Last show of the decade

Next week on Thursday, December 3rd, I am playing my last Astrid Swan& The Drunk Lovers show of this year and this decade! Come to Kuudes Linja, Helsinki. Ville Ahonen will be playing as well and the DJ music is chosen by Brooklyn Vegans.

It's PIKKUJOULU-time! Nothing dramatic, but it should be fun!

News

As Johanna Kustannus announced yesterday, Better Than Wages will be released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux-countries on January 29th, 2010. Cargo Records saw me and my band perform at this year's Music&Media event in Tampere and immediately set a release date for Better Than Wages.

I look forward to touring in Europe in support of the album release. Here is the schedule as we know it so far. More dates will be added shortly:
27.1.10 Brussels, Belgium PRIVATE SHOW
28.1.10 TBA
29.1.10 TBA
30.1.10 Furstenwalde, Germany
3.2.10 Bassy, Berlin Germany
4.2.10 TBA
5.2.10 Bunker Ulmenwall, Bielefeld Germany
6.2.10 Lothars alte nähfabrik, Schrobenhausen Germany

Group Portraits

Tavastia backstage 14.10.09

Dynamo backstage 20.11.09

Dynamo by day

Berlin, hotel terrace 18.09.09

next morning after a show in Hämeenlinna 20.11.09

Hämeenlinna, Turku, Forssa

I'm packing to go on the road for the rest of this week. In addition to CD's, bags will be available in pink, black and white after the live shows. Come and talk to me people!
19.11. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Tour continues

I saw Ville Ahonen play on Saturday and am very happy to tell that he will be playing with us in Helsinki at Kuudes Linja on December 3rd. It is rare for me to get lost in watching a show so completely that I'm surprised when it ends so soon. Ville reminds me of Elliott Smith and Bon Iver although he sings in Finnish. He manages to pronounce the language without the usual sharp edges.

This week I'm looking forward to playing in the following places:
19.11. Suisto-klubi, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa

Bowler Hats and All

So, as it always goes, Finland invites a load of little and big names from abroad to come and hear the music made here. The guests eat reindeer and drink drink drink and back home some weeks later they try to recollect what it was that caused the headache: the music or the weather?

Here is one such review of events (go to post 'finland 5.')

For me this year's Music&Media, or Lost in Music actually did a load of good and I met some really nice people to work with plus witnessed some roulette action. And to Andy: the hats are here to stay, but maybe we can match the guys' shirts a bit better for you next time!

Some more shows to come in 2009

Today I am happy to announce an added Helsinki date for December at Kuudes Linja on 3.12.2009

Here is the rest of the year in Astrid Swan & The Drunk Lovers dates:
19.11. Suisto-klub, Hämeenlinna
20.11. Dynamo, Turku
21.11. Blue Pool, Forssa
03.12. Kuudes Linja, Helsinki

BTW: January 2010 will begin with some Helsinki dates and continue with a tour of Europe, which I will tell you more about shortly!

Band picture

This is us in Seinäjoki last Friday. Picture by Jukka Salminen. Assistant Rami Helin.