As a noteworthy accomplishment during the pandemic, Mather shot, edited and designed the cover art for the latest Heathen Apostles release PRAYERS BEFORE THE PLAGUE. Details on the release to follow shortly.

The Heathen Apostles’ 2020 European tour in September has been postponed due to the COVID 19 crisis, the band announced recently. Whenever possible the dates will be rescheduled to September 2021, several have already been confirmed, check back for announcements. The band will also be touring in Europe before that, Kurt DeBont of Rootstown Bookings is taking offers for May and June 2021. You can contact him by clicking HERE.

Here is the announcement that was posted on social media:
“The Heathen Apostles are sorry to have to announce we are canceling the dates of our 2020 European tour due to the COVID 19 crisis. We are happy to announce that we will be coming back to Europe in May/June 2021 and September 2021, we hope to see all of our European heathens at one or both of the tours. Beast wishes and wear your damn masks!

If you have a venue you can contact Kurt at bookings@rootstown.be to get in on either tour. We will be announcing some good stuff in the near future, stay tuned….”

Booking has begun for the Heathen Apostles Europe 2021 tour, and the band is looking forward to bringing their Dark Americana music back there once again. Their September 2020 European tour is still on as of now, but will depend on future travel restrictions. Be sure and check the band out this year, see below for those tour dates.

The 2021 tour will start on Thursday May 20th 2021 and the last date will be Sunday June 6th 2021. If you have a venue, or know of a venue, that would like to book the band contact Kurt DeBont at Rootstown Bookings HERE.

Here are the dates of the Heathen Apostles September 2020 European tour, it will be their third tour of Europe, and this time around the band will be bringing their country gothic music to Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland and more TBA. They will be promoting their gothic blues release Born By Lightning (out now on Ratchet Blade Records), as well as a special vinyl release of their 2019 Dark Americana album Dust To Dust that will be out on Urgence Disk Records. The Heathen Apostles will be playing release show at Urgence Disk in Geneva, Switzerland.

Here are the event dates, the show marked TBA will be announced at a later date, check back soon. To book the remaining date, contact Kurt at Rootstown Bookings HERE.

Heathen Apostles European Tourdates 2020:

3/09/2020 Thursday – Kulturrampe, Krefeld, Germany
4/09/2020 Friday – Wild At Heart, Berlin, Germany
5/09/2020 Saturday – Kulturhaus Abraxas, Augsburg, Germany
6/09/2020 Sunday available
7/09/2020 Monday – Urgence Disk, Geneva, Switzerland
8/09/2020 Tuesday – Quarterdeck, Basel, Switzerland
9/09/2020 Wednesday – Sonic Ballroom, Cologne, Germany
10/09/2020 Thursday – Altes Spital, Viechtach, Germany
11/09/2020 Friday – Alter Open-Air, Mannheim, Germany
12/09/2020 Saturday – CC Muze, Zolder, Belgium
13/09/2020 Sunday – Lokaal 42, Helmond, The Netherlands
14/09/2020 Monday – Titanic, Herenthout, Belgium
15/09/2020 Tuesday – Tortuga, Unna, Germany
16/09/2020 Wednesday – Bei Chez Heinz, Hannover, Germany
17/09/2020 Thursday – Monkeys, Hamburg, Germany
18/09/2020 Friday – Extra Blues-Bar, Bielefeld, Germany
19/09/2020 Saturday – PRIVATE PARTY
20/09/2020 Sunday – BUSKERfestival, Aarschot, Belgium

The Heathen Apostles are beginning work on Bloodgrass Vol. III, the third volume in their series of their take on gothic bluegrass, heavy country and dark roots. The band hopes to have the project completed before their September 2020 European tour, but will release a single from it if the EP is not completed. The sessions are being recorded both under quarantine and through remote recordings, and will be released on Ratchet Blade Records. Both Bloodgrass Vol. I (released in 2017) and Bloodgrass Vol. II (released in 2018) EPs were later combined for the full length Bloodgrass Vol. I & II, released in 2019 on LP and CD.

James G. Carlson wrote of Bloodgrass Vol. I & II in No Depression:
“Bloodgrass Vol. II & II opens with the Apostles’ dark, creeping rendition of Gershwin and Heyward’s classic “Summertime.” “Death Came a Ridin’,” a Heathen Apostles original, is a macabre piece dedicated to the reaper, with Louth employing a storytelling style of lyrical conveyance. “Dark Days” somehow manages to successfully marry gloomy folk with gypsy jazz, and features some of Louth’s best vocal work on the album. “Lady in Gold” is an energetic gothic country offering, while “Deadly Nightshade” is an ominous picker with a simple but nicely punctuating beat. “Paint the Stars,” an easy standout on this album, kicks off with lively violin, guitar strumming, and steady beat, and then incorporates a powerful vocal performance by Louth. Other covers include heavy country versions of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” (Darrell Scott), “Ramblin’ Man” (Hank Williams), and “Shady Grove” (traditional). “D.O.A.” has a roots rock feel to it, while the closer, “Fever Jane,” another easy standout, is a moody picker with darkly beautiful vocals.”

Check back for more details on this EP release.

Artist friends:

My next live stream costume drawing session is ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, and it’s going to be a special one.
The First Nations communities have been utterly devastated by the effects of the pandemic, and it is with this in mind that I will be donating 100% of my session to the First Nations COVID 19 Emergency Response Fund as a humble means of trying to help. I’d greatly appreciate it if you can help share this flyer so that we can help even more!
I’ve chosen my Elf Archer as the theme for the evening, and she is a super fun and dynamic character to draw! Hope to see you there, and sign up for the countdown in my stories to make sure you don’t miss out!

From the Heathen Apostles Facebook page: We hope everyone is doing well, we can’t wait to get back on the road and see you all! We’ve had a bit of a run on our Vince Ray gothic western bandanas; bandanas seem to be the easiest way of protecting ourselves and others, especially worn over a standard mask. We’ve been trying to figure out how to get them over to Europe with cheaper shipping, for now we’re recommending them as an add-on item, and, as always, we refund the difference if you are charged more for shipping than it costs. We are throwing a a digital copy of our latest release “Born By Lightning”, and a Heathen Apostles sticker; click HERE to check them out.

Stay safe and we hope to see you all soon! We are finalizing the dates for our 2020 European tour, check back for updates. photos by Mather Louth

The Heathen Apostles and Speedbuggy USA Gothic Acoustic West Coast Tour has been postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis. It was to take both bands up the US West Coast and back during the last two weeks of April. The bands are hoping to reschedule for June 2020, but of course everything is up in the air right now. Check back for more info on this tour, and all upcoming dates (the Heathen Apostles’ European Tour in September is still looking like a good possibility), and the band wants to convey to their fans to stay safe during this crisis.

The dates are being released for the upcoming Heathen Apostles / Speedbuggy USA West Coast Gothic Rodeo Tour, taking place during the second half of April 2020. The tour will take the two bands through California, Oregon and Washington, and both bands will be playing special stripped-down acoustic sets. Check back for ticket links and more info.

Friday April 17th – Mercury Lounge, Goleta, CA
Saturday April 18th – Surf City Billiards, Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday, April 19th – Winter’s Tavern, Pacifica, CA
Monday, April 20th – TBA, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, April 22nd – Dante’s, Portland, OR
Thursday, April 23rd – Lovecraft, Portland, OR
Friday, April 24th – TBA, Olympia, WA
Saturday, April 25th – Black Cat Cabaret, Seattle, WA
Sunday, April 26th – Hotel Albatross, Seattle, WA

The Heathen Apostles will be appearing with pirate goth act The Dread Crew of Oddwood on Friday April 10th at The Satellite in Los Angeles, Ca. It will be the Heathens last show before their West Coast tour with Speedbuggy USA (running from Friday April 17th through Sunday April 16th), so come on down and get in on the wild times. Also appearing is Stygian Crown, for more info, click HERE.

Here’s a quick bio of The Dread Crew of Oddwood:

The Dread Crew of Oddwood is a folk metal band known for its pirate-themed music played exclusively on acoustic instruments. They have dubbed this unique style as Heavy Mahogany. Embarking from San Diego in 2008, this bloodthirsty horde has accumulated a commendable cult following and is rapidly gaining infamy throughout the far corners of the world.

By infusing the raw energy of heavy metal with Celtic folk music, The Dread Crew of Oddwood’s pirate goth style has carved a distinct and popular niche in the heavy metal community. They riff and shred on the accordion, mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle, toy piano, acoustic guitar, upright bass, and “Oddkit”, while weaving grandiose tales of comrades lost, bloody sieges, drunken debauchery, zombies, airships, and time travel!

The Heathen Apostles are proud to announce the first wave of bookings for their 2020 European tour, which will take place in September. It will be their third tour of Europe, and this time around the band will be bringing their country gothic music to Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland and more TBA. They will be promoting their gothic blues release Born By Lightning (out now on Ratchet Blade Records), as well as two surprise vinyl releases that will be announced at a later date.

Here are the dates, the shows marked TBA will be announced at a later date, check back soon. To book one of the remaining dates, contact Kurt at Rootstown Bookings HERE.

Heathen Apostles European Tourdates 2020:

3/09/2020 Thursday – Kulturrampe, Krefeld, Germany
4/09/2020 Friday – Wild At Heart, Berlin, Germany
5/09/2020 Saturday – City Club, Augsburg, Germany
6/09/2020 Sunday available
7/09/2020 Monday available
8/09/2020 Tuesday – Quarterdeck, Basel, Switzerland
9/09/2020 Wednesday – TBA, Paris, France
10/09/2020 Thursday  – La Tavern, Nevers, France
11/09/2020 Friday – Alter Open-Air, Mannheim, Germany
12/09/2020 Saturday – CC Muze, Zolder, Belgium
13/09/2020 Sunday – Lokaal 42, Helmond, The Netherlands
14/09/2020 Monday available
15/09/2020 Tuesday  – Tortuga, Unna, Germany
16/09/2020 Wednesday – Bei Chez Heinz, Hannover, Germany
17/09/2020 Thursday – Monkeys, Hamburg, Germany
18/09/2020 Friday – Extra Blues-Bar, Bielefeld, Germany
19/09/2020 Saturday – PRIVATE PARTY
20/09/2020 Sunday – BUSKERfestival, Aarschot, Belgium