Just six months after releasing his ambient music-inspired solo album Running River, John Butler will release a new album, the wholly instrumental LP Still Searching, on Friday, 1 November.
In addition to the album release, Butler will take his new music on the road, where he’ll be joined by former John Butler Trio member Michael Barker and percussionist Michael Boase.
As a press release notes, the tour will mark the first time Butler and Barker have shared the stage since the mid-2000s. The pair, along with bassist Shannon Birchall, enjoyed phenomenal success following the release of the beloved John Butler Trio albums, Sunrise Over Sea and Grand National.
The first single from the album, Banjo Loop, is out now. You can watch the music video filmed by Nick McKinlay below.
Butler said of the album, “These stringed things made from wood, metal and hide are dear friends. They help me communicate things I would never have found words for. They help heal me and allow me to have a dialect in which to converse with the divine. So, of course, the conversation continues. The title of this album eludes to just that. I’m still exploring. Still wandering and wondering. Still obsessed and ravenous for new tunings, techniques and textures. Still Searching…”
You can pre-order/pre-save the album here.
According to Butler, Still Searching marks the middle of a cycle he’s embarking on called Four Seasons.
A prolific body of work, Four Seasons will contain four albums, including Running River and Still Searching. A third solo album will follow in 2025, and then the singer-songwriter and musician plans to go “full circle” and team up with a new band for another album.
Until then, though, we have a tour on the way. Butler will begin his upcoming national tour at The Playhouse, Canberra, on Saturday, 2 November, before heading to Sydney’s City Recital Hall (Monday, 4 November), Brisbane’s The Tivoli (Tuesday, 5 November), Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall (Wednesday, 6 November), Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre (Thursday, 7 November), and wraps up at Perth’s Octagon Theatre on Thursday, 14 November.
Fans won’t have to wait long until tickets go on sale—they will be available from 10 am AEST on Tuesday, 1 October, via the John Butler Trio website.
Jarrah Records Presents
JOHN BUTLER
2024 AUSTRALIAN TOUR
With percussionists Michael Barker & Michael Boase
THE PLAYHOUSE, CANBERRA – SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER
CITY RECITAL HALL, SYDNEY – MONDAY 4 NOVEMBER
THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE – TUESDAY 5 NOVEMBER
HINDLEY ST MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE – WEDNESDAY 6 NOVEMBER
ATHENAEUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE – THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER
OCTAGON THEATRE, PERTH – THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER
