Their live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. And with select opening dates for Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy later this month, the list continues to grow.

The anticipation for the full-length follow up to the highly praised 2007 album ONGIARA has already started to accumulate. Feature album previews have already popped up everywhere from Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork to Paste, Venus and Time Out New York.

LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album, finds them once again recording at historic locations, this time in Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still “mining for light in the dark wells,” still “tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design.”

The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years–with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen–Dekker has always encircled himself with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.

Lost Channels also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.

Select January Dates:

Jan 29 – Kalamazoo, Michigan @ The State Theatre (w/ Jeff Tweedy)
Jan 30 – Indianapolis, Indiana @ Locals Only
Jan 31 – Urbana, Illinois @ Univ. of Illinois (w/ Jeff Tweedy)

Lost Channel’s Spring Tour Dates:

Mar 31 – Seattle @ The Tractor Tavern
Apr 01 – Portland @ Doug Fir
Apr 03 – San Francisco @ The Bottom of the Hill
Apr 04 – Los Angeles @ Spaceland
Apr 05 – Tucson @ Plush
Apr 07 – Austin @ Stubbs Bar-B-Q
Apr 08 – Denton @ Hailey’s
Apr 10 – Atlanta @ The Earl
Apr 13 – Charlottesville @ Gravity Lounge
Apr 14 – Washington @ Black Cat
Apr 15 – Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda’s
Apr 16 – Northampton @ Iron Horse Music Hall
Apr 17 – New York City @ The Bowery Ballroom
Apr 18 – Cambridge @ The Brattle Theater
Apr 20 – Newport @ The Southgate House
Apr 21 – Chicago @ Schubas
Apr 22 – Minneapolis @ 7th Street Entry
Apr 23 – Madison @ High Noon Saloon

Beck has announced a series of US tour dates to follow his previously announced summer festival appearances. The announcement comes on the heels of the release of Beck’s new album Modern Guilt, which Beck co-produced with Danger Mouse. Modern Guilt has already been declared a more-than-worthy addition to Beck’s discography – USA Today called the album “retro-contemporary fusion for the ages,” while Time calls the music “a joy… giddy retro-futurism.”

As always, Beck’s creativity extends into the presentation of his music. The vinyl edition of Modern Guilt, which will be in stores July 22, includes download codes for high-fidelity (320 kbps) MP3s produced from a playback of the vinyl master. In other words, the first MP3 starts with a needle drop, and the ten MP3s will sound like a vinyl playback. Leave it to Beck to invent the first mobile turntable.

See below for Beck’s U.S. summer/fall tour itinerary, newly announced dates are bold. Tickets for these new dates will go on sale the weekend of July 18/19, except for Kansas City which will go on sale Monday July 21st. See Beck.com for more information on ticket sales.

For further information on the tour dates, Modern Guilt, and the vinyl release of the album, please contact Steve Martin or Laura Eldeiry at Nasty Little Man.

08/21/08 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
08/22/08 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival
08/24/08 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphiteater
08/30/08 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Festival
09/19/08 – San Diego, CA – Street Scene Festival
09/20/08 – Hollywood, CA – Hollywood Bowl
09/22/08 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theater
09/23/08 – Albuquerque, NM – Kiva Auditorium
09/25/08 – El Paso, TX – Abraham Chavez Theatre
09/27/08 – Austin, TX – Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival
09/29/08 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
09/30/08 – Minneapolis, MN – Wilkins Auditorium
10/02/08 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
10/03/08 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom