By Stevie Connor.
Buzzing Winnipeg singer-songwriter, and artist Leith Ross (They/Them Pronouns) reveals their highly anticipated debut album To Learn is set for release on May 19. To celebrate the exciting announcement, they drop their most personal and meaningful song to date, “Guts.”
Leith says, “This song is about the times in my life that I have been sexually assaulted/experienced any kind of sexual violence, and the ways that the people in my life have let me down after those events occurred. When I wrote it, it was to give myself permission to feel the whole range of emotions that started to consume me. It has a lot of rage, hurt, defeat, betrayal, and even forgiveness. I hope it can be helpful.”
A few weeks ago, Leith unveiled their spring 2023 headline tour dates across North America, UK, and Europe—which sold out nearly instantly, resulting in venue upgrades and new dates added across the tour. It kicks off in Bristol on April 11th and makes stops at London’s Lafayette on April 17th, Los Angeles’ Lodge Room on May 23rd, Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 6th, and more. The North American leg of the tour includes five Canadian dates in Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, and Winnipeg.
Leith’s recent single “(You) On My Arm” was their first release of 2023 and follows their previous viral track “We’ll Never Have Sex” and “Orlando.” Clash declared it “a celebration of queer love,” while Ones To Watch said, “Leith Ross melts hearts with ‘(You) On My Arm’.” The breakout “We’ll Never Have Sex” has amassed over 41 million Spotify streams and 1 million video views to date. In support of their new music, Leith performed sold-out headline shows across North America last fall, as well as supported Lord Huron in Canada and Andy Shauf and Helena Deland in Europe on various tours last year. Not to mention, they were the recipient of the inaugural John Prine Songwriter Fellowship at last year’s Newport Folk Festival.
Hailing from outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Leith Ross embraced music at a young age, channeling emotional confessions through softly strummed chords. Recorded live, they made their debut with the independent Motherwell EP in 2020. Beyond prominent editorial play listing, it incited widespread critical applause across US and Canada. Leith maintained this momentum in 2021 with the I’d Have To Think About It, and the title track has notably amassed nearly 12 million Spotify streams to date. With a rising profile on TikTok and among tastemakers, Leith signed to Republic Records in 2022. Stay tuned for more new music to come from Leith Ross this year!
2023 TOUR DATES
UK/EUROPE
April 11 – Bristol, UK – The Fleece
April 13 – Leeds, UK – The Wardrobe*
April 14 – Glasgow, UK – King Tuts Wah Wah Hut*
April 16 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute*
April 17 – London, UK – Lafayette London*
April 18 – Brighton, UK – Chalk*
April 21 – Utrecht, NL – EKKO*
April 25 – Dublin, IR – The Grand Social*
* Sold Out
NORTH AMERICA
May 18 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre*
May 19 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre*
May 20 – Portland, OR – Holocene*
May 22 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop*
May 23 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room Highland Park*
May 27 – Austin, TX – The Parish*
May 28 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
May 29 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
May 31 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5*
June 1 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle*
June 3 – Washington, DC – Union Stage*
June 4 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
June 6 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg*
June 7 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair*
June 9 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
June 10 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall*
June 13 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall*
June 14 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry*
June 16 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre*
June 17 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre*
* Sold Out
Leith Ross is a songwriter, singer, and artist born and raised in a small town outside of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They’ve been a sensitive and overly artistic person since birth, and when they started writing songs around the age of 12, it quickly became Leith’s favourite way to be sensitive and overly artistic. Still is. Since then, they’ve recorded and released two projects, and have a new one underway. Inspired by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton, Disney movie soundtracks, High School Musical, and their dad’s horrible parodies of all of the above, their songs attempt to explore themes of gut-wrenching and cheesy love, silliness, and extreme existentialism. Their favourite stuff. Leith’s recent singles, “We’ll Never Have Sex,” “Orlando,” and “(You) On My Arm,” and forthcoming debut album To Learn are soaked in that ‘favourite stuff’ and ready to be listened to wherever you can find it. Coming Soon To Some Kind Of Live Venue Near You!
Website: leithross.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leithrossmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/leithrockz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/leith_ross