Presently, Louisville, KY native Dawn Landes may be best known for her cover of “Young Folks,” for which she enlisted a group of “old folks” – the WST Bluegrass Band from Austin.

But that’s all going to change with the unveiling of her second album and first formal US release, ‘Fireproof’. ‘Fireproof’s’ first, and perhaps most infectious track, “Bodyguard” was written following the burglary of Dawn’s Brooklyn apartment. She didn’t have much, just a Casio keyboard, a laptop computer and a hard drive…with her complete second album ready for production. Album two, and years of Dawn Landes’ creative work, were gone forever.

“I never looked back or tried to recreate those songs, never played them, nothing. I just started over from scratch. I wrote ‘Bodyguard’ in the kitchen while waiting for the police to show up,” reminisces Dawn.

Dawn Landes Download – “Bodyguard” MP3 off of ‘Fireproof’

Watch Dawn Landes “Bodyguard” video

The aptly named album was recorded live to 2″ tape in a single day in an old fire station in Red Hook, Brooklyn (along with drummer Ray Rizzo, bassist Jonny Flaugher and engineer Adam Lasus.) It’s an astonishing mixture of the urban and the rural. ‘Fireproof’ is like a little kitchen garden planted between high-rise buildings; in it’s own way, a remarkable act of resistance.

“I think albums are always marked by the places where they were conceived or written. New York was bound to color many of the sounds I recorded for Fireproof,” explains Dawn. But at the heart of these songs, there’s still that girl playing the guitar in a cornfield in the Midwest. The only difference is that the corn has been replaced by high-rise buildings.”

‘Fireproof’ will be released March 4, 2008 in the US on Cooking Vinyl.

Dawn Landes – Fireproof on amazon.com

Dawn Landes 2008 tour dates
w/ Jason Isbell (Drive By Truckers) and Will Hoge

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Dawn Landes’ Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

February 6 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
February 7 – High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
February 8 – Double Door – Chicago, IL
February 9 – Music Mill – Indianapolis, IN
February 11 – Southgate House – Cincinnati, OH
February 12 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
February 14 – Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
February 15 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
February 16 – Tralf Music Hall – Buffalo, NY
February-17 – PA World Cafe Live – Philadelphia, PA
February 19 – Toad’s – New Haven, CT
February 20 – Paradise – Boston, MA
February 21 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
February 22 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
February 23 – Satellite Ballroom – Charlottesville, VA
February 24 – Soapbox – Wilmington, NC
February 26 – Headliner’s – Columbia, SC
February 27 – GA Theatre – Athens, GA
February 28 – Bluecat’s – Knoxville, TN
February 29 – Headliner’s – Louisville, KY
March 1 – Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN

For more info and music:

Dawn Landes Official Website
Dawn Landes on Myspace

Josh Ritter had a successful year last year. A cult stateside hit, the singer/songwriter scored rave reviews for his live shows and wonderful album ‘The Historic Conquests of Josh Ritter’, which The Guardian hailed as one of the ultimate LPs of last year.

Now, the Idaho musician has announced his first UK live dates of 2008. Following a sold-out tour of Canada, the shows will feature a night at London’s Bloomsbury Ballroom (March 31st).

As if that wasn’t good enough, Josh will record a live session for Radio 2, which will be broadcast on the Bob Harris show, February 2nd.

His new single “Empty Hearts” is set for release March 24th, 2008 in the UK.

Watch video: Josh Ritter on David Letterman – “To the Dogs or Whoever”:

Josh Ritter UK tour dates:
with Dawn Landes – support

Dates could change! Go to Josh Ritter’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

March 25, 2008 – Oxford – Zodiac at Oxford Academy
March 26, 2008 Portsmouth – The Wedgewood Rooms
March 27, 2008 Exeter – Exeter Phoenix
March 28, 2008 Liverpool – Carling Academy 2
March 30, 2008 Norwich – Waterfront
March 31, 2008 London – Bloomsbury Ballroom
April 03, 2008 Edinburgh – The Liquid Room
April 04, 2008 Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
April 05, 2008 St. Albans – The Alban Arena

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter on amazon.co.uk

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (with Bonus EP) on amazon.com

Josh Ritter on Myspace
Josh Ritter Official Website

Dawn’s gorgeous vocals are heart-wrenching with intricate and enchanting melodies. Her songs also include an impressive array of instruments like 8-dollar guitars, pink accordions and glockenspiels.

‘Fireproof’ is Dawn Landes’ first formal release and is scheduled to be released early 2008 on Cooking Vinyl in the U.S. and Fargo in Europe. In the meantime, we’ve got a track for you off of her self-released album, ‘Dawn’s Music’. So, pretend it’s fall already and take a stroll through the park with this beautiful song keeping you company:

Download MP3: Dawn Landes – “Suspicion”

Trivia: Dawn’s day job is as a recording engineer, working with such renowned artists as Hem, Philip Glass, Joseph Arthur and Ryan Adams!

September 2007 tour dates as follows:

Dawn Landes on tour with Midlake

September 5 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
September 6 – Black Cat – Washington, DC
September 7 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
September 8 – Webster Hall – NYC, NY
September 9 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
September 11 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
September 12 – Metro – Chicago, IL

Dawn Landes UK dates:

Sept 16 End of the Road Festival Larmer Tree Gardens, UK

Headlining with Sargasso Trio and Turner Cody supporting:

Sept 17 Barfly Cardiff, UK
Sept 18 the Boardwalk Sheffield, UK
Sept 19 Spitz Folk Festival London, UK
Sept 20 Playhouse Bar Norwich, UK
Sept 21 The Social Nottingham, UK
Sept 23 Barfly Brighton, UK
Sept 24 Waterats London, UK

Midlake on Myspace

Dawn Landes Official Website

Dawn Landes on Myspace