When our 10-year anniversary was announced we received a lot of offers and ideas from promoters about how to celebrate. Ideas like a big festival in Brooklyn (like we did five years ago for CT5) and even a series of international festivals were bandied about. We wanted to do something more vibrant and more alive, something that had more of a focused view on what we're doing right now and where we're heading in the future. For CTX, we wanted to create an opportunity for people to see something new, so that maybe they can say one day, “I was there 10 years ago!” Without further ado, here’s our lineup for the CTX tour. ////////// Lina Tullgren (NYC via Maine): A truly compelling — and at times even intimidating — performer, Tullgren learned music playing Swedish folk on the fiddle as a child but has morphed into something completely different and unique. While she fits the singer / songwriter mold, her music is much more intense and weighty than what people think of as the traditional singer/ songwriter — replacing the airiness of, say, Joni Mitchell with the power and force of Dirty Three. She's already light years more mature than her years as a performer, both live and in the studio. That two-threat attack is evident on her first album Won and on stage where her presence commands your attention. ////////// Wax Chattels (Auckland, New Zealand): Wax Chattels are a band you absolutely need to see live. When I saw them play in Auckland for the first time I was completely blown away. The minimalist precision, sheer volume and sonic power was something I'd rarely seen in a live band. As Matt Kosloff from Pissed Jeans said on his site Yellowgreenred, "[Wax Chattels are] just absolutely pummeling and unfathomably tight, with inventive songs, memorable hooks and a cool manic intensity, each member committed to playing their instrument faster than legal limits… I worry what my life will be like if I don’t get to witness them live again soon – I’m still recovering." ////////// Drahla (Leeds, UK): It's rare for a band to have a clear aesthetic and sense of purpose right from the get-go, but Drahla has nailed it right off the bat. Luciel Brown’s spoken drawl is both mesmerizing and unnerving. The result of these vocals combined with the steady unrelenting wall of sound from Rob Riggs on bass, and Mike Ainsley on drums, is truly magnetic. The Captured Tracks team and everyone who attends the CTX shows will be seeing them for the first time, which I think is so great. And judging from the crowd reactions I’ve seen on video and the strength of their music, I can guarantee it won't be our last time seeing them. ////////// It may be a bit wild to send these particular artists out into the vast North American landscape with hope that fans of Captured Tracks will go to the shows to find out more about what we're doing, but that's always been the culture and vision of the label. We're always trying new things, signing relatively (or completely) unknown artists because we’re passionate about their music and want to be a part of their success. If you're in a band and want to be on the label: GO SEE THIS TOUR. You’ll get a sense of the type of artists we're looking for, be able to pick up some of the unique and exclusive merch that we're making for it, and I also guarantee that you’ll enjoy the show. Oh, and we’re adding a "Demo Drop Box" to the merch table — if you leave a card with a Bandcamp or SoundCloud link, we'll listen to it. Who knows, maybe you'll be touring CT15… See you at the show!