Pitchfork

All systems are go for the release of bespectacled Pacific Northwestern chanteuse Laura Veirs' third Nonesuch release, Saltbreakers. The disc-- packed to the gills with languid, folky balladry-- will drop in Europe March 26, with an April 10 release Stateside. The iTunes version of the album will contain the exclusive bonus track "Bright Glittering Gifts".

Recorded with producer Tucker Martine (who twiddled the knobs on the Decemberists' The Crane Wife and might have had something to do with Veirs' guest vocal turn on that album's "Yankee Bayonet"), the album explores the collapse of Veirs' long-term relationship, as well as her short-term stint in a U-Haul from Seattle to Portland. Though most of Saltbreakers was committed to tape in Seattle, of particular note is "To the Country", a track recorded in Johnny and June Carter Cash's home in Hendersonville, Tennessee and featuring the eight-member Cedar Hill Choir.

Veirs fans should also be on the lookout for a disc by The Young Rapture Choir, a cadre of 45 French middle schoolers who belted out Veirs tunes in concert sometime last year. The limited-edition live album of said performance is available on Veirs' own Raven Marching Band imprint.

Veirs and band (the fittingly-dubbed "Saltbreakers") will hit the road for a late-spring trek across Europe before heading back to the States through early June.

Saltbreakers:

01 Pink Light
02 Ocean Night Song
03 Don't Lose Yourself
04 Drink Deep
05 Wandering Kind
06 Nightingale
07 Saltbreakers
08 To the Country
09 Cast a Hook
10 Phantom Mountain
11 Black Butterfly
12 Wrecking

Laura veers this way and that:

03-23 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios *
04-04 London, England - 100 Club #
04-05 Manchester , England - Academy 3 #
04-06 Birmingham , England - Glee #
04-07 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC2 #
04-08 York, England - Fibbers #
04-11 Utrecht, Netherlands - Ekko #
04-12 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique, La Rotonde #
04-13 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso #
04-14 Tongeren, Belgium - Belgium Viva Velinx festival #
04-16 Hamburg, Germany - Knust #
04-17 Muenster, Germany - Gleis 22 #
04-18 Köln, Germany Gebäude 9 #
04-19 Frankfurt, Germany - Brotfabrik #
04-20 Munich, Germany - Orangehouse #
04-21 Halle, Germany - Objekt 5 #
04-22 Berlin, Germany - Tacheles #
04-24 Paris, France - Les Femmes s'en Mêlent festival at La Maroquinerie #
04-27 Vendôme, France - La Chapelle #
04-28 Saint Brieuc, France - L'Appel d'Air #
05-08 Chicago, IL - Schubas !
05-09 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre !
05-10 Columbus, OH - Little Brothers !
05-11 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern !
05-12 Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs !
05-16 New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre !
05-17 Philadelphia, PA - Tin Angel !
05-18 Arlington, VA - Iota !
05-20 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle !
05-25 Houston, TX - Walter's !
05-27 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room !
05-31 Phoenix, AZ - Modified !
06-06 San Diego, CA - Casbah !
06-08 Seattle, WA - Triple Door !
06-09 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater !

* with Mike Dumovich
# with Your Heart Breaks
! with LAKE