Yep Roc Records is proud to add Tift Merritt as the newest addition to its label family. Tift’s new album and label debut Traveling Aloneis due October 2. The album was recorded in Brooklyn with Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Spoon) and features a guest appearance by Andrew Bird and well as performances by Marc Ribot, Rob Burger (Lucinda Williams, Iron & Wine, Rufus Wainwright), John Convertino (Calexico), Eric Heywood (The Jayhawks, Son Volt, Alejandro Escovedo) and Merritt’s longtime collaborator Jay Brown. From Tift:

I am awfully proud of and excited to announce this new record!  We sure had a great time making it. To make a record that was raw & real & live off the floor – it was really a dream for me to do that with such an amazing cast. I’m also awfully excited to take it on home to Yep Roc.  It feels like family to have this record cared for and coming to you from North Carolina.  I can’t wait to get back out on the road with these new songs and my lovely musical family.  I hope we see you soon out there.

Although it’s Tift’s first solo album with Yep Roc, she returns to the label after her first album appearance was released here in 1999. She joined the Two Dollar Pistols on its country duets album, the aptly titled The Two Dollar Pistols with Tift Merritt.

Tift also hits the road this month, including a string of shows with Mary Chapin Carpenter.

6/27 Asbury, NJ – Stone Pony (with Josh Ritter)

7/18 Pittsburgh, PA – Carnegie Hall *

7/25 Denver, CO – Denver Botanic Gardens *

7/26 Layton, UT – Edward A. Kenley Centennial Amphitheater *

7/28 Calgary, AB – Calgary Folk Music Festival 

7/31 Fargo, ND – Fargo Theatre  *

8/01 Apple Valley, MN – Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater  *

8/03 Madison, WI – Barrymore Theatre *

8/04 Bayfield, WI – Big Top Chautauqua *

8/15 Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center *

8/22 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre *

8/23 Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre *

8/24 Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Botanical Garden *

9/14-16 Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion 

9/22 Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater

9/23 New York, NY – City Winery

* with Mary Chapin Carpenter