Brooklyn Based Indie Folk Band Alberta Cross Makes Two NJ Stops with Joe Walsh and Bad Company

Indie-folk band Alberta Cross – led by lead singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee – announced additional tour dates as they wrap the first leg of their North American tour. The headline tour is in support of their acclaimed self-titled album that has received high praise from New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly & Paste Magazine.

WHAT: Brooklyn-Based indie folk band Alberta Cross opening for Joe Walsh & Bad Company
WHERE: Holmdel’s PNC Arts on 6/11 and Camden’s BB & T Pavillion on  6/12

Check out their latest music video “Ghost of Santa Fe” and interview with Explore NJ:

EXPLORE NJ: Tell us about your performance, what can fans expect?

CROSS: Well playing live is why I got into music in the first place. We’ve always taken it very seriously and I always wanted people that come to our shows to feel cleansed afterwards. Kinda like I felt when I went to gigs when I was younger. Seeing bands like The Verve live felt like a religious experience.

What’s a fun behind the scenes story? It could be something embarrassing, or funny etc.

CROSS: I always like to mess around with our hospitality rider. On the ‘Songs of Patience’ tour we insisted that we would need a framed picture of ‘The Royal Family’ put up backstage before we arrived etc. That turned into a framed picture of any Royal family. Lesson learned, I guess for us to be a little more politically correct.

Give us an example of a day-in-the-life while on tour?

CROSS: I wouldn’t know… I sleep for most of it.

What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you? 

CROSS: One fan in Berlin, Germany handmade me a puppet that was an exact replica of me on strings with such detail that she even got the jewelry I wear accurate.

Do any of you have a fun hidden talent? 

CROSS: I’m pretty damn good at charades.

What’s something you are passionate about in the news right now?

CROSS: The US election is obviously around the corner. I can’t vote because I’m Swedish, but I wish people vote in a President that takes care of everyone in this country, and not only the top 1%. Feel the Bern

About Alberta Cross:
Since forming in 2005, Alberta Cross – led by Swedish-born lead singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee – creates a timeless, alt-folk sound that is all their own. Their first release, mini-album Thief and The Heartbreaker (Fiction Records/Geffen Records in the US], in 2007 with lead single “Low Man” helped propel the band to new heights, as “Low Man” circulated the American TV circuit, including syncs on Showtime’s Californication, Longmire and FX’s popular drama series, Sons of Anarchy.  Later in 2007, Alberta Cross followed up with the release of their debut EP, Leave Us Or Forgive Us. Stakee, who was living in London at the time, moved to New York City in 2008 and signed with ATO Records to release two acclaimed LPs, Broken Side of Time (2009) and Songs of Patience (2012), and The Rolling Thunder EP (2011). During the time span of these three projects, Alberta Cross music has been featured in national TV ads including a campaign for Kettle One Vodka, as well as on the soundtrack to Madden NFL. They have also made television appearances around the world, with performances in the US including the Late Show with David Letterman and Last Call with Carson Daly.

At the start of 2015, Alberta Cross signed Dine Alone Records to release their current self-titled album, which was co-produced by Stakee and Claudius Mittendorfer (Temples, Interpol, Johnny Marr). Recorded in upstate New York at Dreamland, Stakee’s main inspiration for the latest offering stemmed from late night jam sessions that took place in NYC with other well-known musicians, including friend Kraig [Jarret Johnson] of Golden Smog. NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and more have highly-praised Stakee on his new musical direction.

Throughout their career Alberta Cross have toured extensively including the US, Canada, Europe, UK, Australia and Japan; played major festivals including: Coachella, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Reading, Leeds, Glastobury, plus Sweden’s Malmofestivalen, Lowlands Festival in Netherlands and Rock En Seine in Paris. They have also toured supporting: Them Crooked Vultures, Oasis, Neil Young, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bat For Lashes, Mumford & Sons, Portugal. The Man, Ben Harper, Phosphorescent, Dave Mathews Band and The Shins. 2016 will see Alberta Cross on the road, with dates in Europe this January and February and additional shows to be announced soon in North America.