Connor Christian & Southern Gothic, named “Artist on the Verge” in Billboard Magazine’s Best Bets of 2012 issue, will release New Hometown on February 12, 2013.  The album features 18 songs of the country, roots-rock and Americana flavors for which the band has become renowned through their extensive live touring.  Additional bonus content consisting of never-before-released songs, as well as demo versions of some of the album tracks, will also be made available for both physical and digital buyers.

“It was written over a few short months,” says Christian of the new album.  “But it nevertheless attempts to chronicle a lifetime’s worth of stories. Good times & bad, love & loss – I wrote these songs with a little help from some of my best friends from the road to try and begin to tell my story.”

Christian, who also plays guitar and piano in addition to his vocal duties, wrote or co-wrote 16 of the 18 songs on the album.  Many of the co-writes were penned with band mate Jeff Spirko, who handles guitar, banjo, mandolin, piano and background vocal duties.  The band is rounded out by Elena Martin on fiddle, piano, mandolin and background vocals, Joe Abramson on bass guitar, and Shawn Thacker on drums and percussion.

“It’s clear from the first pull of the fiddle that this band is mega-talented,” remarked Taste of Country upon hearing the forthcoming release.

The multi-instrumental talent of the band is a key element of their live performance as well.
“Live, there are definitely some moments that might look like a fire drill. We have a song or two where some of us change instruments mid-song, so to the uninitiated, it looks chaotic.  But it adds to the excitement.  And it gives us so much flexibility on stage to do different things, and change the texture of the show from song to song.”

The band spent the bulk of 2012 on the road, making stops at high profile festivals across the country, including Milwaukee Summerfest, Bama Jam, CMA Fest, SunFest, MusikFest and Taste of DC, sharing stages with Zac Brown Band, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Corey Smith, Big & Rich, Uncle Kracker, Gloriana, STYX, ZZ Top, Heart, Foreigner, to name a few.  2013’s touring plans expand on a similar blueprint, with a mix of clubs, theatres and festivals in the works.

New Hometown will be released on February 12, 2013 by Rocket Science Ventures/The Orchard.

Track listing for New Hometown:

Sheets Down

16 Bars

Only Need You

That Ol’ Jukebox

Stella Please

Hang My Head

The Light

Bound for Glory

November Rain

Fiddler

When I’m Gone

(She’s) My Salvation

New Hometown

Back in Dixie

Hotel Bar

Our Song

South Texas Sun

Watch Me Run

Upcoming tour dates for Connor Christian & Southern Gothic include:

12/7 – WDVX’s Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, TN
12/7 – Two Doors Down, Maryville, TN

12/8 – The Garage, Winston-Salem, NC

12/12 – Bluebird Theatre, Denver, CO (with Corey Smith)

12/13 – Stargazers Theatre, Colorado Springs, CO (with Corey Smith)

12/14 – Shakedown Bar, Vail, CO (with Corey Smith)

12/15 – Krossroadz, Easley, SC

12/27 – Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL (with Corey Smith)

12/28 – Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN (with Corey Smith)

12/29 – The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC (with Corey Smith)

1/18 – The Pageant, St Louis, MO (with Corey Smith)

1/19 – Joe’s, Chicago, IL (with Corey Smith)

1/25 – Saddle Bags, Savannah, GA
1/26 – Vinyl, Atlanta, GA

1/30 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC (with Corey Smith)

2/1 – The National, Richmond, VA (with Corey Smith)

2/2 – 9:30 Club, Washington, DC (with Corey Smith)

2/8 – Blue Bourbon Jack’s, High Point, NC

2/9 – Two Doors Down, Maryville, TN

2/15 – The Windjammer, Isle of Palms, SC

2/16 – House of Blues, Myrtle Beach, SC