NEWS: Ruthie Foster CD out next week, on the road

RUTHIE FOSTER’S LET IT BURN ALBUM SHIPS NEXT WEEK

2012 U.S. tour under way, with Grammy Museum webcast

on street date and SXSW appearance.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Ruthie Foster celebrates the release of her new album, Let It Burn, on Tuesday, January 31 with an appearance that night at Los Angeles’ Grammy Museum. The performance and interview there will be available to fans throughout the world on a web simulcast < http://www.yowie.com/videochat/5lx-ruthie-foster-live>. The event kicks off a tour that continues into late spring with stops in all major cities including Austin for SXSW (March 14–16). The initial dates are co-bills with acclaimed Mississippi singer-songwriter Paul Thorn.

The Grammy-nominated, Blues Music Award- and Austin Music Award-winning artist, who calls Texas home, recorded the new album at New Orleans’ Piety Street Studios with many of the city’s venerable musicians, resulting in an infusion of fresh spices into her already rich sonic gumbo.

The New Orleans players — the Funky Meters’ rhythm section of bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Russell Batiste, guitarist Dave Easley, and renowned saxophonist James Rivers — collectively infuse the tracks with a groove-based, in-the-pocket vibe. The addition of Hammond B3 wizard Ike Stubblefield, who has toured and recorded with everyone from Curtis Mayfield to Eric Clapton, gives the album a jazzy organ-combo feel. Finally, legendary gospel singers the Blind Boys of Alabama and soul icon William Bell add extra depth to the project’s surprisingly diverse collection of cover songs and fresh originals.

Highlighting Foster’s strengths as an interpreter, Let It Burn features covers of an eclectic group of songs originally performed by the likes of Adele, The Black Keys, Los Lobos, Johnny Cash, The Band, Pete Seeger, Crosby, Stills & Nash, John Martyn, Robbie Robertson. The album also includes several new Ruthie Foster compositions.

Let It Burn smolders, sizzles and ignites with an intensity born from Foster’s vibrant voice and indelible presence. In an early review in the Los Angeles Times, critic Randall Roberts noted, “To call Ruthie Foster a blues singer is to miss a big chunk of her allure as a vocal stylist, one who draws from a range of influences on her deep, soulful Let It Burn.” Texas Music Magazine called the album “not only organic but revelatory,” and Blues Revue’s online BluesWax.com said, “Let It Burn can not be overlooked.”

RUTHIE FOSTER TOUR DATES

Tues., Jan. 31 LOS ANGELES, CA Grammy Museum

Thurs., Feb. 2 PORTLAND, OR Aladdin Theater, with Paul Thorn

Fri., Feb. 3 SPOKANE, WA The Bing Crosby Theater, with Paul Thorn

Sat., Feb. 4 SEATTLE, WA The Triple Door, with Paul Thorn

Mon., Feb. 6 CHICO, CA Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., with Paul Thorn

Tues., Feb. 7 ARCATA, CA Humboldt State University, with Paul Thorn

Wed., Feb. 8 NAPA, CA Napa Valley Opera House, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., Feb. 9 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Great American Music Hall, with Paul Thorn

Fri., Feb. 10 SANTA BARBARA, CA UC Santa Barbara, with Paul Thorn

Sat., Feb. 11 PHOENIX, AZ The Compound Grill, with Paul Thorn

Sun., Feb. 12 TUCSON, AZ Berger Performing Arts Center, with Paul Thorn

Tues., Feb. 14 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO Strings Music Pavilion, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., Feb. 16 DURANGO, CO Fort Lewis College, with Paul Thorn

Fri., Feb. 17 BEAVER CREEK, CO Vilar Center for the Arts, with Paul Thorn

Sat., Feb. 18 DENVER, CO L2 Arts & Culture Center, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., Feb. 23 THE WOODLANDS, TX Dosey Doe Café

Fri., Feb. 24 AUSTIN, TX Antone’s

Sat., Feb. 25 SAN ANTONIO, TX Sam’s Burger Joint

Tues., March 6 ANNAPOLIS, MD Ramshead, with Paul Thorn

Wed., March 7 ALEXANDRIA, VA Birchmere, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., March 8 PHILADELPHIA, PA WCL, with Paul Thorn

Fri., March 9 NEW YORK, NY City Winery, with Paul Thorn

Sat., March 10 CHATHAM, NJ The Sanctuary Concerts, with Paul Thorn

Wed.-Fri., March 14-16 AUSTIN, TX SXSW

Fri., March 17 DALLAS, TX Kessler Theater

Fri., March 23 DECATUR, GA Eddie’s Attic

Sat.-Sun., March 24-25 SAVANNAH, GA Savannah Music Fest, with Campbell Brothers

Tues., March 27 WICHITA, KS Abode Venue, with Paul Thorn

Wed., March 28 KANSAS CITY, MO Knucklehead’s, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., March 29 ST. LOUIS, MO Old Rock House, with Paul Thorn

Fri., March 30 BLOOMINGTON, IL The Castle Theater, with Paul Thorn

Sat., March 31 SCHAUMBURG, IL Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts

Mon.-Tues., April 2-3 MINNEAPOLIS, MN The Dakota, with Paul Thorn

Thurs., April 5 AUSTIN, TX Long Center for the Performing Arts

Sat., April 21 HOUSTON, TX Houston International Festival

Tues., May 2 LAFAYETTE, LA Acadiana Center for the Arts, with Paul Thorn

Fri., May 4 BATON ROUGE, LA Manship Theatre, with Paul Thorn

Sat., May 5 MERIDIAN, MS Mississippi State University, with Paul Thorn

Fri., May 11 SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WI South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center

Sat., May 12 GREEN LAKE, WI Thrasher Opera House

Fri., May 18 CHEROKEE, TX Cherokee Creek Music Festival

Sun., May 20 CHARLESTON, WV Charlie West Blues Fest

Fri., June 1 MEMPHIS, TN Levitt Shell at Overton Park

Sat., June 2 EUREKA SPRINGS, AR Eureka Springs Blues Weekend

Sat., June 16 HENDERSON, KY Handy Blues and Barbeque Festival

Sat., June 30 LAYTONVILLE, CA Kate Wolf Music Festival

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