Aericana duo The Cactus Blossoms, brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, continue to tour for their acclaimed new album One Day with newly announced fall dates. Along with headlining shows, the band will join Wilco for three dates in the Midwest (scroll down for a complete tour listing). They're also performing in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage on October 5. The Minnesota-based band is currently in the studio recording an EP of songs by written by fellow Minnesota native Bob Dylan. The EP is slated for a fall release; check this space for updates: www.thecactusblossoms.com
The Cactus Blossoms were recently featured on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert's "Late Show Me Music" series performing their Top 5 Americana Radio single "Hey Baby." The song, featuring the Minnesota-based brothers' trademark harmonies and an upbeat message, was lauded by Guitar World, The Boot, The Bluegrass Situation, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and more. “That idea of finding a silver lining comes up a lot on this record,” says Torrey about the single. “It’s an acknowledgment that no matter how messed up things might be, people still want to believe in the world and find ways to feel lucky and joyful.”
Stream / Download the album HERE
While The Cactus Blossoms have drawn frequent comparisons to other musical siblings like the Everlys and Louvins over the years, One Day often suggests a more soulful, ’70s-inspired palette, hinting at times to Bobby Charles or JJ Cale with its playful Wurlitzer, breezy guitars, and lean, muscular percussion. The band’s classic country and old-school pop roots are still there, of course, but the growth and evolution underlying One Day is obvious, not only in the duo’s writing, but in their core philosophy, as well.
Lockdown hit the brothers hard. Quarantine put a sudden halt to their plans to record a new studio record, and as Minneapolis began to erupt in social and political unrest following the police killing of George Floyd, music began to seem like the least of the duo’s concerns.
“It felt like the whole world was falling apart,” says Burkum. “We had to put things on hold just so we could try to wrap our heads around everything that was happening in Minneapolis and beyond.”
When it came time to record, the brothers called on longtime collaborator/engineer Alex Hall, who brought his mobile rig up from Chicago so they could cut the album quick and dirty in Burkum’s basement. They kept their circle tight for the sessions, working with their core touring band—which included both their older brother and their cousin—to capture the songs with a feel as close to the live show as possible.
“From the start, we knew we wanted to keep the instrumentation minimal and consistent across the whole album and embrace the dryness that came with recording in Page’s basement,” says Torrey. “We wanted it to sound raw.”
Tour Dates:
SU 8.4 - Madison, WI - Terrace at Memorial Union
FR 9.9 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee w/ Wilco
SA 9.10 - River Falls, WI - Tattersall Distilling
SU 9.11 - Fargo, ND - Fargo Brewing Company w/ Wilco
MO 9.12 - Sioux Falls, SD - Washington Pavilion w/ Wilco
FR 9.16 - Fridley, MN - Forgotten Star Brewing
WE 9.28 - Somerville, MA - Crystal Ballroom @ Somerville Theater
TH 9.29 - Burlington, VT - HG Showcase Lounge
SA 10.1 - Fairfield, CT - StageOne
MO 10.3 - Sellersville, PA - Sellersville Theater
TU 10.4 - Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
WE 10.5 - Washington DC - Kennedy Center | Millennium Stage
TH 10.6 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle Back Room
FR 10.7 - Charlotte, NC - The Evening Muse
SA 10.8 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
TH 10.13 - Stoughton, WI - Stoughton Opera House
SU 10.16 - Brooklyn Center, MN - Minnesota Monthly's Rhythm & Brews
TH 2.23.23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
FR 2.24.23 - Bellevue, WA - Wintergrass Music Festival
