By Alex HudsonNext year is shaping up to be a busy one for songwriter John K. Samson. Not only did he previously announce plans to release his Manitoba-minded solo album Provincial in January, but the Weakerthans frontman also promised to unveil Canadian tour dates in addition to the American ones revealed last month. Sure enough, Samson has now confirmed his Canuck touring plans.
The singer has revealed 13 shows here in his home and native land. Starting in Ontario in March, he will make his way west, playing shows across the Prairies before arriving on the West Coast and then heading back. You can see the schedule below.
As if this wasn't reason enough to get excited, Samson has also rolled out a new track from Provincial called "When I Write My Master's Thesis." This melancholic rocker describes collegiate malaise and -- surprise, surprise -- namechecks a Manitoba road (Highway 23). Scroll past the tour itinerary to listen.
3/7 Kingston, ON - The Grad Club 3/8 Ottawa, ON - Mavericks Bar 3/9 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa 3/10 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall 3/11 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer 3/13 Washington, DC - Black Cat 3/15 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom 3/16 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe 3/17 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk 3/18 Hamilton, ON - The Casbah 3/20 London, ON - The Aeolian Hall 3/21 Guelph, ON - E-Bar 3/22 Toronto, ON - Great Hall 3/27 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre 3/28 Regina, SK - The Exchange 3/29 Edmonton, AB - The Royal Alberta Museum Theatre 3/31 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore 4/1 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern 4/2 Portland, OR - Doug Fir 4/5 San Diego, CA - The Casbah 4/6 Los Angeles, CA - The Troubadour 4/7 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill 4/13 Calgary, AB - The Palomino 4/14 Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Cantina
Perhaps considering that there are shows in both Canada and USA, it could just be called a 'tour', since it is non-exclusive to either country. And really when folks say that someone is doing a "Canadian" tour, which doesn't go east of Toronto/Montreal, it is quite disappointing for those "Canadians" that live in the FOUR provinces east of Ontario/Quebec.
Nobody called it a "Canadian Tour", they said he was adding Canadian tour dates in addition to the previously announced American ones. The new dates are all in Canada, hence they are "Canadian tour dates". Nobody said he was playing a "cross-Canada tour" or something.
If you don't like the fact that a band isn't going to your province, take that up with the band. This is totally shoot-the-messenger BS. I'm just thankful that this website makes an effort to highlight Canadian shows/tours, even if they don't hit every single region of Canada. Bands almost never make it to EVERY province - and territory. It's a fact of rocknroll life. You gotta learn to deal.
well if you go far enough east youll end up at vancouver, does that help? also i feel your pain, most bands drive right through thunder bay ont, even though we are 8 hours from any thing big
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