The Handsome Family today announce a UK and Irish tour to mark the re-release of their classic album “Singing Bones”. The album was the 6th album from the husband-and-wife outfit of Brett & Rennie Sparks and was the first record from the band since moving away from the midwestern alternative country scene of Chicago to the desert southwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Here, their songs became infused with the desert sun and crawling reptiles. “Mariachi and Morricone – Western Gothic”, it’s said. The record was released in 2003. Ten years later, the desert mystery ‘Far From Any Road’ was used as the theme for HBO’S “True Detective.” The song became a worldwide hit. Now, for the first time, it will be released on Vinyl and Deluxe CD, with bonus material.
Rennie Sparks says of that time: “It was a hot July afternoon in 2001 when the fire ants attacked me. I walked right over an anthill on my way to trim the cacti. The ants quickly swarmed my leg and began biting viciously again and again. I spent the rest of the day on the couch, moaning in pain. Deep within the agony, I heard a high-pitched sound. I heard the ant queen calling to me from out beneath the driveway. I got up and wrote the lyrics to “Far From Any Road.” The ant queen’s magic is in every word of every song on this record. She is the hole, the ghost, the wild wind and the fallen peaches. How else can I explain that “Singing Bones” is still alive and well at 23.” You can see the video for ‘Far From Any Road‘ below. You can pre-order the album from Loose Music store.
The tour begins in Belfast and takes in most parts of the touring circuit before concluding in Liverpool at the end of May. It sees the band return for 2 nights at their London home-from-home, Islington’s Union Chapel. The tour dates are listed below. Tickets aren’t currently listed on their website, so check with venues.
The Handsome Family 2026 Tour Dates:
May 14, Belfast – Empire Music Hall
May 15, Dublin – Whelans
May 17, Gateshead – The Glasshouse
May 18, Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
May 19, Glasgow – St Luke’s
May 21, Kirkbymoorside – The Band Room
May 23, London – The Union Chapel
May 24, London – The Union Chapel
May 26, Cardiff – The Gate
May 27, Bristol – St Georges
May 30, Manchester – Stoller Hall
May 31, Liverpool – Tung Auditorium
