album artwork / click for hi-res version
photo credit: Weird Candy / click for hi-res version
photo credit: Weird Candy / click for hi-res version
WILD RIVERS’ NEW ALBUM NEVER BETTER OUT JULY 26
June 21, 2024—Platinum-selling trio Wild Rivers—Khalid Yassein, Devan Glover and Andrew Oliver—will release their anticipated new album, Never Better, July 26 via Nettwerk Music Group (pre-order/pre-save here). In advance of the release, the new song, “Backfire,” is debuting today alongside an official music video. Watch/share the video, directed by Hannah Gray Hall and produced by Weird Candy, HERE. NEVER BETTER TRACK LIST
NEW SONG “BACKFIRE” DEBUTS TODAY; WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
EXTENSIVE FALL HEADLINE TOUR ON-SALE NOW
Of the track, the group shares, “‘Backfire’ is about waiting for the ‘right moment’ to act on a feeling towards someone, until the window of opportunity inevitably passes. You hold back because you fear that speaking your truth will compromise the relationship, and the risk feels too overwhelming. It’s a song about wishing you could have been bolder in those moments.”
Produced by Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy, Adrienne Lenker) and recorded in Joshua Tree, CA, Never Better reflects on the band’s past few years, as they faced burnout, mental health challenges and extended periods on the road, while also rediscovering the joy of making music together. Across these eight tracks, including previously released songs, “Anyways, I Love You,” “Cave” and “Everywhere I Go,” Wild Rivers is their most free and authentic self, as they return with a new level of confidence and an energized creative perspective.
Reflecting on the project, the group shares, “We approached this record with the mindset, ‘this is who we are.’ We aren’t pretending to be something we’re not, or trying to sound like anyone else. We wanted it to feel easy. We wanted the stories to be real. We wanted to show our true selves as best we could. We’re proud of who we’ve become as people and as a team. We truly feel like we’re having the most fun with music that we’ve ever had, and in the most exciting stage of our lives. We’re never better.”
Known for their engaging live performances, Wild Rivers will embark on extensive headline tour this fall including shows at New York’s Irving Plaza (two nights), Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Los Angeles’ Fonda Theater, Boston’s Paradise Rock Club, Austin’s Scoot Inn, Chicago’s Vic Theater, Denver’s Ogden Theater, Seattle’s The Showbox and San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. Full details can be found at www.wildriversmusic.com/tour.
Formed during their time at Queen’s University in Ontario, Wild Rivers has released two full-length albums to date including 2022’s Sidelines, which landed at #9 on the U.S. Spotify Debut Album Chart. Released to critical acclaim, Under The Radar praised, “expertly straddles the lines between folk and indie, offering an empathetic and enveloping comfort and a piece of poignant pop beauty,” while American Songwriter declared, “Soul-stirring…rich male/female harmonies bring the emotional lyrics to life.” Since the release of Sidelines, Wild Rivers has been nominated for Breakthrough Group of The Year at the 2023 JUNO Awards, seen their breakout single, “Thinking ‘Bout Love,” certified Gold in Australia and Platinum in Canada, and garnered over 800 million global streams, with 4 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The group has also spent much of their career touring across the world including countless headline shows as well as dates supporting artist such as The Chicks and Noah Kahan.
For more information, please contact Carla Sacks 212.741.1000, Asha Goodman 615.320.7753 or Catherine Snead 615.320.7753 at Sacks & Co.
1. Never Better
2. Cave
3. Everywhere I Go
4. Dance
5. Backfire
6. Hardly Ever
7. Anyways, I Love You
8. Morongo Valley (Interlude)
WILD RIVERS CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
July 26 /// Calgary, Alberta /// Calgary Folk Music Festival
August 2 /// Montreal, QC /// Osheaga Festival
August 10 /// Edmonton, Alberta /// Edmonton Folk Festival
August 15 /// Peterborough, Ontario /// Peterborough Folk Festival
August 18 /// Elora, Canada /// Riverfest Elora
September 3 /// Philadelphia, PA /// TLA
September 4 /// New York, NY /// Irving Plaza
September 5 /// New York, NY /// Irving Plaza
September 7 /// Boston, MA /// Paradise Rock Club (SOLD OUT)
September 9 /// Washington, D.C. /// Lincoln Theater
September 10 /// Charlotte, NC /// The Underground
September 11 /// Nashville, TN /// Ryman Auditorium
September 15 /// Dallas, TX /// The Studio at The Factory
September 16 /// Austin, TX /// Scoot Inn
September 17 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater
September 19 /// Atlanta, GA /// Variety Playhouse
September 21 /// Louisville, KY /// Bourbon & Beyond
September 22 /// Chicago, IL /// Vic Theater
September 23 /// Minneapolis, MN /// First Avenue
September 25 /// Milwaukee, WI /// Turner Hall Ballroom
September 26 /// St. Louis, MO /// Delmar Hall
September 28 /// Kansas City, MO /// The Truman
September 30 /// Denver, CO /// Ogden Theater
October 1 /// Boulder, CO /// Boulder Theater
October 2 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// The Complex
October 4 /// Portland, OR /// Revolution Hall
October 6 /// Seattle, WA /// The Showbox
October 7 /// Vancouver, BC /// The Orpheum
October 9 /// San Francisco, CA /// Regency Ballroom
October 11 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Fonda Theater
October 12 /// San Diego, CA /// The Observatory North
November 2 /// Groningen, Netherlands /// Take Root
November 4 /// Berlin, Germany /// Hole44
November 6 /// Cologne, Germany /// Die Kantine
November 8 /// Zurich, Switzerland /// Plaza
November 10 /// Paris, France /// La Maroquinerie
November 13 /// Glasgow, Scotland /// QMU
November 15 /// Dublin, Ireland /// Button Factory
November 17 /// Bristol, U.K. /// SWX
November 19 /// London, U.K. /// O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
November 22 /// Manchester, U.K. /// Manchester Academy
November 24 /// Birmingham, U.K. /// O2 Institute
November 26 /// Leeds, U.K. /// Project House
November 27 /// Cardiff, U.K. /// Tramshed
December 6 /// Toronto, ON /// History
www.wildriversmusic.com