J.S. Ondara Announces North American Headline Tour

Rising Minneapolis-based and Nairobi-born singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara confirms a North American headline tour next March. The tour follows Ondara's recent dates supporting Lindsey Buckingham and will see Ondara making stops in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Boston, Denver, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Los Angeles and more. Tickets will be on sale this Friday, December 14. The new dates will celebrate the release of Ondara's forthcoming debut, Tales of America, out February 15 on Verve Forecast.

The video for "Saying Goodbye," the latest song released from the album, recently premiered via Brooklyn Vegan who says, "'Saying Goodbye' has an old soul and it sounds like it could've been written half a century ago, but it also sounds bright, fresh, and modern. And Ondara's soaring, angelic voice really puts it over the top."

Ondara and the new music are already receiving critical acclaim. Most recently, Pandora named him one of their 2019 "Artists to Watch." He is also an NPR Music Slingshot Artist-a collective effort among tastemaking NPR member stations to introduce exceptional up-and-coming artists-and Rolling Stone is featuring him amongst their "Artists You Need To Know."

Tales of America is a completely acoustic album, produced by Grammy-nominated Mike Viola (Ryan Adams, Jenny Lewis). The LP was recorded at Boulevard Recording and East West Studios in Los Angeles, with all lyrics written by Ondara and featuring collaborations with Andrew Bird, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes and Joey Ryan of The Milk Carton Kids. "It is essentially a documentation of my time in America," Ondara explains. "A deliberation on the times, and a search for wisdom and the American dream."

J.S. Ondara grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, listening to American alt-rock and making up his own songs for as long as he can remember. At an early age, he fell in love with the music of Bob Dylan and moved to Minneapolis in 2013 to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter. He began making his way in the local music scene, continually writing songs about what he saw, felt and experienced in a place far different from home. Since then, he has toured nationwide, opening for Anderson East, First Aid Kit, The Milk Carton Kids, Mt. Joy and The Head & The Heart.

J.S. ONDARA LIVE

March 19-Washington, DC-Songbyrd

March 21-Brooklyn, NY-Rough Trade

March 22-Philadelphia, PA-World Café Live

March 23-Boston, MA-Café 939

March 24-Portsmouth, NH-The Press Room

March 26-Toronto, ON-The Drake Hotel

March 28-Chicago, IL-Schubas Tavern

March 31-Davenport, IA-Raccoon Motel

April 2-Denver, CO-Lost Lake Lounge

April 3-Salt Lake City, UT-The State Room

April 5-Seattle, WA-Columbia City Theater

April 6-Portland, OR-The Old Church

April 8-San Francisco, CA-Café Du Nord

April 9-Los Angeles, CA-Moroccan Lounge

April 11-San Diego, CA-Casbah

photo credit: Josh Cheuse

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