[Cover photo credit to Alyssa Leicht]
Chicago-based artist Squirrel Flower and Illinois founded label Polyvinyl Record Co. have announced the release of Squirrel Flower’s first ever live album, Live at Top Note Theatre, out now digitally and on limited CD pressing. Live at Top Note Theatre is also being supported by footage from the originating performances, captured by photographer and filmmaker Tim Nagle.
Celebrating 10 years of performing under the Squirrel Flower moniker, Chicago artist Ella Williams marked the anniversary by revisiting the project’s origins with two solo performances in Chicago in February 2025. Live at Top Note Theatre is the document of these performances.
This 12-track live album, recorded in the attic of Chicago’s Metro, highlights songs from Squirrel Flower’s entire discography, including two previously unreleased songs, and features guest appearances from Hurray For The Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra (“Not Me“) and Free Range‘s Sofia Jensen (“Doors Open“).
Squirrel Flower will be touring throughout the remainder of spring and summer, including joining Nashville artist Annie DiRusso’s 2025 Back In Town Tour for a short run of Full Band dates that will include New York’s Webster Hall and Boston’s Paradise Rock Club.
From there, they’ll have one-offs with Double Double Whammy artists Babehoven in their Hudson Valley backyard of Kingston, New York, followed by a trip to Cincinnati to open for Indie band Blonde Redhead. Ella Williams will then be joined by Free Range for a solo tour covering much of the country.
Squirrel Flower will also be performing later this summer with dates in Minneapolis, Canada, and Washington, as well as a Fall gig supporting The Beths at Chicago’s Salt Shed.
Tracklist:
01. I’ll Go Now (live)
02. Train (live)
03. Full Time Job (live)
04. Not Me feat. Hurray for the Riff Raff (live) • Previously Unreleased
05. Finally Rain (live)
06. Desert Wildflowers (live)
07. Deluge in the South (live)
08. I’ll Go Running (live)
09. Doors Open feat. Free Range (live) • Previously Unreleased
10. Conditions (live)
11. Belly Of The City (live)
12. I Don’t Use A Trash Can (live)
Squirrel Flower Tour Dates
05/28 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall #
05/29 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club #
05/30 – Kingston, NY @ Tubby’s ^
06/06 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theatre ~
06/07 – Hot Spring, NC @ Rare Bird Farm %
06/09 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic %
06/10 – Dallas, TX @ Wild Detectives %
06/12 – Austin, TX @ Hole In The Wall %
06/14 – Santa Fe, NM @ Ghost %
06/15 – Taos, NM @ The Stakeout %
06/17 – Silver City , NM @ Whiskey Creek Zocalo %
06/19 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriets %
06/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Audubon Center %
06/22 – San Francisco, CA @ 4 Star Theater %
06/24 – Portland, OR @ House Show %
06/25 – Seattle, WA @ Black Lodge %
06/26 – Olympia, WA @ House Show %
06/28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ House Show %
07/02 – Lawrence, KS @ White Schoolhouse %
07/22 – Minneapolis, MN @ Bryant Lake Theater
07/23 – Minneapolis, MN @ Bryant Lake Theater
07/24 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium @
07/25 – 07/27 – Teulon, Canada @ Real Love Summer Fest
08/02 – Orca’s Island, WA @ Dylanfest
11/23 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed – Indoors <
# w/ Annie DiRusso
^ w/ Babehoven
~ w/ Blonde Redhead
% Solo Performance w/ Free Range
@ w/ Dear Nora
< w/ The Beths
