Spafford

Grateful Web recently spoke with Spafford keyboardist Red Johnson between soundcheck and dinner at Terrapin Crossroads on March 4th, 2017 (review).  Red offered plenty of Spafford insights and motivations.

Grateful Web: Have you played the Bay Area before?

Spafford, the improvisational musical wizards from down Phoenix way, swept through Marin County, California, on their latest tour, touching down for a weekend of songs and jamming at Terrapin Crossroads.

Levitate Music Festival is proud to announce jam-rock quartet Spafford as the final addition of to its 2018 lineup happening July 7th-8th, 2018. The Arizona-based four-piece is self-described as “electrofunk therapy,” and can be characterized by their strong vocals, tight harmonies, catchy tunes, captivating live shows, and immense improvisational abilities. Spafford will be joining previously announced headliners such as Trey Anastasio Band and The Head And The Heart, as well as Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Lake Street Dive, Stick Figure, and more.

It is nearly a month out from their San Rafael, CA play and Spafford have sold-out their single night at Terrapin Crossroads. Due to the overwhelming demand, the band now adds a second night at Phil Lesh's famed venue. Spafford will now play a 2-night run over Saturday, March 3rd (sold out) and Sunday, March 4th, 2018, dates along their "For Amusement Only" tour, going on now.

Spafford has already announced 17 dates for their headlining 2018 winter tour, ‘For Amusement Only,’ and today, the band shares 12 additional dates, this time across the West Coast.

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After an extensive year of touring coast-to-coast, Spafford is excited to announce that they will ring in the new year at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, AZ on December 29th, 30th and 31st.

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Today, Spafford announce the release of a new record, Abaculus: An Improvisational Experience, out now. Recorded in a single take at The Pound in Phoenix, AZ, this hour-long cut was entirely improvised, putting on wax what it means to be completely immersed in the moment, without expectation of what will come next. In the words of the band, "As a singular musician, one can only do so much. When we all come together, remove the ego, listen to each other, relax, and have fun, the end result knows no bounds."

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The quartet coming in hot this year is Spafford, and today they announce their Fall 2017 national headline tour dates. 34 of them, to be exact. Stops on the upcoming tour include, two nights at Asheville Music Hall in Asheville, NC, two nights in Denver, CO — including a special VIP-only performance — their first headline play at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY and an appearance at Suwanee Hulaween in Live Oak, FL. A full list of dates can be found below.

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On Saturday, March 18, the improvisational-jam based and progressive aggressive styling of Umphrey’s McGee returned to the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles for the third time in as many years.

On February, 2, 2017, Grand Rapids, MI welcomed Umphrey’s McGee. The “Umph” brought the “umph” to the first night of its “Mitten Run,” being the second act to open the brand new 20 Monroe Live in downtown Grand Rapids. It was a night of hot music in a hot venue.