New from Allison Russell “Black Lavender” / “Cold April” on Concord Records / Concord

Allison Russell Shares “Black Lavender” feat. Brittney Spencer
“We saved this song for Juneteenth for a reason. Black women have been showing up for each other in this way as long as we’ve been here and we can’t stop, won’t stop now!”

ALLISON’S ALBUM IN THE HOUR OF CHAOS OUT JULY 10TH
including collaborations with Norah Jones, Brittney Spencer, Devon Gilfillian, Sara Watkins, Joy Oladokun, Kara Jackson, Kashus Culpepper, Denitia, Julie Williams, Ruby Amanfu, Kyshona, Ahya Simone, Chibueze Ihuoma, and more
featuring her single “Cold April” 

ON TOUR THIS SUMMER WITH SARAH McLACHLAN

 

Allison Russell recently announced her third studio album In The Hour of Chaos. The album, produced by Russell and Dim Star, is a fervent plea for connection in this time of alienation, isolation, and dread. It’s an album that is meant to make you feel GOOD and, in these times, feeling good is a radical act. Today, this Juneteenth, she shares the album’s latest song “Black Lavender” featuring the earthy soul of Brittney Spencer.

Of “Black Lavender,” Russell notes:

We are swimming in rivers – flash floods! – of adrenaline right now. Black Lavender is a song about extending grace and soothing comfort to a chosen sister… the kind I have trouble extending to myself…But the beautiful thing is, she’s the same way – and she gives it all back and some. Brittney Spencer is a voice for all the ages who we NEED right now. We saved this song for Juneteenth for a reason. Black women have been showing up for each other in this way as long as we’ve been here, and we can’t stop won’t stop now!

Incomparable   

That’s what we all are, you know?  

Precious, Magical

The songs on Allison Russell’s In the Hour of Chaos are meant to reverse the tides that pull us farther and farther apart, even from ones we love the most. It’s only fitting that Russell leaned into her vibrant and ever expanding community of artists and friends to create a collaborative song suite that goes far beyond a succession of features.

Today’s release of “Black Lavender” follows her recent single “Cold April,” a track showing intergenerational depth by featuring her tourmate Kara Jackson – a recent collaborator of Gorillaz and formerly the U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate; Denitia – a CMT Next Women of Country selection who was also featured in Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony; and the Explore! Pop Choir featuring Russell’s daughter Ida. Allison will be performing the song with the renowned PS22 Chorus this Fall. Her single is garnering airplay across Triple A, Americana, and Urban Alternative stations as well as securing streaming placements across Indie and R&B playlists.

On Sunday, June 28, Allison will join community leader Rep. Justin Jones (TN-52) in a conversation at The National Museum of African American Music in Nashville at 3pm CT about “Building Civic Engagement and Community In The Hour Of Chaos.” They will discuss how to remain strong and create joy during tumultuous times; in the midst of targeting, how to find strength in ourselves and for our neighbors.

Allison Russell just completed her second run on Broadway as Persephone in the 8x-Tony Award winning musical Hadestown. She took over the role in November 2024 initially, after spending much of that year opening for Hozier on his Unreal Unearth Tour supporting his arena run on all US dates and throughout Europe. She made her Billboard Hot 100 debut thanks to their duet “Wildflower & Barley.”

Russell recently took the stage at the JUNO Awards to pay tribute to fellow Canadian, Joni Mitchell. The performance was a duet between her and Sarah McLachan who she will tour with throughout the summer. Dates kick off on July 1st in Franklin, TN. A full list of tour dates is below.

The accolades for Russell have been immense. Last year she was short-listed for the Polaris Prize and named Billboard Women In Music Canada’s “Breakthrough Artist of the Year.” She has had 8 GRAMMY nominations and one win for “Eve Was Black,” earned three 2022 Americana Award nominations and a win for Album of the Year with subsequent nominations in 2023 and 2024, two International Folk Music Award wins, a 2022 Juno nomination for Songwriter of the Year, and her first-ever Juno Award win for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. Russell won three Canadian Folk Music Awards, two UK Americana Music Awards, and more.

Allison Russell Tour Dates

Jul 1 – FirstBank Amphitheater – Franklin, TN*
Jul 3 – Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA*
Jul 7 – TD Pavilion at The Mann – Philadelphia, PA*
Jul 8 – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater – Bridgeport, CT*
Jul 10 – Leader Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA*
Jul 11 – Forest Hills Stadium – Forest Hills, NY*
Jul 12 – BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH*
Jul 14 – Artpark Mainstage Theater – Lewiston, NY*
Jul 15 – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill – Sterling Heights, MI*
Jul 17 – Acrisure Amphitheater – Grand Rapids, MI*
Jul 18 – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island – Chicago, IL*
Jul 19 – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – Indianapolis, IN*
Jul 21 – PNC Pavilion – Cincinnati, OH*
Jul 23 – Saint Louis Music Park – Maryland Heights, MO*
Jul 24 – Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, MO*
Jul 26 – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory – Irving, TX*
Jul 30 – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – West Valley City, UT*
Aug 1 – Toyota Pavilion at Concord – Concord, CA*
Aug 2 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – San Diego, CA*
Aug 4 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA*
Aug 5 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA*
Aug 7 – Hayden Homes Amphitheater – Bend, OR*
Aug 8 – Chateau Ste Michelle Winery – Woodinville, WA*
Aug 9 – Chateau Ste Michelle Winery – Woodinville, WA*
*supporting Sarah McLachlan

Allison Russell Headline Dates
Oct 15 – The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC
Oct 22 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON
Oct 23 – Theatre Beanfield – Montreal, QC
Oct 24 – Imperial Bell – Quebec City, QC
Oct 25 – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall – Ottawa, ON
Oct 27 – Higher Ground The Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
Nov 1 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
Nov 3 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, MB
Nov 5 – Winspear Centre – Edmonton, AB
Nov 6 – Grey Eagle Resort & Event Centre – Calgary, AB
Nov 9 – Chan Centre for the Performing Arts  – Vancouver, BC

More About Allison Russell

Montreal-born, Nashville-based Allison Russell is a GRAMMY, Juno, Americana, SOCAN, and Folk Award–winning artist and Polaris Prize–shortlisted singer-songwriter, producer, author, actor, and human rights advocate.

Her acclaimed solo debut Outside Child (2021) was followed by The Returner (2023), released via Fantasy / Concord. Prior to her solo work, she co-founded and toured internationally with Po’Girl, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters, and remains an active collaborator with OND and a member of Joni Mitchell’s Joni Jam band.

In 2024, Russell joined Hozier’s Unreal Unearth tour across the U.S. and Europe, with their duet “Wildflower & Barley” earning her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. Her Rainbow Coalition ensemble and All Returners tour continued through 2025 across Australia and North America. She also co-wrote “Human Mind” with Hozier for Mavis Staples.

Russell has received eight Grammy nominations and one win, alongside multiple honors including Americana Award nominations and Album of the Year, a Juno Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, International Folk Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards, and UK Americana Awards. She was also named Billboard Women in Music Canada’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year and short-listed for the Polaris Prize.

She made her Broadway debut as Persephone in Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown in November 2024 and has since completed a second run in the role. Offstage, Russell is a powerful advocate and organizer, curating the historic Once and Future Sounds set at Newport Folk Festival and co-founding Love Rising, which has raised over $550,000 in support of LGBTQIA+ communities.

Her forthcoming memoir will be published by LittleBrown and her third album is slated for release in 2026.

 

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