Walter Trout has set a July 6 street date for his new solo album Common Ground. From the origins of his career as a sideman for Percy Mayfield and John Lee Hooker, through his tenure with Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and then a successful solo career that has seen the release of 18 albums thus far, Walter Trout has emerged as one of America's musical treasures. He has enjoyed a career that spans 35 years, and has performed in front of millions. BBC Radio One placed Trout at number six on their Top 20 guitarists of all-time, offering tribute to a player whose place in history continues to become more significant as the years go on.
On titling the album Common Ground, Trout shares, "In this modern world which seems to be so filled with polarization, disagreements, and cruelty, I feel that it is important that we try to find SOME place where we can bond and come together in our common humanity!"
Trout's 19th solo album COMMON GROUND was produced by John Porter (The Smiths, B.B. King, Buddy Guy), and straddles the worlds of Rock and Blues. His vocal intonation and affinity for timeless riffs deliver a collection of tracks that are destined to be instant classics. These songs simply are the core essence of feeling, and demonstrate Trout's keen ability to craft moving compositions as a songwriter and lyricist. On working with Porter, the musician reflects, "John Porter has an uncanny ability to draw performances from me that I didn't know that I was capable of. I would play a solo or sing a song and think that I had done well, and John would just say to me: 'that was good - but I know you can do better!' And I would try it again, only to find out that he was right! He is really brilliant at what he does." Drummer Kenny Aronoff, bassist Hutch Hutchinson and pianist John Cleary join Trout as his backing band for the sessions that delivered this special recording.
Trout just wrapped up the first-leg of his worldwide tour, and returns to the road May 19th with a string of dates overseas before returning to the U.S. in June. Confirmed performances include:
5/19 St. Heddinge Cinema St. Heddinge, Denmark
5/20 Verhuset Naestved, Denmark
5/21 Vaerket Randers, Denmark
5/23 Ribs 'n Blues Festival Raalte, The Netherlands
5/25 Kulturbolaget Malmo, Sweden
5/26 Katalin Godsmagasinet Uppsala, Sweden
5/28 Rockland Sala, Sweden
5/29 Sticky Fingers Gothenburg, Sweden
6/01 Jazzcenter Istanbul, Turkey
6/02 Jazzcenter Istanbul, Turkey
6/04 Zeche Bochum, Germany
6/05 Highlands Festival Amersfoort, The Netherlands
6/24 Abbey Theatre Durango, CO
6/25 Turn of the Century Saloon Montrose, CO
6/26 Blues from the Top Festival Grandby, CO
6/29 The State Room Salt Lake City, UT
7/02 Waterfront Blues Festival Portland, OR
7/06 Biscuits & Blues San Francisco, CA
7/09 Navarro Amphitheatre Navarro, CA
7/10 PCAA Auburn Blues Festival Auburn, CA (Sacramento)
7/21 Granada Theatre Dallas, TX
7/22 OK City Limits Oklahoma City, OK
7/23 Knucklehead Saloon Kansas City, MO
7/27 Blues on Grand Des Moines, IA
7/28 Blues In The Garden Concert Series Sioux City, IA
7/29 Rookies Sports & Music Theatre Sioux Falls, SD
7/30 Famous Dave's Minneapolis, MN
7/31 Fargo Blues Festival Fargo, ND
8/06 Notodden Blues Festival Notodden, Norway (Oslo)
8/08 Smukfest Skanderborg, Denmark
8/21 Festival Mare de Agosto Santa Maria, Portugal
9/05 Blues By The Bay Festival Eureka, CA
The complete track listing for COMMON GROUND is:
Maybe A Fool
Open Book
Her Other Man
Song For My Guitar
Excess Baggage
Hudson Had Help
Common Ground
Danger Zone
Eyes Of A Child
No Regrets
Loaded Gun
Wrapped Up In The Blues
