2024 on Secret City Records.

The artist previously announced a full European tour set for October 2024, and before heading to the continent, he will perform in selected Canadian festivals this summer, including Montreal International Jazz Festival.

Leif Vollebekk shares about the track:

I think this might be my favorite song I have ever written, and it took a while to reveal itself. I spent about two years waiting for the last verse to come. It was recorded in one live take with me on piano, Oliver on drums, Shahzad on bass and Angie, who happened to be in town, singing harmony. We added Rob Moose on strings and Cindy Cashdollar on steel guitar. I asked her to stretch out at the end, and, when she did, I just sat there in the control room, completely blown away.

The video accompanying the track, was directed by longtime collaborator and award-winning filmmaker Kaveh Nabatian, and filmed in Montreal.

Recorded at both Sunset Sound and Dreamland in Woodstock, New York, Revelation features many one-take lead vocal performances. The album’s songwriting process was inspired by an exploration that began with Carl Jung’s take on the I Ching and continued into “the science of alchemy and the mystery of the divine.” This resulted in themes of nature combined with “a meditation on living in an ever-changing present laced with existential doubt” as well as “the search for a higher power.”

Tour Dates

June 28 – Montreal, Canada | Maison Symphonique de Montréal (Festival international de Jazz de Montréal)

July 19 – Vancouver, Canada | Vancouver Folk Music Festival

July 25 – Calgary, Canada | Calgary Folk Music Festival

August 11 – Edmonton, Canada | Edmonton Folk Music Festival

October 1- Winterthur, Switzerland | Salzhaus

October 2 – Munich, Germany | Strom

October 3 – Vienna, Austria | Flucc

October 5 – Berlin, Germany | Lido

October 6 – Hamburg, Germany | Knust

October 7- Tilburg, Netherlands | Poppodium 013 Next Stage

October 9 – Cologne, Germany | Gebaude 9

October 10 – Paris, France | Café de la Danse

October 11 – Antwerp, Belgium | De Roma

October 12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands | Paradiso

October 14 – Brighton, UK | CHALK

October 15 – Manchester, UK | New Century Hall

October 16 – Dublin, Ireland | Button Factory

October 17 – Glasgow, UK | QMU

October 18 – Bristol, UK | SWX

October 19 – London, UK | O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

October 22 – Copenhagen, Denmark | Pumpheuset*

October 23 – Stockholm, Sweden | Debaser

October 24 – Oslo, Norway | Vulkan