# Carrie & Lowell Tour

The Carrie & Lowell Tour was the sixth concert tour by American recording artist Sufjan Stevens. The tour supported his seventh studio album, Carrie & Lowell (2015). The tour began in the spring of 2015. Stevens played over 100 shows in North America, Australasia and Europe.

## Background

The tour was announced in January 2015, with tickets going on sale January 30, 2015. In April, shows in the Europe were announced. Following his festival appearance in Sydney, Stevens mentioned wanting to do a full tour in Australia. The dates were released in September 2015.

## Critical reception

The tour was well received by concertgoers and critics. Piet Levy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote: "But the approach was absolutely appropriate for what is clearly a deeply personal body of work, one whose sentiments of abandonment and regret and nostalgia resemble what audience members have experienced during their own complicated lives". The Atlantic's Spencer Kornhaber praised the concert in Washington, D.C.. He wrote: "Seeing Stevens live is like upping the contrast in a photo. Carrie & Lowell sounds much the same throughout—it's mostly acoustic, mostly percussion-free, and definitely not a jam—but in concert there are higher highs and lower lows and a wider array of sounds". The concert in Pittsburgh was attended by Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He stated: "Between the acoustics of Heinz Hall, a microphone he must have spent a fortune on, exquisite melodies and a voice that glides so beautifully from whisper to falsetto, it was a stunning effect. With multi-instrumentalists Casey Foubert, Dawn Landes, 'Zardok' and drummer James McAlister, it was five-person symphony blending delicate strings with moody electronics, percussion and choral vocals that built to sneaky crescendos that don’t appear on the record".
In the United Kingdom, the shows received glowing reviews, all getting five out of five stars. For the Dublin concert, Siobhán Kane of The Irish Times stated: "Atmosphere is something Stevens brings to The Helix, a sympathetic space for his show, lending itself well to his invitation to church; at one point mirrorballs and clever lighting suggests stained glass windows which, along with the confiding nature of the performance, provide a genuinely transcendental experience. Something the haunting Vesuvius, with a semblance of choreography, harnesses". During the Edinburgh festival, Charlotte Runcie of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "It was a soothing and nourishing coda after the eardrum-bursting swoops earlier in the night. From sublime to fragile, sombre to beautiful, and universal to intimate, this was an exhilarating concert of perfect balance, with Stevens the best he has ever been". For the London show, David Smyth from the London Evening Standard wrote: "Stevens is always capable of making beautiful, emotional acoustic music but prone to eccentric projects such as collections about Christmas or a Brooklyn freeway — and the still, quiet anguish of his new material is devastating. During the main body of the performance he did not speak between songs. The repeated refrain of 'Fourth of July' — 'We're all gonna die' — could not have been clearer".

## Opening acts

* Cold Specks (North America—Leg 1, select dates)
* Little Scream (North America—Leg 1, select dates)
* Moses Sumney (North America—Leg 1, select dates)
* Helado Negro (North America—Leg 1, select dates)
* Gallant (North America—Leg 2)
* Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear (Europe, select dates)
* Mina Tindle (Europe, select dates)
* Basia Bulat (Europe, select dates)
* Austra (Europe, select dates)
* Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens (New York City, May 1)
* Dawn Landes (Dallas)*
*Landes also performed as part of Stevens's backing band.

## Example Setlist

The following setlist was obtained from the June 3, 2015 concert, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.
* "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)"
* "Death with Dignity"
* "Should Have Known Better"
* "Drawn to the Blood"
* "All of Me Wants All of You"
* "Eugene"
* "John My Beloved"
* "The Only Thing"
* "Fourth of July"
* "No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross"
* "Carrie & Lowell"
* "The Owl and the Tanager"
* "In the Devil's Territory"
* "The Dress Looks Nice on You"
* "To Be Alone with You"
* "Futile Devices"
* "Casimir Pulaski Day"
* "Blue Bucket of Gold"

### Encore

* "Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois"
* "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!"
* "Chicago"

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America ||||
| April 9, 2015 | Philadelphia | United States | Academy of Music |
| April 10, 2015 | Philadelphia | United States | Academy of Music |
| April 11, 2015 | New York City | United States | Beacon Theatre |
| April 12, 2015 | Hartford | United States | Mortensen Hall |
| April 14, 2015 | Portland | United States | Merrill Auditorium |
| April 15, 2015 | Albany | United States | Palace Theatre |
| April 16, 2015 | Cleveland | United States | Masonic Auditorium |
| April 17, 2015 | Columbus | United States | Palace Theatre |
| April 18, 2015 | Indianapolis | United States | Murat Theatre |
| April 20, 2015 | St. Louis | United States | Peabody Opera House |
| April 21, 2015 | Kansas City | United States | Arvest Bank Theatre |
| April 22, 2015 | Minneapolis | United States | Northrop Auditorium |
| April 23, 2015 | Milwaukee | United States | Riverside Theater |
| April 24, 2015 | Chicago | United States | Chicago Theatre |
| April 25, 2015 | Chicago | United States | Chicago Theatre |
| April 27, 2015 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Theater |
| April 28, 2015 | Grand Rapids | United States | CFAC Auditorium |
| April 29, 2015 | Toronto | Canada | Massey Hall |
| April 30, 2015 | Montreal | Canada | Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier |
| May 1, 2015 | New York City | United States | Kings Theatre |
| May 2, 2015 | New York City | United States | Kings Theatre |
| May 4, 2015 | Boston | United States | Wang Theatre |
| May 5, 2015 | Washington, D.C. | United States | DAR Constitution Hall |
| May 6, 2015 | Richmond | United States | Altria Theater |
| May 7, 2015 | Durham | United States | Durham Performing Arts Center |
| May 9, 2015 | New Orleans | United States | Saenger Theatre |
| May 10, 2015 | Dallas | United States | Majestic Theatre |
| May 11, 2015 | Houston | United States | Jones Hall |
| May 12, 2015 | Austin | United States | Bass Concert Hall |
| May 13, 2015 | Austin | United States | Bass Concert Hall |
| Australasia ||||
| May 22, 2015 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| May 23, 2015 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| May 24, 2015 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| May 25, 2015 | Sydney | Australia | Sydney Opera House |
| North America ||||
| June 2, 2015 | San Diego | United States | Copley Symphony Hall |
| June 3, 2015 | Los Angeles | United States | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion |
| June 4, 2015 | Los Angeles | United States | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion |
| June 5, 2015 | Oakland | United States | Fox Oakland Theatre |
| June 7, 2015 | Oakland | United States | Fox Oakland Theatre |
| June 8, 2015 | Portland | United States | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall |
| June 9, 2015 | Vancouver | Canada | Orpheum Theatre |
| June 10, 2015 | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| June 11, 2015 | Seattle | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| July 18, 2015 | Eau Claire | United States | Foster Farms |
| July 25, 2015 | Newport | United States | Fort Adams State Park |
| August 14, 2015 | Lyons | United States | Planet Bluegrass Ranch |
| Europe ||||
| August 28, 2015 | Dublin | Ireland | Mahony Hall |
| August 29, 2015 | Dublin | Ireland | Mahony Hall |
| August 30, 2015 | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh Playhouse |
| August 31, 2015 | Manchester | England | O$_2$ Apollo |
| September 2, 2015 | London | England | Royal Festival Hall |
| September 3, 2015 | London | England | Royal Festival Hall |
| September 4, 2015 | Brighton | England | Brighton Dome Concert Hall |
| September 5, 2015 | Tollard Royal | England | Larmer Tree Gardens |
| September 6, 2015 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall |
| September 8, 2015 | Paris | France | Grand Rex |
| September 9, 2015 | Paris | France | Grand Rex |
| September 10, 2015 | Brussels | Belgium | Salle Le Bœuf |
| September 12, 2015 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum |
| September 13, 2015 | Stockholm | Sweden | Göta Lejon |
| September 14, 2015 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Falkoner Salen |
| September 15, 2015 | Hamburg | Germany | Mehr!-Theater am Großmarkt |
| September 16, 2015 | Berlin | Germany | Admiralspalast |
| September 17, 2015 | Berlin | Germany | Admiralspalast |
| September 19, 2015 | Essen | Germany | Colosseum Theater |
| September 20, 2015 | Versoix | Switzerland | Théâtre du Léman |
| September 21, 2015 | Milan | Italy | Teatro della Luna |
| September 23, 2015 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Royal Theatre Carré |
| September 24, 2015 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Royal Theatre Carré |
| September 25, 2015 | Reims | France | Comédie de Reims |
| September 26, 2015 | Luxembourg City | Luxembourg | Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg |
| September 27, 2015 | Caluire-et-Cuire | France | Salle Radiant |
| September 29, 2015 | Barcelona | Spain | Auditori Fòrum |
| September 30, 2015 | Madrid | Spain | Teatro Circo Price |
| North America ||||
| October 24, 2015 | Santa Barbara | United States | Arlington Theater |
| October 25, 2015 | Phoenix | United States | Orpheum Theatre |
| October 26, 2015 | Albuquerque | United States | Popejoy Hall |
| October 27, 2015 | Denver | United States | Paramount Theatre |
| October 28, 2015 | Omaha | United States | Orpheum Theatre |
| October 30, 2015 | Buffalo | United States | Mainstage Theatre |
| October 31, 2015 | Jersey City | United States | Loew's Jersey Theatre |
| November 1, 2015 | Baltimore | United States | Meyerhoff Symphony Hall |
| November 3, 2015 | Pittsburgh | United States | Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts |
| November 4, 2015 | Charlotte | United States | Ovens Auditorium |
| November 5, 2015 | Atlanta | United States | Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre |
| November 6, 2015 | Orlando | United States | Walt Disney Theater |
| November 7, 2015 | Miami | United States | Olympia Theater |
| November 9, 2015 | North Charleston | United States | North Charleston Performing Arts Center |
| November 10, 2015 | Birmingham | United States | Alabama Theatre |
| November 11, 2015 | Nashville | United States | Ryman Auditorium |
| November 12, 2015 | Louisville | United States | Whitney Hall |
| November 13, 2015 | Cincinnati | Procter & Gamble Hall |
| Australasia ||||
| February 22, 2016 | Sydney | Australia | State Theatre |
| February 25, 2016 | Canberra | Australia | Canberra Theatre |
| February 26, 2016 | Melbourne | Australia | Hamer Hall |
| February 27, 2016 | Melbourne | Australia | Hamer Hall |
| February 28, 2016 | Melbourne | Australia | Hamer Hall |
| February 29, 2016 | Adelaide | Australia | Thebarton Theatre |
| March 2, 2016 | Perth | Australia | Red Hill Auditorium |
| March 4, 2016 | Brisbane | Australia | QPAC Concert Hall |
| March 6, 2016 | Wellington | New Zealand | Michael Fowler Centre |
| March 7, 2016 | Wellington | New Zealand | Michael Fowler Centre |
| March 8, 2016 | Auckland | New Zealand | Auckland Civic Theatre |

### Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

    $^A$ Vivid Live
    $^B$ Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival
    $^C$ Newport Folk Festival
    $^D$ Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
    $^E$ Edinburgh International Festival
    $^F$ End of the Road Festival
    $^G$ New Zealand Festival
    $^H$ Auckland Art Festival

### Box office score data

| Venue | City | Tickets sold / Available | Gross revenue |
| Beacon Theatre | New York City | 2,693 / 2,803 (96%) | $121,185 |
| Palace Theatre | Columbus | 2,459 / 2,459 (100%) | $97,334 |
| Northrop Auditorium | Minneapolis | 2,509 / 2,509 (100%) | $91,579 |
| Chicago Theatre | Chicago | 6,931 / 6,931 (100%) | $218,327 |
| Masonic Theater | Detroit | 3,041 / 3,500 (87%) | $120,296 |
| Kings Theatre | New York City | 5,946 / 6,163 (96%) | $267,570 |
| Wang Theatre | Boston | 3,363 / 3,514 (96%) | $134,198 |
| Altria Theater | Richmond | 2,283 / 3,610 (63%) | $81,549 |
| Durham Performing Arts Center | Durham | 2,622 / 2,712 (97%) | $95,275 |
| Jones Hall | Houston | 2,368 / 2,817 (84%) | $89,968 |
| Bass Concert Hall | Austin | 5,065 / 5,582 (91%) | $193,295 |
| Fox Oakland Theatre | Oakland | 3,891 / 3,891 (100%) | $175,095 |
| Arlington Theater | Santa Barbara | 1,883 / 1,883 (100%) | $95,124 |
| Orpheum Theatre | Omaha | 1,400 / 2,097(67%) | $59,920 |
| Ovens Auditorium | Charlotte | 1,421 / 2,327 (61%) | $53,677 |
| Olympia Theater | Miami | 1,315 / 1,591 (83%) | $56,933 |
| Alabama Theatre | Birmingham | 1,580 / 2,164 (73%) | $61,775 |
| TOTAL | TOTAL | 50,770 / 56,553 (90%) | $2,013,100 |

## Personnel

* Production & Lighting Designer: Marc Janowitz
* Content Designer: Josh Higgason
* Lighting Director: Jason Rothberg

### Band

* Guitar: Dawn Landes
* Bass guitar: Casey Foubert
* Drums: James McAlister
* Keyboards: Steve Moore