Pitchfork

Little known fact about Slowdive/Mojave 3 main man and solo artist Neil Halstead: dude's an avid surfer. Pretty much the only fact I know about Jack Johnson: he surfs too. It's this mutual love of hanging 10, we'll playfully assume, that brought misters Halstead and Johnson together for a little business.

First there's the business of releasing records, which Johnson does through his label Brushfire Records. Halstead has signed on with Brushfire and will deliver his next solo album via Jack's label this August. No word yet on a tracklist or precise drop date for the follow-up to 2002's Sleeping on Roads, but you can bet it will be mellow and thoughtful and acoustic and all that.

Next up, naturally, there's the business of touring. Since becoming bigger than Jesus in recent times, Jack Johnson has been selling out amphitheaters left and right. And for a portion of Johnson's August 2008 dates, those sold out amphitheater crowds will have the pleasure of talking over a set by Neil Halstead (and Brushfire labelmates Rogue Wave as well). Cowabunga dude!

And finally, congrats to Neil Halstead and his wife, who recently welcomed twins into the world. Hey look, the wee ones can get into Jack Johnson shows for free!

Neil Halstead:

05-17 Wallingford, England - Wood Festival
07-05 Newquay, England - Watergate Bay *
07-06 Newquay, England - Watergate Bay *
07-20 Oxford, England - Truck Festival
08-03 Oro, Ontario - Burl's Creek Park *#
08-04 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Music and Arts Festival *
08-06 Mansfield, PA - Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts *#
08-07 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center *#
08-10 Jersey City, NJ - Liberty State Park (All Points West Festival) *#
08-12 Raleigh, NC - Walnut Creek Amphitheatre *#
08-13 Atlanta, GA - Lakewood Amphitheatre *#
08-15 Bonner Springs, KS - Sandstone Amphitheater *#
08-17 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre *#
08-18 Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheater *#

* with Jack Johnson
# with Rogue Wave