Godspeed You! Black Emperor End Hiatus to Curate ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas

BY Josiah HughesPublished Apr 9, 2010

It's been more than a week since April Fool's Day, so there's little chance of the following news being fake: after a seven-year hiatus, influential Montreal collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor have returned. So far, the orchestral rock band have confirmed that they will be playing and curating All Tomorrow's Parties' Nightmare Before Christmas festival this year in Minehead, England, and more shows are on the way.

Constellation Records pointed to a post on the band's mysterious new website. The typewritten letter reads as follows:

after a decade's retreat, god's pee has decided to roll again.
we are, as always, stoked, stubborn and petrified.
it's been awhile, and left in the rain, the brakes have rusted and seized- we'll have to go at it with hammers probably, with elbow grease and with fury, just like the old days all over again.
we look forward to it. also, moya's back in the fold (hallelujah!)

what we've been up to since the last time= a handful of other bands, and solitary roadtrips and wanderings, a couple of recording studios built, and a restaurant and 3 live venues also. a film soundtrack and 4 new kids and 3 new dogs. dead-end jobs. some farming and vegetable gardens. a small record label. acupuncture as a livelihood. and three of us just stayed on the road.


 current plans=a.t.p.u.k, a handful of british and european shows, and then 9 american towns.
until further introspection, WE WILL NOT BE FIELDING ANY OTHER OFFERS. nor will we be doing any interviews. inquiries directed to band, record label, or bookers will not be guaranteed a reply. alls we really want to do is the thing we do, heads down and leaned into the squall.

between now and the live-dates, there'll be rivers of noise and distraction. and the internet is a petty tyrannical monster. please remember that really all that matters is the keep on keeping on. and all that really matters is the shows. and physical engagement in the world. and folks like us and folks like you.

thanks for understanding, and thank you for still listening.

see you next winter.

xoxoxox godspeed you! black emperor

You may have noticed that the band did not mention Canada at all in their tour plans, so it might be wise to scrounge up your Air Miles and book a flight to England this December. ATP Nightmare Before Christmas takes place from December 3 to 5. Other confirmed acts include Bardo Pond, the Ex, Deerhoof, Tim Hecker, Mike Watt and Scout Niblett.

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