Billy Raffoul Releases Debut EP 1975 June 22 + Confirms Summer Tour Dates with NEEDTOBREATHE

1975, the debut EP from rising singer-songwriter Billy Raffoul, will be released on June 22 via Interscope Records. The new music is already receiving early critical praise;American Songwriter proclaims Raffoul's track "Could You Be Mine?" is as a "yearning ballad," while Ones To Watch says, "His gritty voice and guitar-strumming virtuoso will likely paint the picture of a well-seasoned rock & roll veteran."

In celebration of the forthcoming EP, Raffoul is sharing his new track "Forever" today. Of the song, he says, "'Forever' is a happy song. I don't have many of em so I hope you enjoy it. I don't know how it squeaked through but it definitely wasn't for a lack of trying. The line used to be 'Whatever happened to Forever?' A voice in my head said 'hey stop being a cynic for a second.' I listened." Listen/share the song here: https://bit.ly/2JpJpBd.

The EP was produced by Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals, The 1975 and Kaleo) at The Ranch Studios in Woodland Hills, CA and Rundown Studios in Santa Monica, CA. In additional to Crossey, 1975 features contributions from Julia Michaels, Matt Thiessen and David Campbell.

After spending the past two years on the road sharing the stage with Kings of Leon, ZZ Ward, Mondo Cozmo, Judah & The Lion and more, Raffoul is set to follow his recent performance at BottleRock with August tour dates supporting NEEDTOBREATHE as well as a festival appearance at Ohana. The upcoming dates include stops at Nashville's Ascend Amphitheater, Washington, D.C.'s The Anthem, Boston's Blue Hills Bank Pavilion and Philadelphia's Festival Pier. Tickets are available atwww.billyraffoul.com/tour, see below for complete tour details.

Raffoul grew up in a creative family in the small farming town of Leamington, Ontario. His mother is an artist, writer and teacher and his father Jody Raffoul is a solo artist and hometown hero who has opened for everyone from Joe Cocker to Bon Jovi. Raffoul's earliest musical influences come from his dad. "The Beatles were like Jesus in our house," he recalls, adding that he also listened to soul singers like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. On his tenth birthday, Billy received a British Invasion-inspired guitar with a Union Jack on its front from Jody and started teaching himself to play. By 16, he had bought his first real guitar, a 1968 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty.

1975 TRACKLIST

1. Acoustic
2. Could You Be Mine?
3. I'm Not a Saint
4. Until The Hurting is Gone
5. Forever
6. 1975

BILLY RAFFOUL LIVE

August 10-New Braunfels, TX-Whitewater Amphitheater*

August 11-Oklahoma City, OK-Zoo Amphitheatre*

August 12-Memphis, TN-Mud Island Amphitheater*

August 14-Rochester Hills, MI-Meadow Brook Hall*

August 15-Toronto, ON-RBC Echo Beach*

August 17-Washington, DC-The Anthem*

August 18-Boston, MA-Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*

August 19-Philadelphia, PA-Festival Pier*

August 21-Charlotte, NC-Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre*

August 22-Raleigh, NC-Red Hat Amphitheater*

August 24-Alpharetta, GA-Verizon Amphitheatre*

August 25-Nashville, TN-Ascend Amphitheater*

August 26-Indianapolis, IN-The Lawn at Great White River Park*
September 29-Dana Point, CA-Ohana Festival

*supporting NEEDTOBREATHE

Photo Credit: Jesse De Florio