Sweden’s post-metal powerhouse CULT OF LUNA and boundary-smashing American vocalist Julie Christmas announce plans to bring their Grammy-nominated collaboration Mariner to North American shores for a very limited live run in August: “the first and last time Mariner will be performed in North America.”
Aug 20 – Las Vegas, NV @ Psycho Las Vegas (w/ Mastodon, Swans, Code Orange)
Aug 21 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies (w/ Dalek, Whores.)
Aug 22 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club (w/ Dalek, Whores.)
Aug 23 – Montreal, QC @ Corona Theatre (w/ Dalek, Whores.)
Aug 24 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium (w/ Dalek, Whores.)
Aug 25 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre (w/ Dalek, Whores.)
Photo of Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas, by Par Olofsson
Nominated for a Swedish Grammy for Best Hard Rock & Metal Album, 2016’s Mariner saw Cult of Luna and Christmas join forces to create a thrilling and transcendent slab of music. Mariner topped many a year-end list, including Rolling Stone’s “20 Best Metal Albums” – Rolling Stone’s review proclaimed, “the record’s five dynamic cuts bring out new shades in both the band’s long-form ambient metal and Christmas’ elastic vocals – ranging from Bjorkian squeals and whispers to harrowing screams.”
Though never intended to be performed live, the demand was high and Cult of Luna and Christmas teamed up for a short string of European shows in fall 2016, playing the album in its entirety.
The North American Mariner run in August 2017 will kick off with a slot on the Psycho Las Vegas Fest, alongside Mastodon, Swans, and Code Orange, and will include stops in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Worcester, and New York. Avant-rappers Dalek and noise-rockers Whores. will support.
Christmas, whose ethereal and brutal vocals first grabbed the underground’s throat via her work in the bands Made Out of Babies and Battle of Mice, states: “We never thought Mariner was going to be played live. After seeing so many far-traveling US brothers and sisters at the shows we played across Europe, we are excited to have a chance to roar in America. We don’t care about your color, who you snuggle with, or what you have in your back pocket. I guess what I’m trying to say is: DEAR AMERICA. WE ARE COMING. BE THERE, OR WE’LL KILL YOU.”
