Post-rock, noise-rock band Down the Lees, with roots in Vancouver, Belgium and now the Okanagan, released its new album Dirt on May 3 and are promoting the album with live shows around B.C. – including a concert at Nanaimo’s Vault Café on Saturday, May 25, at 7 p.m.
The album comes after the band’s transformative phase in Belgium, marked by a 2020 European tour for their critically acclaimed album Bury the Sun. The album was produced by Steve Albini, a recording engineer mogul who has worked with the likes of Nirvana, Pixies, The Jesus Lizard, among many others.
The name of Down the Lees’ fourth full-length album in part comes from the band’s B.C. connection, as it ties to their concerns for the environment affected by Okanagan wildfires.
“It shows our relationship with the Earth, climate change, and humanity’s impact,” frontwoman Laura Lee Schultz said. “Being based in Kelowna, B.C., where the Okanagan wildfires were raging, we couldn’t ignore the issue. That’s why we decided to channel our thoughts into song and action.”
The band is committed to aiding recovery efforts, including donating a portion of proceeds from a special commissioned poster by Norah Bowman to the B.C. Wildlife Recovery Fund, Schultz said.
Schultz’s favourite new track off of Dirt, titled Douse, reflects the trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic as an artist.
Other topics on Dirt include imposter syndrome, resilience, ageism, sexism, depression.
Cover for the Nanaimo show will be $20 at the door.
READ ALSO: Down the Lees’ new album speaks to Okanagan wildfires
