Decemberists Go Orchestral

In addition to having the best name for their summer tour, “A Bit of Grass-Stain Does Not a Ruined Pair of Jeans Make,” the Decemberists now have the coolest shows of the summer.

The band has announced that they will make their “orchestral debut” in five cities this summer, with a different symphony orchestra backing them at each date. These gigs will be interspersed between their already announced shows.

Also announced is the band’s European fall tour, “A Great Smiting of Chavs,” beginning in September.

For more, check out where the Decemberists latest, The Crane Wife landed on the Paste Top 100 Albums of 2006. Also, check out what members of the band are up to in their free time.

2007 Decemberists orchestral dates:

July
7 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Hollywood Bowl (with L.A. Philharmonic, Band of Horses opens)
13 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Chastain Park (with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)
14 - Columbia, Md. @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
15 - Philadelphia, Penn. @ Mann Center (with the Mann Festival Orchestra)
18 - Chicago, Ill. @ Grant Park Music Festival at Pritzker Pavilion (with Grant Park Orchestra) Free show

Other 2007 dates:

April
26 - San Francisco, Calif. @ Warfield Theatre
27 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ House of Blues
28 - Indio, Calif. @ Empire Polo Field, Coachella

May
3 - Eugene, Ore. @ McDonald Theatre
4 - Seattle, Wash. @ Paramount Theater
5 - Bellingham, Wash. @ Western Washington University

June
17 - Manchester, Tenn. @ Bonnaroo Music Festival

July
16 - New York, N.Y. @ Central Park Summer Stage
22 - Portland, Ore. @ Edgefield Winery

September
22 - Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso
23 - Cologne, Germany @ Live Music Hall
24 - Frankfurt, Germany @ Batschkapp
25 - Karlsruhe, Germany @ Substage
27 - Vienna, Austria @ The Arena
28 - Munich, Germany @ Muffathalle
29 - Berlin, Germany @ Postbahnhof
30 - Hamburg, Germany @ Grosse Freiheit

October
2 - London, England @ Royal Festival Hall
3 - Cambridge, England @ Junction
5 - Wolverhampton, England @ Wulfren Hall
6 - Bristol, England @ Anson Rooms
7 - Oxford, England @ Zodiac
9 - Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street
10 - Liverpool, England @ Academy I
11 - Newcastle, England @ Academy II
12 - Glasgow, Scotland @ Academy
13 - Leeds, England @ Metropolitan University

Related links:
The Decemberists’ site
Coachella Festival’s site
Bonnaroo Festival’s site