Craft Recordings and Violent Femmes are commemorating 40 years of the band’s sophomore title, Hallowed Ground, with a vinyl reissue. The album has been a cornerstone of Violent Femmes’ live performances, and a touchstone for the Post-Punk and Alt-Country genres.
Set for release on November 8, 2024, the LP has been mastered from the original stereo tapes and features tracks such as “Country Death Song,” “Never Tell,” and “I Hear the Rain“. In addition to the standard vinyl, Hallowed Ground will also arrive in four limited color pressings, including a Green Smoke variant (available at vfemmes.com and craftrecordings.com), Orange Smoke (independent record stores), Azure Blue (Barnes & Noble) and Onyx (Spotify Fans First, available exclusively to followers).
To mark this milestone, Violent Femmes are currently on a North America tour. The tour will conclude on October 9 with a special show at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.
Hallowed Ground, includes contributions from banjo player Tony Trischka on “Country Death Song” and “It’s Gonna Rain,” and saxophonist John Zorn on “Black Girls.” The album’s lyrics delve into themes of “faith, redemption and existential contemplation.” This marked a departure from the more straightforward Pop sound of the band’s debut and even caused dissension in the band.
On Hallowed Ground, Gano explored his faith, something previously restrained in his songwriting at the request of atheist-leaning members Brian Ritchie (Femmes’ bassist) and Victor Delorenzo (Femmes’ original drummer). Those feelings changed over time and the band members accepted the quality of the songwriting on those tracks.
Violent Femmes’ Hallowed Ground Tour Dates:
8/16: Centre Wellington, ON, Canada – Riverfest Elora 2024
8/17: Lafayette, NY – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
8/18: Middlefield, CT – Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort
9/7: Copper Mountain, CO – Union Peak Festival 2024
9/8: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
9/9: Sandy, UT – Sandy Amphitheater
9/21: Southwest, DC – HFStival 2024
9/26: Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues Orlando
9/27: Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater
9/28: St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
9/29: St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
10/1: Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
10/2: Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
10/4: Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
10/5: Asheville, NC – Rabbit Rabbit
10/6: Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
10/8: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
10/9: Nashville, TN – Schermerhorn Symphony Center
