“Truly extraordinary, [and] utterly magnificent.” – The Guardian
“Astonishing…Kozelek forces us to recognize how the most emotionally moving art can be mapped directly on to our own lives.” – Pitchfork
Sun Kil Moon will play a long-awaited set of dates in China this year. Tuesday, Nov 1 in Shanghai (QSW Q.Hall) and Wednesday, Nov 2 in Beijing (Yugong Yishan).
Their extraordinary music, driven by the powerhouse that is singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, is a compelling series of tales both real and imagined – with observations, tragedies, and inanities compressed into unbreakable indie folk tunes.
Their lyrics are heartbreakingly poetic, often coupled with a cynicism that cuts through to something more dark and primeval. Yet, their seemingly autobiographical words recognize the raw beauty of living an emotional life – offering a candid, piercing mirror into our own stories.
For years described as “crushingly lovely” and “one of the finest songwriters in America,” Mark Kozelek finally returns to China after a successful solo tour in 2012, bringing with him the talent, musicianship and lyricism that has written some of this decade’s most poignant songs.
Kozelek first came under the spotlight with the seminal American slowcore band Red House Painters. Between 1992 and 1996, Red House Painters released four albums showcasing Kozelek’s intense, highly autobiographical songwriting, each more acclaimed than the last.
In 2002, he formed Sun Kil Moon (named after Korean boxer Sung-kil Moon) and released the debut record Ghosts of the Great Highway which received widespread praise. After an album of Modest Mouse covers (2005’s Tiny Cities) and third studio album featuring a star cast of indie heavyweights, Sun Kil Moon’s work took on influences from classical guitar music. 2010’s Admiral Fell Promises and 2012’s Among the Leaves were wistful, painfully personal affairs – recorded and performed largely solo by Kozelek on nylon-string guitars.
In 2014, they released Benji, a haunting, breathtaking album that would prove to be the project’s breakout success. Benji appeared on numerous end-of-year lists, drawing praise from the NME, Pitchfork, Stereogum and The Village Voice. Pitchfork ranked it one of the ‘Top 100’ albums of the decade so far. 2015’s Universal Themes was a record more minimal, and intimate, but sees Kozelek at the peak of his songwriting prowess. Songs like “This Is My First Day and I’m Indian and I Work at a Gas Station” walking that fine, signature line between emotional insight and emotional ugliness.
Most recently, Sun Kil Moon have announced that they will be releasing a new double album, Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood, in February 2017. The first song from that album, “God Bless Ohio”, continues their trademark slow-burn loveliness– sound-tracking with grace and gratitude stories of death, sadness, melancholy, life-affirming joys and small triumphs.
Tuesday, November 1 in Shanghai, Wednesday November 2 in Beijing. Expect a captivating collection of tunes, at once poignant and emotionally raw.
Sun Kil Moon 2016 China Tour Information
SHANGHAI
Date/Time: November 1, Tuesday 8:30pm
Venue: Q House (QSW 2nd Floor) 浅水湾文化艺术中心二楼小剧场
Address: QSW Culture Center, 179 Yichang Lu, near Jiangning Lu (宜昌路179号，近江宁路)
Tickets: 150 (presale) // 200 (door)
Presale link: https://yoopay.cn/event/SunKilMoonSH
* Pre-sales end on 12 noon, Nov. 1st, 2016
Tickets once sold cannot be refunded!
BEIJING
Date: November 2, Wednesday 8:30pm
Venue: Yugong Yishan 愚公移山
Address: 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu, Dongcheng district （东城区张自忠路3-2号）
Tickets: 150 (presale) // 200 (door)
Presale link: https://yoopay.cn/event/SunKilMoonBJ
* Pre-sales end on 12 noon, Nov. 2nd, 2016
Tickets once sold cannot be refunded!
Links
Split Works official website：www.spli-t.com
Sun Kil Moon official website: http://sunkilmoon.com
Sun Kil Moon’s new song, “God Bless Ohio”: www.sunkilmoon.com/godblessohio/
About Split Works:
Split Works has been rocking in the free (ish) world since 2006. Working with inspirational artists from across the globe, the good people at Split Works HQ have been a key contributor to the continued rise of China’s music scene.
Split Works has launched five music festivals and promoted over 400 tours to 30 Chinese cities, always striving to stay true to a familiar refrain: the music has to be special, every single time. From Godspeed You! Black Emperor to Sonic Youth, from Thee Oh Sees to Mac Demarco and Shabazz Palaces, from Black Rabbit to JUE and Wooozy to Concrete & Grass. We love music, we love China and we love you.