Squirrel Flower, the project of Chicago-based musician Ella Williams, has announced a new LP, Tomorrow’s Fire, due October 13 via Polyvinyl (pre-order). It follows her 2021 album Planet (i) and 2022 Planet EP, and she wrote it with inspiration from the rural Midwest, particularly the Indiana Dunes. “Every time I go there, it changes my life,” she says. “You stand in the marshlands and to your left is a steel factory belching fire and to your right is a nuclear power plant.” Of the music, she explains, “The songs I write are not always autobiographical, but they’re always true.” Additional contributions come from engineer Alex Farrar, plus Matt McCaughan, Seth Kauffman, Jake Lenderman, and Dave Hartley. Check out the artwork and tracklist for Tomorrow’s Fire below.
Squirrel Flower has released two singles to lead off Tomorrow’s Fire: shoegazey ballad “When A Plant Is Dying” and grungy, anthemic “Full Time Job.” Both songs feature Ella’s folky, melancholic voice singing hooky choruses over distorted guitars and lethargic drums, and both tracks come with music videos directed by Lua Borges. Watch them below.
In addition to the album, Squirrel Flower has announced a sprawling international tour with North American legs in the fall and early 2024, and a UK/EU leg in between. Prior to that trip, she’ll be opening for Hurray For The Riff Raff, and she’ll be joined on the road by Truth Club, Merce Lemon, Knifeplay, Goon, Cryogeyser, and Alexalone on various dates. See all dates below.
The NYC show is on October 26 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 21 at 10am local, with various presales starting Wednesday, July 19 at 10am.
TOMORROW’S FIRE TRACKLIST
- i don’t use a trash can
- Full Time Job
- Alley Light
- Almost Pulled Away
- Stick
- When A Plant Is Dying
- Intheskatepark
- Canyon
- What Kind Of Dream Is This?
- Finally Rain
SQUIRREL FLOWER TOUR DATES
Wed. July 12 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley *
Thu. July 13 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop Bar *
Sat. July 15 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Sun. July 16 – Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop *
Tue. July 18 – Woodstock, NY @ Levon Helm Studios *
Wed. July 19 – Wilmington, DE @ Arden Gild Hall *
Fri. July 21 – Lexington, KY @ The Burl *
Wed. July 26 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
Fri. Aug. 4 – Sun. Aug. 6 – Green Lake, WI @ Avrom Farm Party
Thu. Oct. 19 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House $
Fri. Oct. 20 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern $#
Sat. Oct. 21 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern $#
Sun. Oct. 22 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall $
Tue. Oct. 24 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall $^
Thu. Oct. 26 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom $
Fri. Oct. 27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ukie Club $
Sat. Oct. 28 – Washington, DC @ DC 9 $^
Sat. Nov. 4 – Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade
Sun. Nov. 5 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope and Ruin
Mon. Nov. 6 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Tue. Nov. 7 – Manchester, UK @ Gullivers
Thu. Nov. 9 – Glasgow, UK @ McChuills
Sat. Nov. 11 – Pitchfork Music Festival London @ EartH (Downstairs)
Mon. Nov. 13 – Paris, FR @ Supersonic
Wed. Nov. 15 – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
Thu. Nov. 16 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
Sat. Nov. 18 – Berlin, DE @ Lark
Sat. Jan. 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry %
Sun. Jan. 21 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge %
Tue. Jan. 23 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge %
Thu. Jan. 25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court %
Fri. Jan. 26 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder %
Sat. Jan. 27 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios %
Mon. Jan. 29 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
Wed. Jan. 31 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill %
Fri. Feb. 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room &
Sat. Feb. 3 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room &
Sun. Feb. 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge &
Tue. Feb. 6 – Austin, TX @ The Ballroom +
Wed. Feb. 7 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada +
Thu. Feb. 8 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic +
Sat. Feb. 10 – Nashville, TN @ Blue Room at Third Man +
Mon. Feb. 12 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Purgatory
Wed. Feb. 14 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room
Thu. Feb. 15 – Richmond, VA @ The Camel
Fri. Feb. 16 – Woodstock, NY @ Colony
Sat. Feb. 17 – Amherst, MA @ The Drake
* = supporting Hurray For The Riff Raff
$ = with Truth Club
# = with Merce Lemon
^ = with Knifeplay
% = with Goon
& = with Cryogeyser
+ = with Alexalone