For the latest preview of her forthcoming fifth album Strange Medicine, Grenadian-Canadian singer-songwriter Kaïa Kater has joined forces with 2023 Exclaim! cover star (and newfound Grammy winner) Allison Russell to pay tribute to their shared hometown with new single "In Montreal."
"Simply, this is a reflection on the gravitational pull of my hometown, Montreal," Kater explained in a statement. "I've left and returned so many times that it now feels like ghosts of my former selves haunt the city. During the deep winter of 2021 with its short days and long nights, I wanted to write an upbeat song about a poet feeling lost and aimless, tectonic plates stacked in their sink — a nod to Leonard Cohen, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and all the other incredible songwriters of Montreal."
The feverish plucks of banjo and Russell's unmistakable backing vocals help lay the foundation for Kater to weave their respective artistic journeys into a universal coming-of-age tale. Listen to the track below, where you'll also find Kater's tour itinerary.
Kaïa Kater 2024 Tour Dates:
04/09 Savannah, GA - Savannah Music Festival
04/18 Atlanta, GA - Center Stage +
04/20 Hopewell, VA - The Beacon Theatre +
04/21 Warrendale, PA - Jergel's Rhythm Grille +
04/23 Columbus, OH - Skully's +
04/26 Wilkesboro, NC - Merlefest ++
05/17 Groton, MA - Groton Hill Music Center
05/18 Cambridge, MA - Club Passim
05/21 Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware
05/22 Toronto, ON - TD Music Hall ~
05/23 Montreal, QC - Sotterenea
05/24 Kingston, ON - The Broom Factory
05/26 Ottawa, ON - Red Bird Live
06/01 Brevard, NC - NC Guitar Celebration
06/05 Evanston, Il - Evanston Space
06/06 Ann Arbor MI - The Ark
06/07 Paw Paw, MI - The Lucky Wolf
06/12 Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool
06/13 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live Upstairs
06/14 Baltimore, MD - Creative Alliance at the Patterson
07/11–14 Winnipeg, MB Winnipeg Folk Festival *
+ supporting Molly Tuttle
++ performing with New Dangerfield
* performing with New Dangerfield and as Kaïa Kater
~ with Abigail Lapell
