IT HAS been at least a decade since Giant Sand, the alt.rock/Americana band led by Howe Gelb, have played Galway, but 2016 sees them return, as part of a co-headline tour with Jason Lytle.
Giant Sand and Jason Lytle play the Róisín Dubh on Friday April 15 as part of their current British and Irish tour. This will be the last opportunity to see them, because, after this tour, Giant Sand are calling it a day and will cease recording albums and touring - bar the occasional festival appearance.
The tour also sees Howe Gelb marking 30 years of Giant Sand and performing songs from the most recent album, the critically acclaimed Heartbreak Pass, released on New West Records. The album has enjoyed international acclaim, with MOJO declaring it "a testimony to the current health of [Howe's] muse, while containing only new songs, feels like a greatest hits".
The album's first single, 'Transponder', was produced by Jason Lytle, a lold friend of Gelb. That collaboration also led to the idea of the two men touring together. An exclusive vinyl box set of Giant Sand’s back catalogue is to be released through Fire America.
Tickets are available at www.roisindubh.net, the Ticket Desk at OMG Zhivago, Shop Street, and The Róisín Dubh.