Steady as he goes may be Brendan Benson's approach to music, but this September will see him take to the Irish roads in a van, with only his guitar and keybroadist Mark Watrous in tow. If you haven’t the funds to see him play at this summer’s Benicassim festival in Spain, then you are in luck. The Raconteurs co-founder’s nationwide tour will encompass both North and South of the isle, taking in intimate venues across fourteen counties. Benson will perform songs from this year’s My Old, Familiar Friend, and hits from his back catalogue: One Mississippi (1996), Lapalco (2002) and The Alternative to Love (2005).

  Benson cites his Irish roots as one reason for touring the country. The American musician and songwriter has a tenable claim to Irish ancestry (his mother was born here) and might be stopping in for a cup of tea with relatives along the way. Benson explains that an Irish tour has been in the pipeline for some time. “I've always wanted to, but for some reason or another, couldn’t. Doing it a little differently too; gonna drive myself and Mark Watrous to the gigs in a van... Playing for gas money! Just like the old days. Good way to see the country, I figure.”

  The tour will be offset by the “itinerant quality” of Benson's songwriting. While the critically acclaimed Raconteurs remain on indefinite hiatus, Benson released My Old, Familiar Friend earlier this year. The record is shaped by diverse geographical and musical influences - American and Anglophile, rock and pop. Fittingly recorded in Nashville and London and mixed in LA, the album was produced by Gil Norton (Pixies, Echo & the Bunnymen, Foo Fighters) and mixed by Dave Sardy (The Rolling Stones, LCD Soundsystem, Oasis). 

  While taking in Ireland's scenic route, Benson will re-release a re-mastered Lapalco which will be on vinyl for the first time and contain a previously unheard track. B-sides will be accessible digitally. A further 7" vinyl, Well and Goode, will also be available to purchase at the live shows, featuring tracks "Spray Tan" and "Two Birds".    

 Tickets for the live shows are available at www.ticketmaster.ie. Tour dates below: