“An American treasure came to the Tiny Desk and even premiered a new song,” NPR Music’s Bob Boilen declares. He continues, “John Prine is a truly legendary songwriter. For more than 45 years the 71-year-old artist has written some of the most powerful lyrics in the American music canon…Prine’s new songs are equally powerful…” Watch the full performance HERE.
The performance features two new songs—“Caravan of Fools” and “Summer’s End”— both from Prine’s highly anticipated new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, as well as versions of two beloved classics, “All the Best” (The Missing Years) and “Souvenirs” (Diamonds in the Rough). Out April 13 on his own independent label, Oh Boy Records, The Tree of Forgiveness is Prine’s first album featuring new material in over 13 years and is now available for pre-order, which includes an immediate download of “Summer’s End” as well as “Knockin’ On Your Screen Door.”
Recent acclaim for Prine and The Tree of Forgiveness…
“An American treasure”—GQ Style
“America’s Greatest Living Songwriter”—Men’s Journal
“…the kind of song Mr. Prine has been writing since his career began: a handful of folky chords, a melody that sounds like it’s always been around, a grainy and understated vocal and lyrics that summon complex emotions in a rigorous minimum of syllables.”—The New York Times
“…classic Prine, full of wry observations that accrue weight as they pile up.”—NPR Music
“…it leaves no doubt that he’s lost none of his gift for a lyric that is at once spare and devastating. Forgiveness is central to this rippling acoustic tune, but what exactly it’s regarding is left unsaid. It’s that cryptic quality that makes the fragile, beautiful ballad so transient and powerful…” —Rolling Stone
“…his ability to convey the most complex of emotions and stories in the simplest fashion has been praised far and wide.”—Nashville Scene
“…showcases the album’s beautifully simplistic writing that reads like poetry, relying mostly on end rhyme to tie in the artist’s message of longing to return to a place where he can feel at home.”—Paste
“…a delicately fingerpicked folk-rock song imbued with Prine’s wistful humor.”—SPIN
In celebration of the album, Prine will embark on an extensive tour that will span throughout 2018, including a very special co-headline concert at New York’s Radio City Music Hall with Sturgill Simpson (solo) on album release day as well as newly announced shows at L.A.’s Ace Theatre, Boston’s Wang Theatre, Austin’s Bass Hall and Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium (two nights). All tickets are now on-sale. See below for complete details. Every concert ticket sold will include a copy The Tree of Forgiveness (CD only) upon its release.
Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, the album includes ten new songs written by Prine along with co-writers Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes and Phil Spector. Along with Prine (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Cobb (acoustic guitar, mellotron, claps, kazoo) and Prine’s longtime band, the album features special guests Brandi Carlile (harmony vocals on tracks 2, 4, 10), Jason Isbell (electric guitar on track 7, slide guitar and background vocals on track 9, 10) and Amanda Shires (fiddle and background vocals on track 9, background vocals on track 10).
The landmark album and tour follow a noteworthy 2017, which included an “Artist of the Year” award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards and a Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Award for his “Chicago Voices” performance with Renée Fleming. Last year also saw the release of Prine’s debut book, John Prine Beyond Words, which includes a selection of favorites songs, photographs and stories from Prine’s beloved catalogue. More info is available here.
A two-time Grammy-winner, Prine is among the English language’s premier phrase-turners. Almost 50 years years into a remarkable career that has drawn effusive praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and others who would know, Prine is a smiling, shuffling force for good. He is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and a PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient whose classic debut album, simply titled John Prine, is recognized as part of the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame and whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others.
Following the 2015 death of his friend and business partner Al Bunetta, Prine is now President and sole owner of Oh Boy Records. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, Fiona, and enjoys spending time with their three sons, a daughter-in-law and his grandchildren.
THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS TRACK LIST
1. “Knockin’ On Your Screen Door” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
2. “I Have Met My Love Today” ft. Brandi Carlile (by John Prine and Roger Cook)
3. “Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
4. “Summer’s End” (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
5. “Caravan of Fools” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and David Ferguson)
6. “The Lonesome Friends of Science” (by John Prine)
7. “No Ordinary Blue” (by John Prine and Keith Sykes)
8. “Boundless Love” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and David Ferguson)
9. “God Only Knows” (by John Prine and Phil Spector)
10. “When I Get to Heaven” (by John Prine)
JOHN PRINE 2018 TOUR DATES
April 11—Woodstock, NY—Levon’s Place (SOLD OUT)
April 13—New York, NY—Radio City Music Hall (co-headline with Sturgill Simpson (solo))
April 14—Philadelphia, PA—Merriam Theatre (with Kurt Vile)
April 25—Milwaukee, WI—Riverside Theatre (with Milk Carton Kids)
April 27—Chicago, IL—Chicago Theatre (with Milk Carton Kids)
April 28—Champaign, IL—Virginia Theatre (with Milk Carton Kids)
May 11—Beaver Dam, KY—Beaver Dam Amphitheater* (with Tyler Childers)
May 12—Indianapolis, IN—Clowes Hall (with Tyler Childers)
May 18—Los Angeles, CA—Ace Theatre (with Sam Outlaw)
May 19—San Diego, CA—Balboa Theatre (with Sam Outlaw)
May 23—Folsom, CA—Harris Center (with Ramblin Jack)
May 24—San Francisco, CA—The Warfield (with Sam Outlaw)
June 1—Vienna, VA—Wolf Trap (with Margo Price)
June 2—Norfolk, VA—Chrysler Hall (with Margo Price)
June 8—Louisville, KY—Palace Theatre (with Colter Wall)
June 9—Cincinnati, OH—Taft Theatre (with Tyler Childers)
June 13—Burlington, VT—Flynn Theatre (with Valerie June)
June 15—Boston, MA—Wang Theatre
June 16—Concord, NH—Capitol Theatre (with Valerie June)
June 29—Dallas, TX—AT&T Center (with Amanda Shires)
June 30—Austin, TX—Bass Hall (with Amanda Shires)
July 14—Somerset, KY—Musicians Festival
July 20—Pittsburgh, PA—Heinz Hall (with Langhorne Slim)
August 2—Glasgow, U.K. – Kelvingrove Bandstand (with John Moreland)
August 3—Birmingham, U.K.—Town Hall (with John Moreland)
August 5—Cambridge, U.K.—Cambridge Folk Festival
August 8—Oslo, Norway—Konserthurst (with Tanya McCole)
August 10—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Paradiso (with Tanya McCole)
August 13—Dublin, Ireland—National Concert Hall (with Tanya McCole)
September 14—Huntsville, AL—Von Braum Center (with Kelsey Waldon)
September 15—Memphis, TN—Orpheum Theatre (with Kelsey Waldon)
September 19—Eugene, OR—Hult Center (with Todd Snider)
September 21—Portland, OR—Schnitzer Theatre (with Todd Snider)
September 22—Seattle, WA—Paramount Theatre (with Todd Snider)
September 28—Columbus, OH—Ohio Theatre (with Lilly Hiatt)
October 3—Knoxville, TN—Tennessee Theatre (with Kelsey Waldon)
October 5—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium
October 6—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium
November 7—Breckenridge, CO—Riverwalk Center (with Nathaniel Rateliff)
November 8—Grand Junction, CO—Avalon Theatre (with Nathaniel Rateliff)
November 10—Denver, CO—Buell Center (with Nathaniel Rateliff)
December 12—Las Vegas, NV—Westgate Theatre (with John Paul White)
December 14—Phoenix, AZ—Celebrity Theatre (with John Paul White)
December 15—Tucson, AZ—Fox Theatre (with John Paul White)
*tickets excluded from album bundle
