“This might be my favourite band in Canada right now.”
– George Stroumboulopoulos

Vancouver’s The Crackling announce 20 new Canadian tour dates in support of their sophomore album Mary Magdalene which was released on April 23, 2013 via Vancouver label File Under:Music.

Led by Kenton Loewen on vocals and guitar, The Crackling brings together Tyson Naylor on keys, piano and accordion, Jeremy Page on bass, Gordon Grdina on guitars and vocals and John Raham on drums. Experienced road warriors, many members of The Crackling divide their time playing in Dan Mangan’s touring ensemble.

The Vancouver Sun describes Mary Magdalene as “a rain-swept kind of album where Loewen balladeers his way with a bittersweet shuffle (You’re Sure That I’m Wrong, the lovely I Ask You For the Courage), an ominously wonky country/rockabilly country twang (Mary Magdalene) and electrified Neil Young style stomp (Ashen, with Mangan singing backup).”  

Recorded over the bleak winter months, the album delivers a darkened warmth and offers a palette of stories that take the listener into a world of contrasts via exceptional musicianship and artful songwriting. Those contrasts are also illustrated beautifully in the album’s art which features a commissioned painting of Mary Magdalene by Vancouver artist EC Salazar. The Cracking frontman Kenton Loewen explained the artwork to CBCMusic.ca saying “there’s this wonderful theory that Jesus never actually died, that he and Mary sustained life and moved to the south of France and travelled, and you get that sense visually from the cover of the record, the concepts of the Magdalene are usually limited to the disciple/prostitute realm, and I’m enjoying knocking that down and playing around.” 

Tour Dates
May 28 – KELOWNA, BC – Fernando’s
May 29 – EDMONTON, AB – Artery
May 30 – JASPER, AB – The Legion
May 31 – CALGARY, AB – The Palomino
June 1 – SASKATOON, SK – Amigos
June 2 – REGINA, SK – The Exchange
June 4 – TORONTO, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
June 5 – HAMILTON, ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
June 7 – BARRIE, ON – Clarkson Pub
June 9 – LONDON, ON – Aeolian Hall
June 11 – OTTAWA, ON – The Mercury Lounge
June 13 – TORONTO, ON – Supermarket
June 14 – MONTREAL, QC – Quai Des Brumes
June 15 – SUDBURY, ON – The Speakeasy
June 17 – THUNDER BAY, ON – Black Pirates Pub
June 18 – WINNIPEG, MB – The Windsor
June 19 – MOOSE JAW, AB – Java Express
June 22 – VANCOUVER, BC – The Biltmore