Seth Walker to Perform on “Circle of the Song” Tour

Seth joins Ed Jurdi (of Band of Heathens) and Edward David Anderson on the inaugural “Circle of the Song Tour” this winter.

As far back as we can remember, humanity has been compelled to gather around song. Whether as a centerpiece for celebration, a reflection on loss or a calling to inspire community; in the form of ballads, blues, spirituals and countless other variations, timeless songs have been integral to the narrative of their times. With that idea in mind, three of this generation’s most devoted artists to the art of the song: Ed Jurdi, Seth Walker and Edward David Anderson will head out of the road together to perform in the round, share their extensive bodies of work with one another, pick on a few classics and celebrate…The Circle Of The Song.

As a founding member and leader of the Austin, TX rock and roll outfit The Band of Heathens, Ed Jurdi has been an essential element in defining the band’s kaleidoscopic American sound. From festival performances at Bonnaroo, Austin, City Limits and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass to over a thousand one-nighters in clubs and theaters across the United States and Europe, The Band of Heathens have built a reputation as one of today’s hardest working bands. Originally from the Boston area, Jurdi has forged a sound both rooted in the past and pointing toward the future. An ardent student of the masters of American music, he brings the passion of a gospel sermon and juxtaposes it against a gathering of merry pranksters with a soulful delivery and timeless voice.

Seth Walker is pure Southern troubadour. He grew up in North Carolina and came of age in Austin, Texas where he became renowned on the contemporary blues and roots scene. After a stint in Nashville, Walker now resides in New Orleans. All of these geographical influences coalesce on his most recent album, Sky Still Blue. Produced by Oliver Wood of The Wood Brothers, it revels in the devil-on-my-trail gristle, longing blue notes and pop-wise song-craft that has become Walker’s forte. The Vinyl District perhaps summed up Seth best when praising him as “an accomplished guitarist and an even better singer, distilling the soul of Ray Charles, the Southern boy roots charm of Delbert McClinton, and an uptown blues turn of phrase (à la Percy Mayfield) into his own distinct voice.”

Prior to 2014, many knew Edward David Anderson best from his critically acclaimed, vintage American rock band, Backyard Tire Fire. That all changed earlier this year, however, when Anderson struck out on his own with his debut solo release, Lies & Wishes. Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, it presents Anderson’s most autobiographical material yet, exploring the loss of his mother and the dissolution of his band. It’s a collection of songs that embrace vulnerability, while rooted in Anderson’s working class aesthetic. Performer Magazine declared: “Anderson pulls from the pockets of country, blues and Americana, capturing a different hue as the genres shift, in a juxtaposition of warm-hearted openness and biting self-doubt.” Born and raised in the Midwest, Anderson currently splits his time between Bloomington, Illinois and lower Alabama.