ALLISON RUSSELL TO APPEAR ON AUSTIN CITY LIMITS’ 1000TH EPISODE

WINS THREE CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS AND PERFORMS ON ELLEN 

FEATURED IN THE NEW AMAZON DOCUMENTARY FOR LOVE AND COUNTRY

NOMINATED FOR TWO JUNO AWARDS INCLUDING BEST SONGWRITER AND

TWO FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL BEST OF 2021 AWARDS INCLUDING ALBUM OF THE YEAR AND ARTIST OF THE YEAR

ALLISON RUSSELL’S NEW AMAZON ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE OF

“QUASHEBA, QUASHEBA” OUT TODAY, LISTEN HERE

Fresh from a stunning run of performances at this past weekend’s GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony and MusiCares 2022 Person of the Year Tribute to Joni Mitchell, PBS’ legendary Austin City Limits has confirmed that Allison Russell will tape a performance for the long-running, storied program’s 1000th episode on May 25th. This past week, Russell also delivered a luminous performance of her single “Nightflyer” on Ellen, watch HERE.  Russell was specially chosen to appear on the program by guest-host Brandi Carlile which also featured Alicia Keys and Billie Jean King.

Watch Allison Russell perform “Nightflyer” at the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony: HERE

Accolades for the celebrated singer-songwriter continue to grow. This past weekend Russell won three Canadian Folk Music Awards including ‘English Songwriter of the Year,’ ‘Emerging/New Artist of the Year’ and ‘Contemporary Album of the Year’ for her acclaimed debut solo album, Outside Child. Last month Russell was nominated for two JUNO Awards in her native Canada including ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘Contemporary Roots Album of the Year’ and just yesterday, she was nominated for two Folk Alliance International Best of 2021 Awards, the only artist to garner nods in two categories: ‘Artist of the Year,’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for Outside Child.  Additionally, Russell has taken home two Americana Music Association Awards, two UK Americana Awards, and has been nominated for three GRAMMY Awards.

Today, Amazon Music has released For Love & Country, a documentary featuring interviews and performances by Black voices leading the renaissance in country music, including Grammy-nominated artists: Allison Russell, Valerie June, Blanco Brown, Mickey Guyton, Amythyst Kiah, along with Willie Jones and Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer, Frankie Staton, and Nashville-based rapper Mike Floss. Watch the trailer HERE. In tandem with the film, Russell’s new Amazon Original performance of “Quasheba, Quasheba” was released today, listen: HERE.

Russell’s string of high profile television performances also included her second appearance on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! for “4th Day Prayer” and her single “Persephone” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Flatiron Books (a division of MacMillan) also announced that they had inked a deal with Russell to publish her debut memoir; a deep dive into her life-story which she so artfully explores on Outside Child. Senior Editor Bryn Clark whose credits include books with Oprah Winfrey and ‘me too’ founder Tarana Burke will edit the book. Read the full story via Variety.

On the critically acclaimed Outside Child, produced by Dan Knobler, Allison Russell, poet, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist and co-founder of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago, unpacks her youth in searing detail. She sings about deliverance and redemption, about the places, people and realizations that helped her survive and claim her freedom. It’s an album of “strength and affirmation, not victimization,” said The New York Times in their profile on Russell.

Following the release of Outside Child, she performed on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! and CBS This Morning, made her Opry debut and appeared at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Russell also acted as the closing curator at the 63rd annual Newport Folk Festival. In the set, she brought together BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/Ally visionaries for a landmark collaboration with a mission of placing Black Womxn and active Allies at the center, the event included Adia Victoria, Brandi Carlile, Chaka Khan, Margo Price, Kyshona, Yasmin Williams and so many more.

Allison Russell is on tour in North America, the UK and Europe throughout 2022. Highlights include a run of dates opening for Brandi Carlile, Andrew Bird & Iron and Wine. A full list of tour dates can be found below.

PRAISE FOR ALLISON RUSSELL’S OUTSIDE CHILD

“The singer and songwriter’s debut solo album, ‘Outside Child,’ tells a harrowing story with a survivor’s joy. Throughout the album, she sings about deliverance and redemption, about the places and people and realizations that helped her survive and claim her freedom. It’s an album of strength and affirmation, not victimization.” – New York Times

“Musical memoirs don’t come any braver, or any better than this album-of-the-year contender…Can an album be a trip through hell and also something you put on again and again for pleasure? ‘Outside Child’ walks that line, with its harrowing truths and ultimately joyful noise.” -Variety

“Singing a blend of elegant torch songs, ancestral ballads (in French and English), gentle country shuffles, and Al-Green inspired R&B, Russell embarks on a fresh musical beginning by dealing directly with her traumatic upbringing…Despite its heavy inspirations, ‘Outside Child’ is anything but despairing or academic.” – Rolling Stone

“One of the most exciting voices in roots music. Russell explores her troubled upbringing, and how her creative life helped her overcome pain and abuse.” – San Francisco Chronicle

“Allison Russell’s first solo album, soars on wings of resilience and redemption, but not before walking through the valley of the shadows of pain and abuse and desolate loneliness. The 11-song cycle circles outward in ever expanding arcs.” – No Depression

“A stunning exploration of trauma she endured in her youth, examined with new insight and wisdom that only time and distance can bring” -Nashville Scene

“Triumph glistens along poetic lyric lines as Russell uncovers unforeseen strength. Understanding this deeply rooted resilience derives from generations of strife, the artist beams with pride knowing the same strength will continue to build for her daughter and generations to come.” – American Songwriter

LISTEN TO OUTSIDE CHILD HERE 

Born and raised in Montreal, Russell imbues her music with the colors of her city – the light, the landscape, the language – but also the trauma that she suffered there. It is a heartbreaking reflection on a childhood no one should have to endure, and at the same time a powerful and warm statement of hope – asserted from a place of healing, of motherhood, of partnership – and from a new home made in Nashville. The record features contributions from many of the artistic family members she has found there including producer Dan Knobler, Erin Rae, Jamie Dick, Joe Pisapia, The McCrary Sisters, Ruth Moody, Yola, and her partner JT Nero.

“It was just about making these songs live and breathe in the most honest way,” Russell says. “We were laughing, we were crying. And the communion between musicians, I hope people can hear that on the record. It felt like magic.”

“Outside Child, Russell added, “is about resilience, survival, transcendence, the redemptive power of art, community, connection, and chosen family.” The album is both a radical reclamation of a traumatic childhood and lost home, and a lantern light for survivors of all stripes – a fervent reminder of the resuscitative power of art.

For special offers and exclusive merchandise, visit Allison’s official online store HERE.

Photo credit: Marc Baptiste

TOUR DATES:
April 30: Merlefest, Wilkesboro NC
May 21: Sound Mind Festival for Mental Health, New York City, NY
May 22: Basement East, Nashville, TN
May 29: Strawberry Fest, Grass Valley, CA
June 01: Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC
June 02: Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk, VA
June 08: Black Opry at the Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
June 12: The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 13: The Magnolia, San Diego, CA (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 15: The Greek, LA (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 17: The Greek, Berkeley CA (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 18: Pioneer Square, Portland OR (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 19: Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater Seattle WA (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 21: Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, UT (with Andrew Bird x Iron & Wine)
June 24: Red Wing Roots, Mt Solon, VA
June 26: Green River Festival, Greenfield, MA
July 01: Outlaw Music Festival, Rogers, AR
July 02: Outlaw Music Festival, Dallas, TX
July 04: Willie Nelson’s Picnic, Austin, TX
July 10: Mariposa Festival, Orillia, ON
July 16: Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC
July 17: Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC
Aug 06: Edmonton Folk Music Fest, Edmonton, Alberta
Aug 07: Edmonton Folk Music Fest, Edmonton, Alberta
Aug 18: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD (w/ Brandi Carlile and Indigo Girls)
Aug 19: Bethel Woods, Bethel, NY (with Brandi Carlile and Yola)
Aug 20: The Mann, Philadelphia, PA (with Brandi Carlile and Celisse)
Aug 24: Omeara, London, UK (with Lady Nade)
Aug 27: The Long Road Festival, Bottesford, UK
Sept 09: Red Rocks (w/ Brandi Carlile)
Sept 10: Red Rocks (w/ Brandi Carlile)
Sept 13: Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA (with Nathaniel Rateliff)
Sept 15:  Radio City Music Hall, New York City, NY (with Nathaniel Rateliff)