Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on February 6, 2026
Beloved modern-day troubadour John Craigie has released his new album, I Swam Here. Craigie’s 10th studio LP and follow-up to 2024’s Pagan Church, his critically acclaimed, chart-topping collaboration with TK & The Holy Know-Nothings, I Swam Here represents another musical step forward for the Portland, OR-based musician. Rooted in place, shaped by collaboration, and guided by Craigie’s steady hand as a songwriter and producer, the album blends the spirit of New Orleans with the stillness of the Pacific Northwest, expertly evincing the patient confidence of an artist who is still exploring his creative limits.
PURCHASE/STREAM I SWAM HERE
Much of the album was recorded in New Orleans in January 2025, with backing from local musicians handpicked by Sam Doores of The Deslondes, including the Deslondes drummer Howe Pearson, bassist Max Bien Khan, pedal steel guitarist Jonny Campos (Lost Bayou Ramblers), and country folk songwriter Desiree Cannon, with Craigie’s longtime friend and collaborator, singer-songwriter Anna Moss, appearing on almost every track. Three additional songs were recorded a few months later at The Rope Room with a different band, mirroring the aesthetic of the New Orleans sessions. Songs like “Dry Land” and the recently released first single, “Fire Season,” are both intimate and expansive, drawing from the musical history of the Gulf Coast and the natural sounds of Craigie’s beloved Pacific Northwest.
I Swam Here was heralded by the album’s three beautiful lead singles, “Fire Season,” the evocative “Dry Land,” and the Marty Robbins-inspired “Edna Strange.”
Momentum continues to build around Craigie’s new music and live performances. His current single, “Fire Season,” has climbed to #13 on the Americana Singles Chart. The track, one of the earliest written for I Swam Here, reflects the album’s broader themes of reflection, resilience, and careful attention to craft.
“The majority of these songs were recorded on a nylon string guitar, which is a first for me,” says Craigie. “Similar to Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, there were two separate recording sessions in two separate locations with different musicians. This is because after New Orleans, three of the ten songs did not meet my vision, and it was not realistic to get back to New Orleans to re-record based on everyone’s schedule. The intention in the mixing is to not have the listener able to tell which ones were recorded where, but it’s possible some attentive ears will be able to.”
Hailed by Rolling Stone for “his easygoing banter, observational humor, and quirky songs,” Craigie is currently celebrating I Swan Here with a typically busy live schedule, including headline dates, festival appearances, and more. Highlights include a two-night run at Basalt, CO’s The Arts Campus At Willits (February 13-14), a special Savannah Music Festival double bill alongside Sierra Hull at Savannah, GA’s Lucas Theatre for the Arts (April 1), and an eagerly awaited run of “Help! The Lonely Beatles For Sale” performances culminating in three hometown shows at Portland, OR’s Mississippi Studios (June 2-3) and Polaris Hall (June 4).
Craigie will also perform with the Oregon Symphony on Wednesday, December 2, at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. The performance marks his debut collaboration with the Symphony, reimagining his songs in an orchestral context while preserving their conversational intimacy. Tickets for Oregon Symphony members are on sale now, with the general on-sale beginning April 24.
For complete details and ticket information, please visit johncraigie.com/shows.
JOHN CRAIGIE – TOUR 2026
FEBRUARY
11 – Ridgway, CO – The Sherbino ^
12 – Buena Vista, CO – Ivy Ballroom at the Surf Hotel ^
13 – Basalt, CO – The Arts Campus At Willits ^
14 – Basalt, CO – The Arts Campus At Willits ^
15 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion ^
17 – Boulder, CO – eTown Radio Taping ‡
28 – Kahului, HI – Maui Arts & Cultural Center
MARCH
6 – Honolulu, HI – Blue Note Hawaii
7 – Kaua’i, HI – Church of the Pacific
24 – Evanston, IL – SPACE §
25 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon §
26 – Minneapolis, MN – The Cedar Cultural Center §
28-29 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest *
APRIL
1 – Savannah, GA – Lucas Theatre for the Arts @ Savannah Music Festival #
2 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic (7:00 pm)
2 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic (9:00 pm)
3 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle ||
4 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In ||
MAY
14 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill Music **
15 – Denver, CO – Swallow Hill Music **
26 – Sebastopol, CA – Hopmonk **
27 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall **
28 – Mill Valley, CA – Sweetwater Music Hall **
JUNE
2 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios **
3 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios **
4 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall **
DEC
2 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall ±
* Festival Appearance
^ w/ Special Guest Jobi Riccio
‡ w/ Special Guest Olive Klug
§ w/ Special Guest Lou Hazel
# w/ Sierra Hull
|| w/ Special Guest Anthony de Costa
** John Craigie performs “Help! The Lonely Beatles For Sale”
± w/ The Oregon Symphony
