Tift Merritt to Headline 14 City Tour January-February 2005

NASHVILLE, TN. (Lost Highway Records) - Lost Highway recording artist Tift Merritt will headline a 14-city tour in support of her Grammy-nominated album, "Tambourine." After a successful acoustic fall tour with Mindy Smith, Merritt and band plug back in on January 19 in Houston, TX, for a full electric tour that will end in St. Louis, MO, on February 11.

Merritt just received her first-ever Grammy nomination for Best Country Album for "Tambourine." Released August 24, "Tambourine" is the follow-up to Merritt's highly praised first Lost Highway release "Bramble Rose."

"Tambourine" has received high-praise from a multitude of publications, including Vanity Fair, People, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire, Tracks, and The NY Daily News, just to name a few.

"Merritt's voice is a magical combination of cool reserve and effortless warmth ... " (Grade: A-) -Entertainment Weekly.

"With her clear, controlled voice and zestful, sensual delivery, Tift Merritt deserves to move from the fringes of stardom onto the A list of country-rockers thanks to this joy of an album ... " (3-1/2 Stars, out of 4) - People.

"There's not a dud among the dozen tracks, a testament to Merritt's talent as both a distinctive singer and writer," - Rolling Stone.

" ... Stax-style R&B tunes complete with slinky horns and sultry background singers. If you're picturing Dusty Springfield fronting Creedence Clearwater Revival, you're right ... " - Esquire.

"Tambourine" was produced by George Drakoulias (Black Crowes, The Jayhawks, Tom Petty) and features an all-star group of guest musicians, including Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Maria McKee (Lone Justice), Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), and Robert Randolph.

TIFT MERRITT TOUR DATES:
01/19 Houston, TX Continental Club
01/20 Dallas, TX Sons of Hermann Hall
01/21 Austin, TX Stubb's
01/25 Santa Fe, NM Paramount
01/26 Tucson, AZ Plush
01/28 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour
01/29 San Francisco, CA Slim's
02/01 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
02/02 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
02/03 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
02/04 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
02/05 Vancouver, BC Richard's On Richards Cabaret
02/08 Salt Lake City, UT Liquid Joes
02/09 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
02/11 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill
MORE DATES TO COME