THE GREENCARDS ANNOUNCE MORE HEADLINING DATES AND FESTIVAL APPEARANCES IN CONJUNCTION WITH APRIL 21 RELEASE OF “FASCINATION”

DT:     APRIL 1, 2009

FR:     TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANGELA VILLANUEVA

THE GREENCARDS
ANNOUNCE MORE
HEADLINING DATES AND FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

IN CONJUNCTION WITH APRIL 21 RELEASE OF “FASCINATION”

As they gear up for the April 21 release of their new and fourth album FASCINATION (Sugar Hill Records), THE GREENCARDS have expanded their touring itinerary with a number of headlining dates and festival appearances.  Beginning April 3 in Texas, the tour now includes a May 1 stop at New York City’s Mercury Lounge as well as shows at Merlefest (NC), Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival (CT), the Telluride Bluegrass Festival (CO) and the Master Musicians Festival (KY), among many others.

THE GREENCARDS–the Austin-formed/Nashville-based band who’ve earned critical acclaim for their mix of country, Americana, blues and bluegrass—have already toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, earned the Americana Music Award in 2006 for “Emerging Artist of the Year” and in 2008 landed a Grammy nomination (“Best Country Instrumental Performance” for Viridian). Consisting of singer/bassist Carol Young and multiple stringed-instrument master Kym Warner from Australia, and violinist/violist Eamon McLoughlin from the U.K, THE GREENCARDS recently performed at the SXSW festival in Austin and just barely escaped legal problems, as they blogged on the band’s website.  As Warner was driving to pick up the group, he allegedly ran a red light and was to be summoned.  But a sympathetic policeman saw all the group’s instruments in the car and told McLoughlin, “We know you can’t afford to pay our salary,” and let the group off with a warning.  “Only in Austin?  I think so!” says McLoughlin.

THE GREENCARDS’ 2003 debut Movin’ On earned them early critical praise and an Austin Music Award for “Best New Band.”  They followed that up with 2005’s Weather and Water, of which Paste magazine said: “The ‘cards rely little on flashy romps, favoring moody, catchy lyrics and steady picking.  A comforting, intimate blend of genuinely performed roots music.”  The Austin American- Statesman noted:  “The key is the voice of bassist Carol Young, which approaches the vast ethereality of Patty Griffin on the breathtaking opener…the lightning quick communications between mandolinist Kym Warner and fiddler Eamon McLoughlin, which established The Greencards as a band to watch a couple of years ago, come in clearer on new instrumentals ‘Marty’s Kitchen’ and the stunning closer ‘The House on Vine Street’ (7/5/05).”

The new album Fascination—which features the title cut as the first single–is the band’s most daring accomplishment to date. Meticulously crafted arrangements serve as springboards for exhilarating improvisations. Acoustic textures and Carol Young’s moving vocals shimmer in the light of Jay Joyce’s innovative production. “We’d heard all these great records that Jay had made with Patty Griffin, John Hiatt and so many artists we love,” Young says. “But how would he utilize the fiddle, cello, mandolin, bouzouki, and bass–the core of the band–without putting layers and electronic sounds on it? We were very pleasantly surprised at how he just wanted us to play the songs and let our instruments speak for themselves.”

See the tour dates below and check out www.thegreencards.com or http://www.myspace.com/thegreencards.

For more information on The Greencards contact:

MSO 818.380.0400

Todd Brodginski 818.380.0400 x239 toddb@msopr.com

Angela Villanueva 818.380.0400 x232 avillanueva@msopr.com

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THE GREENCARDS ANNOUNCE MORE HEADLINING DATES AND FESTIVAL APPEARANCES IN CONJUNCTION WITH APRIL 21 RELEASE OF “FASCINATION”