Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile announce collaborative album, North American tour

A collaboration album by Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett and Philadelphia’s Kurt Vile – sparked after the two played in Melbourne together – has now been confirmed.

The pair will also tour North America together later in the year. 

They’ll be backed by an “amazing all-star band” called Sea Lice. It features Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag), Rob Laakso (The Violators, The Swirlies, Mice Parade), Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint), and Katie Harkin (Sky Larkin, touring member of Sleater-Kinney and Wild Beasts). 

The album, as still untitled, was recorded in a total of eight days, spread over the span of nearly 15 months. 

It was initially to be a split single which Barnett’s Milk! label is releasing a spate of in Australia for fans to discover each act’s music.

But as their paths kept crossing, it developed further as the sessions sparked off energy. 

Barnett recalled: “In 2014 I scored a support slot opening for Kurt at the Abbotsford Convent [Melbourne].

“We met briefly after the show but I was a bit nervous and didn’t wanna bother him, just grateful for the gig.

“Years later we started bumping into each other on the festival circuit all around the wide world and we became friends.

“He hit me up when he was coming to Melbourne next and said he thought we could work together."

They’re both longtime admirers of each other’s music. Vile in particular was impressed with her track Depreston, inspired by the Melbourne suburb of Preston.

“I know [the song is] popular but her voice is so good in that song and it’s so pretty and sincere,” Vile says. “I’m a sucker for that kinda song: instant classic.”

Barnett reveals how Vile’s music marked milestones in her life.

“Smoke Ring [For My Halo] was one of my first purchases on vinyl. I was getting over a big breakup, unemployed and drifting and I would just lie on my bed and listen to Peepin’ Tom on repeat.

“One of the most beautiful and luscious albums I ever heard. Me and Jen [Cloher, Barnett’s partner and bandmate] fell in love to that album.”

The album will be out through Mom & Pop, Matador, Marathon Artists and Milk!. 

The pair will also do 19 shows in the United States and Canada between October 11 and November 11.

It starts off at the San Diego House of Blues, and takes in cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Boston, and Nashville before winding up in Austin.

Barnett posted, “I wish we could take the tour all around the world, but due to both our intercontinental schedules, this is all we can muster for now.”

We can only the tour will eventually extend to Australia where it all began for the duo.