Rose City Band, the chooglin Pacific Northwest group led by Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips, Moon Duo), will release Sol Y Sombra on January 24 via Thrill Jockey. Inspired by private press album of the 1970s, Johnson made the album with pedal steel guitarist Barry Walker, keyboardist Paul Hasenberg and drummer John Jeffrey.
“With Rose City Band, I’m generally trying to make uplifting music, good time music,” says Johnson of the album, whose title translates to “Sun and Shadow.” “This time I couldn’t avoid the shadow being more of a presence. There’s no getting away from it. The shadow is always there. So, I left it in.” The first single, “Lights on the Way,” is pretty sunny though, and you can listen below.
Rose City Band will be on tour in 2025 with dates kicking off February 20 in Seattle, which sadly are West Coast only. They’re currently on tour in Australia and all dates are listed below.
Sol y Sombre
1. Lights on the Way
2. Open Roads
3. Rolling Gold
4. Evergreen
5. Sunlight Daze
6. Radio Song
7. Seeds of Light
8. La Mesa
9. Wheels
10. The Walls
Rose City Band – 2024/2025 Tour Dates
Oct. 10 – Brisbane, QLD – Black Bear Lodge w/ Andrew Tuttle
Oct. 11 – Eltham, NSW – Eltham Hotel w/ Andrew Tuttle
Oct. 12 – Melbourne, VIC – Out on the Weekend
Oct. 13 – Korumburra, VIC – Out on the Weekend
Oct. 15 – Perth, WA – Fremantle Arts Space
Oct. 17 – Melbourne, VIC – Kindred Studios
Oct. 18 – Lorne, VIC – Lorne Theatre
Oct. 19 – Ballarat, VIC – Ballarat Art Gallery
Nov. 21 – Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown
Nov. 22 – Trout Lake, WA – Trout Lake Hall
Feb. 20 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
Feb. 21 – Vancouver, BC – Fox Cabaret
Feb. 23 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Mar. 5 – Arcata, CA – Miniplex
Mar. 6 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Mar. 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Mar. 8 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Mar. 9 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
Mar. 10 – Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
Mar. 11 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
Mar. 13 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall
Mar. 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Mar. 15 – Boise, ID – Neurolux