New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The Fray have released a new single "Don't Look Down"! Co-written and co-produced by the 4x Grammy nominated band, the song is a study in facing one's fears and embracing uncertainty. The single, which will be featured on the upcoming EP The Fray Is Back (out September 27), finds vocalist/guitarist and primary songwriter Joe King taking over lead vocal duties alongside longtime guitarist Dave Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki, and welcoming Grant Averill on acoustic guitar alongside Kai Welsh on synthesizer, co-produced by Joe London.
Named after a joyful declaration shouted out by a fan at a recent live show, The Fray Is Back echoes their newly revitalized creative energy and growth since their 2005 4x platinum debut album How To Save A Life, declared one of the best-selling digital debuts of all time. The Fray Is Back is the band's first multi-song release since their 2014 album Helios. The collection and upcoming US headline tour (see below for dates) mark the start of a new era for the Colorado-bred band.
The new EP - Co-produced by The Fray alongside Andrew DeRoberts (Fitz and the Tantrums, Zac Brown Band), Ryan Linvill (Conan Gray, Chappell Roan), and Joe London (Thomas Rhett, Bailey Zimmerman) - marks the first time that King, the band's longtime main songwriter, has sung lead for his own deeply introspective lyrics. From the EP opener "Angeleno Moon," which strikes a potent balance of dreamy nostalgia and forward-looking urgency, to the piano-driven closer "Known You Always," a reflection on the way certain people leave an indelible imprint on our lives, each song uncovers entirely new dimensions of The Fray's artistry as they embark on a bold new chapter.
The Fray have announced a US headline tour, kicking off in Washington DC on September 27 before stops in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Nashville and more. In addition to King, Welsh and Wysocki, the performances will also feature musicians Kai Welch on keys and Dane Poppin on bass guitar. Buzzing Los Angeles singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rett Madison will open every date except Parx Casino. Please find all announced tour dates below and via https://thefray.com/.
"THE FRAY IS BACK" 2024 Tour Dates:
*with Rett Madison
September 27 - Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre* September 28 - Bensalem, PA - Parx Casino September 30 - New York, NY - Webster Hall*
October 1 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre*
October 3 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall*
October 4 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theater*
October 7 - Dallas, TX - The Echo Lounge & Music Hall*
October 9 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren*
October 10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Bellwether*
October 12 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall*
October 14 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Grand Room at The Complex*
October 17 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom*
October 18 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman*
October 20 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl Nashville*
The Fray Is Back EP Tracklisting:
Angeleno Moon
Same Thing
Not Now
Don't Look Down
Time Well Wasted
Known You Always
When The Fray first burst onto the scene in the early aughts, the Colorado-bred band introduced the world to a profoundly life-affirming form of alt-rock: timeless but inventive, arena-sized in scope but firmly rooted in raw emotion. Over the coming years, their soul-searching songwriting and high-powered sound led to earning four Grammy Award nominations, scoring a multitude of Billboard top 10 hits, and amassing a passionately devoted worldwide fanbase. Their single "How To Save A Life" spent a staggering 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the "unofficial theme song" for Grey's Anatomy. Rolling Stone praised their "stick-in-your-head hooks and eloquent narratives," while the LA Times called their music "melodically rich." The Fray's debut album How To Save A Life (2005) is certified 4x platinum in the US and has been declared one of the best-selling digital debuts of all time.
Following a busy Summer '24, which saw Rett Madison make her national CBS Saturday Sessions debut with a powerful performance and interview, along with notable live appearances at Newport Folk Festival and opening slots with Jewel, Melissa Etheridge and Trousdale, Madison will be returning with new music and multiple tours for Fall. Rett Madison will be at Americanafest Showcase in Nashville and Austin City Limits, bookending their national tour opening for The Fray. Later in October through November, Rett Madison heads back out with The Crane Wives, hitting Las Vegas and a string of West Coast cities.
Nearing the one year anniversary of her sophomore album, One for Jackie gives the listener an uncanny sense of familiarity, as if immersing ourselves in Madison's grief, in her memories, allows us to know a little bit of Jackie, too. This is a testament to Madison's lyricism; she is specific, exacting, and wise even in her most unguarded moments. In death, we tend to flatten people, turn them saintly and pure and faultless, but One for Jackie does something better: it brings her to life. Through constant touring and recent breathtaking TV performances on Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS Saturday, Rett Madison has ignited an ever-growing global legion of true believers waiting for more. At present, she is working on new material on touring the country while looking to 2025 and beyond.
