Pitchfork

Photo by Nilina Mason-Campbell

The Decemberists' new album, The Hazards of Love, is due out March 24 on Capitol, but SXSW attendees will get to hear the album played live in its entirety nearly a week earlier. On March 18, Colin Meloy and his merry men and women will headline NPR's SXSW showcase at Stubb's with a top-to-bottom run through The Hazards of Love. It will be the very first time the album has been played live. My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden and Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark, who play important roles in the album's fairytale, will be on hand to sing their parts.

For those who can't make the show, it will be broadcast and webcast on NPR. Other bands playing the NPR showcase have yet to be announced.