New Mandolin Orange Single 'Hey Stranger' Debuts Today

Acclaimed North Carolina-based band Mandolin Orange-about whom No Depression recently raved, "The voices of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz were seemingly destined to make music and beautiful sounds together in harmony...the music they make is nothing short of perfection"-debuts their latest single, "Hey Stranger," online today. Stream/share it HERE.

Their previous single, "Hard Travelin'," premiered recently via PopMatters, who called the track, "a delightful mix of Americana, bluegrass and country." See the post HERE and stream/share the song HERE. Both tracks appear on the band's highly anticipated album, Blindfaller, out September 30 via Yep Roc Records.

The band is confirmed for an official showcase at AmericanaFest in Nashville on September 23, after which they will hit the road for an extensive full-band fall tour beginning September 30 with stops in Los Angeles, Seattle, Nashville, Chicago, New York and more. See below for tour itinerary with support on select dates from Leif Vollebekk, Anna Tivel, Dead Horses and My Bubba.

The upcoming release builds on the acclaim of the band's breakthrough Yep Roc debut, This Side of Jordan (2013), and last year's Such Jubilee (2015). Blindfaller is now available for pre-order HERE. Stream the debut single "Wildfire" HERE.

While staying true to their Americana sound, the new album tackles modern day themes seen in our daily headlines. The North Carolina duo-comprised of Emily Frantz (fiddle/vocals) and Andrew Marlin(mandolin/vocals)-recorded the album in a one-week break from touring at Rubber Room Studio in Chapel Hill, NC. "We wanted different vibes and different intuitions on these tracks," Marlin says, "and I feel like we really captured that." To bolster their message and sound on Blindfaller the duo added a full band, which features Clint Mullican on bass, Kyle Keegan on drums, Allyn Love on pedal steel and previous collaborator, Josh Oliver, on guitar, keys and vocals. Speaking to their recording process Frantz notes, "We talked about the feel of each song and pointed out loosely who was going to be taking solos, but it was mostly a lot of fresh takes, a lot of eye contact and a lot of nods and weird winks."

Founded in 2009, Mandolin Orange has built a noteworthy catalog of recordings. The band's 2013 release This Side of Jordan garnered critical acclaim such as NPR, who called the album "effortless and beautiful," and American Songwriter, who said it was "honest music, shot through with coed harmonies, sweeping fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and the sort of unfakeable intimacy that bonds simpatico musicians like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings." Their 2015 follow-up, Such Jubilee, furthered their standing with inclusion in Rolling Stone's "30 Great Country Albums of 2015 You Probably Didn't Hear," NPR's Folk Alley's "Best of 2015 Listener's Poll" and Amazon's "Best of the Next 2015." The record was #1 on Magnet's "Top 10 Indie Roots Albums of 2015" and Paste called it "an album full of blissful moments."

On the road, the band has built a dedicated following with extensive touring including appearances at Austin City Limits Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and Pickathon. The duo is currently performing select dates this summer before the start of their full-band tour.

BLINDFALLER TRACK LIST

1. Hey Stranger
2. Wildfire
3. Picking Up Pieces
4. Lonesome Whistle
5. Echo
6. Cold Lover's Waltz
7. My Blinded Heart
8. Hard Travelin'
9. Gospel Shoes
10. Take This Heart of Gold

MANDOLIN ORANGE LIVE

September 16-Bayfield, WI-Big Top Chautauqua^
September 17-Shakopee, MN- Festival Palomino
September 18-Fish Creek, WI-Door Community Auditorium^
September 23-Nashville, TN-AmericanaFest Showcase @ High Watt

MANDOLIN ORANGE - BLINDFALLER RELEASE TOUR

September 30-San Francisco, CA-The Chapel*
October 1-Los Angeles, CA-Teragram Ballroom*
October 2-San Diego, CA-The Casbah*
October 5-Portland, OR-Wonder Ballroom*
October 6-Seattle, WA-Tractor Tavern#
October 7-Seattle, WA-Tractor Tavern*
October 8-Mt. Vernon, WA-McIntyre Hall*
October 9-Spokane, WA-The Bartlett*
October 11-Boise, ID-Neurolux*
October 12-Salt Lake City, UT-State Room*
October 13-Avon, CO-Vilar Performing Arts Center*
October 14-Denver, CO-Bluebird Theater*
October 15-Denver, CO-Bluebird Theater†
October 16-Albuquerque, NM-Low Spirits†
October 19-St. Louis, MO-Old Rock House†
October 20-Nashville, TN-Exit/In†
October 21-Asheville, NC-The Orange Peel†
October 22-Athens, GA-The Foundry†
October 23-Charleston, SC-Pour House†
October 25-Atlanta, GA-Terminal West†
October 26-Chattanooga, TN-Revelry Room†
October 27-Knoxville, TN-The Concourse†
October 28-Charlotte, NC-McGlohon Theater†
October 30-New York, NY-Bowery Ballroom%
November 1-Boston, MA-The Sinclair%
November 3-Washington, DC-The Hamilton%
November 4-Philadelphia, PA-Boot & Saddle%
November 5-Charlottesville, VA-The Southern%
November 6-Nelsonville, OH-Stuart's Opera House%
November 9-Ann Arbor, MI-The Ark%
November 10-Chicago, IL-Old Town School of Folk Music%
November 12-Madison, WI-Fredric March Play Circle Theater @ UW%
November 18-Saxapahaw, NC-Haw River Ballroom
November 19-Raleigh, NC-Kings
November 20-Carrboro, NC-Cat's Cradle - Back Room

BOLD = SOLD OUT

^with Elephant Revival
*with Leif Vollebekk
#with Anna Tivel
†with Dead Horses
%with My Bubba