Brett Dennen to release Hope For The Hopeless + tour dates sponsored by Guayaki Yerba Mate

Singer/songwriter Brett Dennen's October release 'Hope For The Hopeless' on Dualtone Music Group/Downtown Music will be followed by a pared-down mini-tour sponsored by organic drink-maker Guayaki Yerba Mate.

Tickets became available September 18 for the intimate tour which starts in Portland, OR on November 3, 2008 and wraps at New York City's Canal Room November 18. Please see below for a full list of dates. The mini-tour is a return to the smaller venues Brett began playing just five years ago; Dennen and his full band are preparing a larger headlining tour for early 2009.

The tour celebrates the release of Brett's third album 'Hope For The Hopeless' out October 21, 2008. Fans can pre-order through www.brettdennen.net beginning September 15 and the first 200 fans to order will receive an autographed album and a chance to win a Martin acoustic guitar hand-painted by Brett.

Billboard wrote that "Dennen is just as in demand as a solo performer [as a supporting act]." This summer, while on the road with John Mayer, USA Today listed Brett among three artists worth arriving early for stating, "these opening acts are the talent before the star storm."

Brett's audiences have consistently doubled in size with each return to a city. Adding fuel to the fire is Hope For The Hopeless' first single, "Make You Crazy" featuring Afro-Beat king Femi Kuti. It is an infectious, uptempo song already playing on tastemaker stations across the U.S.

'Hope For The Hopeless' features an increasingly electric take on Brett's narrative-rich songs and pop, folk, rock and Afro-Caribbean sounds. The album was recorded at the Village Recorder Studios in Los Angeles with multi-platinum producer John Alagia (John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band). Brett cites inspiration ranging from Fela Kuti's Expensive Shit/Ransome Kuti, to Joni Mitchell's Court And Spark, to The Rolling Stone's Exile On Main St.

Brett Dennen 2008 Mini Tour Sponsored by Guayaki Yerba Mate:

(Dates and information subject to change.)

November 3 Portland, OR Doug Fir
November 5 Seattle, WA Triple Door
November 6 San Francisco, CA The Independent
November 7 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe
November 8 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Cafe
November 10 Denver, CO Walnut Room
November 11 Austin, TX The Continental Club
November 13 Chicago, IL Schubas
November 14 Annapolis, MD Ramshead Onstage
November 15 Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel
November 16 Boston, MA Passim
November 18 New York, NY Canal Room

BIO

Brett Dennen's break-through 2006 release, 'So Much More', prompted Rolling Stone to name him one of their "Artists to Watch in 2008." He has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly and NPR.

The Washington Post called him "a folk rock revelation" and Entertainment Weekly enthused, "He's a big talent with a fresh face and an old soul."

John Mayer, Michael Franti and Jason Mraz are outspoken advocates and Brett's songs have been featured in episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs and House, among others.

Brett joined Mayer's 2008 Summer Tour, prompting USA Today to affirm him one of the summer's "opening acts worth arriving early for." He recently co-headlined a theater tour with Mason Jennings and has also toured with the John Butler Trio, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Ben Folds.

The 6' 4" former camp counselor from Northern California seems an unlikely front man - with his long red hair, trademark headband and guitar held high on his frame he nonetheless radiates confidence and ease in his own skin. His smooth sound is in stark contrast to his persona and the combination of wit and sentiment amount to a captivating performance. As the audience grows, Brett remains the folky, soulful, witty and insightful artist that first captured hearts in California coffee houses five years ago.

Much like the theme of Brett's new album, Guayaki Yerba Mate is providing 'Hope for the Hopeless' as it relates to the plight of the rainforest of South America and its native people.

Brett is an avid supporter of Guayaki Yerba Mate's mission to protect the rainforest and proud to be featured on the label of the award-winning Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate Drinks distributed throughout the U.S. Learn more at: Guayaki Official Website.

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