Brittany Howard and Michael Kiwanuka are two of the most soulful and singular voices in contemporary music. Big news for local fans: they’ve just announced a joint-tour and it kicks off with a September 29th show at The Met in Philly.
In an Instagram announcement, Howard called the tour “a dream come true” and shared her excitement to perform at some of her “favorite venues across the country.” She added: “Michael and I started this journey at almost the same time in 2011 and it has been so amazing to follow his growth as an artist. I can’t wait to watch his set and also see the opener, Yasmin Williams, I’m such a fan of both!” She also shared an incredible photo of her and Kiwanuka chatting backstage with a very special admirer: the iconic Bill Withers. The picture comes from a 2012 joint tour that featured Kiwanuka and Howard’s former band, Alabama Shakes.
Howard first made waves in 2012 as a powerhouse vocalist and virtuosic guitarist with the debut Alabama Shakes record, Boys & Girls. The band’s second album, Sound & Color, was a major step forward in every way, stretching their retro rock-and-soul sound to spacier, funkier dimensions and winning three Grammys. During the band’s run, she released an album with another group, Thunderbitch, in 2015 and toured with the Bermuda Triangle in 2018, which included a performance at XPoNential Music Festival in 2018. Howard officially went solo with 2019’s Jamie, which explored her personal past with a group of collaborators that included pianist Robert Glasper and drummer Nate Smith. Her second solo album, What Now, dropped earlier this year and you can learn more about the project by listening to her conversation with World Cafe’s Raina Douris.
Michael Kiwanauka broke out with his debut, 2012’s stunning Home Again. Its title track offers a perfect introduction to the singer-songwriter; it’s a gorgeous slice of acoustic folk/soul that reflects the influence of Withers’ poignant songwriting and expressive singing style. It’s been five years since Kiwanuka’s last album but this tour news suggests something new could be coming. The Virginia-based banjo singer Yasmin Williams will open for Howard and Kiwanuka on tour. MOre information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar.