Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn Announce Album And Tour

Ace banjo strummers Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn have announced the October 7th release of their eponymous debut album on Rounder Records. The pair will support the EP with an extensive tour that kicks off next month and is currently slated to run through April.

Bela and Abigail headed off on tour in 2013 and laid the roots for what would turn into their new album, which only features banjo. “We didn’t want any other instruments on there, because we’re into this idea that we’re banjo players, and that should be enough,” said Béla in a press release. “Sometimes when you add other instruments, you take away from the ability of the banjo to show all its colors, which are actually quite beautiful.”

“I’m a big fan of Abby’s playing,” added Fleck. “I do a lot of heady music. When I play with Abby, there’s an opportunity for me to make music that hits you in a different place emotionally. That’s one of her gifts, is a pure connection to the listener, taking simpler ideas and imbuing them with a lot of personality and a point of view.”

“I come from the old-time world,” said Abigail, “which is more about communally trancing-out on old fiddle and banjo tunes. It has very little to do with soloing or anything technical or virtuosic. So for me to try to learn Béla’s music has been a big challenge, but a wonderful one. Although I’m a very different type of player, I feel very lucky that he’s a musical mentor to me. It’s a beautiful part of our connection.”

Here’s a full list of Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn tour dates:

9/17/14 Derry, NH Stockbridge Theater
9/18/14 Brownfield, ME The Stone Mountain Arts Center
9/20/14 Plymouth, NH The Flying Monkey
9/21/14 North Adams, MA FreshGrass
10/3/14 Raleigh, NC Wide Open Bluegrass
10/5/14 San Francisco, CA Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
10/12/14 Charleston, SC Southern Ground Music Festival
10/17/14 Mobile, AL Saenger Theatre
10/18/14 Live Oak, FL Magnolia Fest
10/19/14 Black Mountain, NC Lake Eden Arts Festival
10/22/14 Markham, ONT Flato Markham Theatre
10/23/14 Rutland, VT Paramount Theatre
10/24/14 Troy, NY Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
10/25/14 Frederick, MD Weinberg Center for the Arts
10/28/14 Kutztown, PA Schaeffer Auditorium
10/29/14 New York, NY Symphony Space
10/30/14 Cambridge, MA Sanders Theatre
10/31/14 Washington, DC Lisner Auditorium (w/ Del McCoury & David Grisman)
11/1/14 Porland, ME Merrill Auditorium (w/ Del McCoury Band)
11/8/14 Nashville, TN TBA
11/28-29/14 San Francisco, CA SF Jazz Center Miner Auditorium
1/16/15 Steamboat Springs, CO Strings Music Festival
1/17/15 Grand Junction, CO Avalon Theatre
1/19/15 Beaver Creek, CO Vilar Performing Arts Center
1/20/15 Durango, CO Community Concert Hall
2/20/15 Springfield, IL Sangamon Auditorium
2/21/15 Naperville, IL Wentz Concert Hall
2/22/15 Green Bay, WI Weidner Center
4/11/15 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Lecture Hall
4/12/15 New Bedford, MA Zeiterion Performing Arts Center