Kevin Morby Teams Up with Aaron Dessner for 'Little Wide Open'

Kevin Morby is back, and this time he's joined forces with Aaron Dessner for his new album, Little Wide Open. This collaboration marks a significant moment for Morby, as Dessner, known for his work with The National and pop giants like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, brings his production prowess to Morby's distinct sound.

Dessner, who approached Morby after he opened for The National at London's Crystal Palace, has assembled an impressive array of talent for the LP. The album features contributions from Justin Vernon, Katie Gavin, Lucinda Williams, Mat Davidson, Meg Duffy, Oliver Hill, Rachel Baiman, Stuart Bogie, Tim and Andrew Barr, Benjamin Lanz, Colin Croom, and Tom Moth. On the lead single, "Javelin", Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso adds a captivating multi-tracked choir of backing vocals.
Chantal Anderson

Little Wide Open follows Kevin Morby's 2020 album Sundowner and 2022's This Is A Photograph. Morby describes the new album as the final chapter in an "unintended trilogy," all inspired by his return to Kansas City. Now residing in Los Angeles, his future work will explore new themes.

Morby describes the album:

> Little Wide Open is set to a backdrop of tangled highways, towns with populations less than 100,000, roadside crosses, a rock and roll romance, coupling butterflies, being an American entertainer, Econoline vans, and more. This is, without a doubt, the most personal and vulnerable album I’ve ever made. Aaron did a heroic job of holding me back from throwing too many tricks at the songs and letting my stories stand a bit naked. Despite its title this album is in fact, very wide open.

The lead single, "Javelin," is a vibrant acoustic rock 'n' roll track that captures the feeling of being alone in Middle America. Morby's signature vocals and melodies shine through, complemented by a driving rhythm section and those infectious chanted hey hey bits.

Here's what Morby says about the track:

> This is a song I wrote about being in love with someone you keep circling around the globe, relentlessly traveling through the air and down highways, and then returning home alone to middle America. Amelia Meath shines here, with her incredible vocals. I had invited her into the studio and asked that she create a backing choir out of just her voice - but her presence is so special that her "backing vocals" can’t help but take the lead.

To support the release of Little Wide Open, Kevin Morby will embark on a North American and European tour, with Liam Kazar joining for most dates. The music video for "Javelin" features Morby and comedian Caleb Hearon riding ATVs in rural Missouri, with cameos from Katie Crutchfield and housing advocate Tara Raghuveer.

Here's the video for "Javelin":

Here is the tracklist for Little Wide Open:

TRACKLIST:
01 "Badlands"
02 "Die Young"
03 "Javelin"
04 "All Sinners"
05 "Natural Disaster"
06 "100,000"
07 "Little Wide Open"
08 "Cowtown"
09 "Bible Belt"
10 "I Ride Passenger"
11 "Junebug"
12 "Dandelion"

13 "Field Guide For The Butterflies"

TOUR DATES:
3/14 – Austin, TX @ The Long Time
5/08 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon Helm Studios *
5/13 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen *
5/14 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre *
5/15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Block Party
5/17 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
5/18 – Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre *
5/19 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall *
5/21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
5/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern *
5/23 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s *
5/24 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box *
5/26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
5/27 – Santa Fe, NM @ The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing *
5/29 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater *
5/30 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall *
6/02 – Chicago, IL @ Metro *
6/04 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall *
6/05 – Toronto, ON @ HISTORY *
6/06 – Montréal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield *
6/07 – Boston, MA @ Royale *
6/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
6/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel *
6/12 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre *
6/13 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground *
6/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
6/16 – New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
6/18 – Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater
6/19 – Fort Worth, TX @ Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall
6/20 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
7/02 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso *
7/03 – Beuningen, Netherlands @ Down the Rabbit Hole
7/04 – Lille, France @ L’Aéronef *
7/05 – Hérouville-Saint-Clair, France @ Festival Beauregard
7/06 – Paris, France @ Salle Pleyel *
7/08 – London, UK @ Troxy *
7/09 – Manchester, UK @ The Ritz *
7/10 – Brighton, UK @ CHALK *
7/11 – Bruges, Belgium @ Cactusfestival
7/12 – Cologne, Germany @ Even Flow Festival
7/14 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Rote Fabrik *
7/15 – Galzignano Terme, Italy @ Anfiteatro del Venda *
7/16 – Feldkirch, Austria @ Poolbar Festival *
7/17 – Vienna, Austria @ Simm City *
7/18 – Munich, Germany @ Technikum *

• with Liam Kazar

Little Wide Open is out 5/15 on Dead Oceans. You can pre-order it now. Don't forget to read Rachel Kushner's essay about the album.

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