Catching Up With Pokey LaFarge: A New Album, New Label and New Countries to Conquer

By Annie Zaleski Fri., Dec. 17 2010 at 11:00 AM

Bill Streeter

Tonight at the Sheldon Ballroom, it's Christmas with Pokey -- LaFarge, that is. He and the South City Three are performing as part of KDHX's Sheldon Sessions along with the Western Satellites. Tickets are $10, and the show starts at 8 p.m. In addition, he'll be on the MetroLink's Holiday Magic Express tomorrow afternoon playing acoustically, as part of the Rhythm & Rails promotion. Besides these two shows, what's the ever-in-motion LaFarge been up to lately? As he puts it, "What was supposed to be a 'slow' month has been insane." He elaborates:

*He and the South City Three are finishing up a new album, due May 18, 2011 on CD/LP. (LaFarge says he put the finishing touches on it last week in New Orleans, with horn players.)

*He says there's an album ready to go besides that, but it won't see the light of day until 2012.

*Next year, he and the band are releasing a 7" vinyl and a 78 RPM(!) vinyl record.

*The May 2011-released album will still be released on Free Dirt Records in the U.S., but they've inked a deal with Holland's Continental Records for European distribution. (That label also distributes Wayne "The Train" Hancock, Dale Watson and Eilen Jewell.)

*Touring the U.K. and Ireland is a given, but they'll also be playing shows in Holland, Denmark, France, Germany and British Columbia.

Phew.