Grammy and Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Melisaa Etheridge will release her new record, The Medicine Show, on April 12th 2019 via Concord Records and Snakefarm Records in the UK. It's the artist's 15th studio album and was recorded with famed producer John Shanks (Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson). The record is preceded by a UK tour which starts February 18nd in Manchester and comprises 5 dates including a show at London's Indigo O2.

The new album deals with universal themes of 'renewal, reconciliation, reckoning, compassion and, most profoundly, healing' and includes the anthemic rock number 'Love Will Live' alongside catchy, medlodic fare like ‘Wild and Lonely’ and ‘Faded By Design’ and the deeply-felt album closer 'Last Hello' which deals with the incredible strength and courage shown by the survivors of the Parkland school shootings.

“Calling the album ‘The Medicine Show’ puts straight up, front and centre, that this is about health, wellness, cannabis, this new thought, new paradigm, however you want to talk about it, however you want to understand it" says Etheridge, "It influences every song on the album. We’re not afraid of this anymore. We’ve come a long way.”

Producer Shanks has teamed up Melissa with a a great band for the album, which was recorded largely live in the studio. The group included drummer Victor Indrizzo, bassist Chris Chaney and keyboardist Max Hart with Shanks extending the arrangements on many of the songs with his guitar. Meanwhile on the ballad ‘I Know You Know’ Shanks brought in electronic strings orchestrated by David Campbell, who last year with Barbra Streisand and Paul McCartney.

Melissa Etheridge has sold over 25 millions albums since her self-titled debut in 1988. She has 15 Grammy nominations and two wins, a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame as well as an Academy Award for 'I Need To Wake Up' which featured in the climate change documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. Her previous release, ‘Memphis Rock & Soul’, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart. Melissa has also for many years dedicated herself as an activist for human rights, LGBTQ issues, breast cancer awareness and alternative medical approaches.

It influences every song on the album. We’re not afraid of this anymore. We’ve come a long way.”

She's about to kick off a full European tour in support of the upcoming album, her UK tour dates are as follows:

Mon Feb 18th - Manchester Cathedral, Manchester

Tue Feb 19th - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

Thurs Feb 21st - Town Hall, Birmingham

Fri Feb 22nd - Indigo At The O2, London  

Sat Feb 23rd - De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill

Author: Cameron Arndt

Cameron Arndt is a musician and freelance writer from Glasgow, Scotland. He writes for his own music review website (www.rockandrolltraffic.com) and also contributes to Music Talkers.