Brittany Howard has readied her second solo album, WHAT NOW. Along with the news, she’s shared the record’s title track, and announced a new run of tour dates for 2024.
WHAT NOW marks Howard’s first release on Island Records, which she signed to back in September. There’s no release date for the project as of yet, but based on its title track’s lyrics (“I’ve been making plans that don’t include you anymore/ My heart wants to stay but I don’t know what for”), the record signifies a time of transition.
“‘What Now’ is maybe the truest and bluest of all the songs,” Howard said of the single. “It’s never my design to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I needed to say what was on my mind without editing myself. I like how it’s a song that makes you want to dance, but at the same time the lyrics are brutal.” Alongside co-producer Shawn Everett (Kacey Musgraves, SZA), the artist recorded the song at the Sound Emporium in her hometown of Nashville. Pre-orders for a 7-inch vinyl of the single, with B-side “Meditation,” are ongoing.
Howard already announced a brief fall tour of North America with guest L’Rain, but those 2023 dates will now be joined by a February 2024 run with Becca Mancari (who recently dropped a track featuring the singer). Beginning February 6th in Chicago, the 2024 tour includes stops in Toronto, Boston, New York, and DC before wrapping up in Asheville, North Carolina on February 23rd. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 20th at 10:00 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster, after which additional deals can be found via StubHub.
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Howard first stepped away from Alabama Shakes with her 2019 solo debut Jaime.
Brittany Howard 2023-2024 Tour Dates:
11/06 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City *
11/07 – Nashville, TV @ Ryman Auditorium *
11/09 – Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre *
11/10 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall *
11/11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern *
11/14 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues *
11/15 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum *
11/17 – Mexico City, MX @ Corona Capitol Festival
02/06 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall ^
02/09 — Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall ^
02/12 — Boston, MA @ The Wilbur ^
02/16 — New York, NY @ Webster Hall ^
02/20 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^
02/23 — Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel ^
* = w/ L’Rain
^ = w/ Becca Mancari
