This fall, composer, cellist, cyclist, activist Ben Sollee will release Half-Made Man, a new studio album out September 25th, 2012 on Sollee’s own Tin Ear Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers. The album features Sollee’s signature sound of cello-infused blue-eyed-soul and is his most personal and adventurous release to date. With the enlistment of a diversely talented cast of friends, Half-Made Manexplores the intimate and honest musings of a man reflecting on the world around him. In support of the album, Sollee will embark on an east coast tour with more dates to be announced.
Sollee’s self-produced fourth studio album features guitarist Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), fiddle player Jeremy Kittel (Turtle Island Quartet), bassist Alana Rocklin (STS9), percussionist Jordon Ellisand guest vocalist Abigail Washburn. Sollee began the process with only an outline: simple song structures that would become Half-Made Man. Then, Sollee encouraged his guests to layer their individual fingerprints upon the project in Kevin Ratterman’s (My Morning Jacket’s Circuital) Louisville, KY studio; the result is a raw, energy-driven album created over the course of just two weeks.
“I dug deep into myself and asked the musicians to go there with me,” says Sollee. “It won’t be easy to place this album in one category, but I, and my generation, are measured by a little bit of everything these days.”
Adding to Sollee’s grassroots, do-it-yourself approach, the funding for Half-Made Man was crowd-sourced through a PledgeMusic campaign, which surpassed the target goal in less than 48 hours.
Known for his dynamically intoxicating live performances, Sollee will hit the road on a national headlining tour in support of Half-Made Man this fall. But first, Ben will hit the summer festival circuit with stops at High Sierra, Forecastle, and Newport Folk festivals. Following Newport, Sollee and the crew will once again load their gear on their bikes for The Road From Newport Folk ®: Ben Sollee on tour. on bike., a week-long journey from Newport to Portland, ME.
To listen to tracks from Half-Made Man, and for more information about Ben Sollee and his upcoming tour dates visit: http://bensollee.com
Ben Sollee Fall Tour Dates
9/21 Knoxville, TN Square Room
9/22 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
9/23 Pensacola, FL DeLuna Fest
9/25 Ponte Vedra, FL Ponte Vedra Music Hall
9/28 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
9/29 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
10/5 & 10/6 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall
10/11 Danville, KY Norton Center
10/12 Oberlin, OH Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse at Oberlin College
10/14 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
10/16 York, PA Capitol Theatre
10/17 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
10/18 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
10/20 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
