Today, we released another single off our upcoming album, Quickies, which comes out on 5/15! The video is still TBA. Pre-order Quickies here.
Watch new Quickies single and video
Today, Nonesuch records releases the third Quickies single and video, “(I Want to Join a) Biker Gang”. Quickies, an album of 28 new short songs by the Magnetic Fields, is due on May 15, 2020.
City Winery tour is postponed to Jan-Feb 2021
The band will celebrate the release with a special month-long residency in seven City Winery locations around the US—Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Boston, NYC, Washington, and Philadelphia. The tour, originally scheduled for June 2020, is now rescheduled for January and February, 2021. Please visit the designated City Winery links in our calendar for the new tour dates and further information about the tour.
New Quickies video: Kraftwerk in a Blackout
On April 1, Nonesuch Records released “Kraftwerk in a Blackout”, the second single from the Magnetic Fields' forthcoming album, Quickies, due May 15. The lead vocal is sung by Shirley Simms. Watch the video from the record below. Another song from the set, “The Day the Politicians Died,” sung by Claudia Gonson, was previously released. Album preorders are available now at the Nonesuch Store, iTunes, and Amazon, where “Kraftwerk in a Blackout” and "The Day the Politicians Died” may be downloaded immediately; both songs are also available to stream at Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and other streaming services. Pre-orders of Quickies from the Nonesuch Store include an exclusive, limited-edition print autographed by Stephin Merritt.
The Magnetic Fields’ album Quickies to be released May 15
Nonesuch Records releases the Magnetic Fields’ Quickies on May 15, 2020. The set—available on five vinyl EPs, one CD, and digitally—features twenty-eight new short songs by Stephin Merritt, ranging in length from thirteen seconds to two minutes and thirty-five seconds. A video of a song from the album, “The Day the Politicians Died,” can be seen below.
Stephin Merritt talks about the Quickies concept: “I’ve been reading a lot of very short fiction, and enjoyed writing 101 Two Letter Words, the poetry book about the shortest words you can use in Scrabble. Also I’ve been listening to a lot of French baroque harpsichord music. Harpsichord doesn’t lend itself to languor. I’ve been thinking about one instrument at a time, playing for about a minute or so and then stopping, and narratives that are only a few lines long. To make the album, I used a lot of small notebooks, so when I reach the bottom of the page, I’ve only gone a short way.”
Quickies features Merritt and other Magnetic Fields band members Sam Davol, Claudia Gonson, Shirley Simms, and John Woo, joined by longtime friends and collaborators Chris Ewen, Daniel Handler, and Pinky Weitzman.
Album set pre orders are available now at the Nonesuch Store, where “The Day the Politicians Died” may be downloaded immediately; the song is also available to stream at Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services. Pre-orders from the Nonesuch Store include an exclusive, limited-edition print autographed by Merritt. Quickies is also available for preorder at iTunes and Amazon.
Magnetic Fields tour of seven City Winery locations around the USA - June, 2020
The Magnetic Fields celebrate their new release of "Quickies" with special residencies at intimate City Winery venues in seven cities—Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Boston, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia, from June 1 through July 1, 2020. Exact performance dates and ticket links are in the calendar. Tickets pre-sale starts 2/26, general sale starts on 2/28.
Video premiere for Quickies song “The Day the Politicians Died”
Stephin Merritt Residency at Symphony Space this Fall
Fans of The Magnetic Fields, and other Stephin Merritt projects, prepare to rejoice as "the Cole Porter of his generation," along with The Magnetic Fields, collaborators and special guests, perform songs spanning Merritt's musical career. This special residency at Symphony Space in NYC will feature music from the 1999 opus 69 Love Songs, to the recent autobiographical 50 Song Memoir, and everything before, after, and in-between, including the premiere of new Magnetic Fields material.
The residency will consist of 4 concerts - Two Magnetic Fields shows, one featuring the Gothic Archies, and one featuring Future Bible Heroes. Member tickets are on sale now. The general sale starts on 7/24.
Get tickets for The Magnetic Fields - 11/16, 12/7.
Stephin Merritt Talks with Daniel Handler for the Talkhouse Podcast
This year marks the 20th anniversary of 69 Love Songs. For the Talkhouse podcast, Stephin sat down with Daniel Handler — aka, A Series Of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket — who played accordion on 69 Love Songs as well as interviewed Stephin for the liner notes. Their deep dive talk also takes in: Daniel’s theory that 69 LS has become a children’s album; “tweecore” beefs with Belle and Sebastian and Stereolab; the record release show that found Stephin trapped above the stage; the best music to get busy to; whispering hecklers; and why 69 Love Songs should’ve been sold in sex shops.
Listen Here.
Stephin MerriTt will be a guest on 44 Charlton at The Greene Space
On June 7, Stephin will be joining comedian, Bowen Yang, and rapper, Nappy Nina, at 44 Charlton, a live variety show hosted by Julian Fleisher at The Greene Space at WNYC/WQXR. It's the last one of the season, and a celebration of Pride!
Get tickets here.
Claudia Gonson for Talkhouse: Gig Economy
Gig Economy is a Talkhouse series in which artists discuss their work histories, in order to demystify the many different paths that can lead to a career as a working musician. In the latest installment of the series, Claudia Gonson discusses managing and playing in the Magnetic Fields.
Stephin Merritt to read for National Poetry Month benefit
On April 24th, Stephin Merritt will be at Lincoln Center for a special National Poetry Month benefit reading supporting the Academy of American Poets Education Program. Also reading will be Elizabeth Alexander, Ann Curry, Savion Glover, Ellen Burstyn, Josh Charles and more!
Stephin Merritt to perform Live Film Score at Town Hall NYC
On May 18, 2019, Stephin Merritt will be composing and performing original music for the 1925 Tod Browning film The Unholy Three, starring Lon Cheney. Joined by accordionist and novelist Daniel Handler (A Series of Unfortunate Events), and viola player Pinky Weitzman. Tod Browning, best known for his films Dracula and Freaks brings you the tale of “ A sideshow ventriloquist, midget, and strongman form a conspiracy known as "The Unholy Three" and commit a series of robberies.”
Stephin Merritt Playlist from guest DJ on WFMU, New Jersey
The excellent WFMU DJ Irwin Chusid did a 4 hour radio show on May 16, where he featured all sorts of Stephin Merritt songs from all projects (Mag Fields, Gothic Archies, 6ths, etc). For two of the hours Stephin came in and played lots of cool songs and poems and essays. It's a fun listen, super informative and a nostalgic trip for Magnetic Fields fans. Here's the link to the show archive: http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/79038
STEPHIN MERRITT PERFORMS ON WNYC's NEW SOUNDS LIVE
Listen to this 34 minute interview and a mini-performance by Stephin Merritt and Sam Davol on WNYC Radio's New Sounds Live. Originally aired on 5.17.18. https://tinyurl.com/yd629gba
STEPHIN TO PERFORM AT BANG ON THE CAN MARATHON
Stephin Merritt and Sam Davol will perform 3 Magnetic Fields songs on May 13, 2018 as part of an illustrious program of over twenty avant garde composers and performers at the all-day Bang on the Can Marathon, starting at noon in NYC! And it's FREE! For tickets, visit https://nyuskirball.org/events/bang-can-marathon/ and to view the program, visit https://nyuskirball.org/events/bang-can-marathon/https://nyuskirball.org/events/bang-can-marathon/
NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED: LUMINATO FESTIVAL, TORONTO
The Magnetic Fields are pleased to announce one additional performance of their 50 Song Memoir show, at the Luminato Festival in Toronto. The dates are 22+23 June. The ticket info, as well as links to the complete festival listings, are available at the calendar. Tickets for their New York City and Pittsburgh, PA June concerts are also available at the calendar.
Summer 2018 North American tour dates announced
We are pleased to announce two 50 Song Memoir shows will take place in June, 2018, in the Northeast US. The two-day, 50-Song concert will return to NYC to the Apollo Theater and then travel to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon as part of the Warhol Museum’s Sound Series.
Tickets on sale on Friday, Feb 16th. To purchase tickets, visit the calendar.
MAGNETIC FIELDS ONLINE STORE RELAUNCH
The Magnetic Fields store is back with an exciting line of shirts, posters, and pins from the 50 Song Memoir US tour. Some are in limited quantities. Preorder by August 21st to guarantee supplies will last! Visit https://themagneticfields.kungfustore.com/ to shop.
50 SONG MEMOIR TO BE PERFORMED IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
The Magnetic Fields will bring their 50 Song Memoir tour to Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall on October 21 and 22 as part of the Melbourne Festival in the exclusive Australian presentation of the show. The performances include all 50 songs on the recently released album, with songs 1–25 on the first night and 26–50 on the second. Tickets are on sale now at www.festival.melbourne and the calendar page.
Magnetic Fields announce UK and Dublin, IRE tour dates
The Magnetic Fields have announced a limited number of "50 Song Memoir" tour dates around the UK, and Dublin, Ireland in late summer, 2017. The two-night performances will commence on 25+26 August at the Edinburgh International Festival, and end on 9+10 September at London's Barbican Theatre. Along with their June, 2017, appearance at Primavera Festival in Barcelona, these are the only European tour dates that the band has planned this year. To see their full tour schedule, visit the calendar.
August 25 & 26 - Edinburgh, UK - Kings Theatre
August 28 & 29 - Dublin, IRE - The National Concert Hall
August 31 & September 1 - Bristol, UK - Colston Hall
September 3 & 4 - Liverpool, UK - Philharmonic Hall
September 7 & 8 - Brighton, UK - Dome
September 9 & 10 - London, UK - Barbican