Former Louisvillian Sarah Beth Tomberlin — who performs her striking, introspective and versatile songs as Tomberlin — has announced details for her new album, plus a multi-country tour that includes a local stop at Zanzabar on Tuesday, June 7.
Jana Horn will open for Tomberlin at the Z-Bar show, but tickets have yet to go on sale.
The new album i don’t know who needs to hear this… will be released on Friday, April 29. Last month, Tomberlin shared the title track from that album — her first new song in two years — which frames her poignant vocals against warm instrumentation and the soft echo of backup singing from Told Slant’s Felix Walworth.
Tomberlin also released another single from the album, “happy accident,” a melancholy, reflective track about coming to terms with the meaning or depth of a relationship.
“‘happy accident’ is a song about relational obscurity,” Tomberlin said in a statement. “Trying to sort out who you are or who you were to someone. Is this relationship romantic or is it just sex? Do you want to spend time with me or are you just bored? Do I make my own decisions that are good for me or are my decisions predominantly based on what I think you might want or need? I was kind of walking through moments in previous relationships in my life. I wanna know why someone wants to get to know me. Do you want to know me or just your idea of me? Do I want to know you or just my idea of you?”
Tomberlin was born in Florida and raised in rural Illinois, but moved to Louisville around the time of the release of her debut album, At Weddings, which made LEO’s 2019 list “50 Important Local Albums From The Decade.” She currently calls Brooklyn home, which is also where she recorded the new album, at Figure 8 studios.
“The theme of the record,” Tomberlin said, “is to examine, hold space, make an altar for the feelings.”
Here are the dates for the full tour:
April 20, 2022 Paris, FR @ L’Archipel ^
April 21, 2022 Utrecht, NL @ Kromme Haring ^
April 22, 2022 Dortmund, DE @ Kino im U ^
April 25, 2022 Berlin, DE @ Prachtwerk ^
April 26, 2022 Leipzig, DE @ Horns Erben ^
April 27, 2022 Brussels, BE @ Botanique ^
April 28, 2022 Margate, UK @ Caves ^
April 29, 2022 Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade ^
May 1, 2022 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club ^
May 2, 2022 Manchester, UK @ Yes (Basement) ^
May 3, 2022 Edinburgh, UK @ Voodoo Rooms ^
May 4, 2022 Birmingham, UK @ Cuban Embassy ^
May 5, 2022 London, UK @ St Matthias Church ^
May 6, 2022 Cardiff, UK @ Clwb for Bach ^
May 7, 2022 Brighton, UK @ Kmedia Studio ^
May 8, 2022 Dublin, IE @ The Grand Social ^
May 13, 2022 Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre *
May 14, 2022 Philadelphia, PA @ PhilaMOCA *
May 16, 2022 Montréal, QC, Canada @ Bar Le Ritz PDB *
May 17, 2022 Toronto, ON, Canada @ The Baby G *
May 18, 2022 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern *
May 20, 2022 Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village *
May 21, 2022 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
May 22, 2022 Des Moines, IA @ xBk
May 25, 2022 Boise, ID @ The Shredder *
May 26, 2022 Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
May 27, 2022 Vancouver, BC, Canada Wise Hall *
May 28, 2022 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile - Madame Lou's *
Jun 01, 2022 Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room *
Jun 02, 2022 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
Jun 04, 2022 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
Jun 05, 2022 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
Jun 07, 2022 Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar *
Jun 08, 2022 Columbus, OH @ Natalie's Grandview *
Jun 09, 2022 Washington, DC @ Songbyrd Music House *
Jun 10, 2022 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
^ Solo shows
* Full band shows w/ Jana Horn
