It was Jeff Tweedy’s birthday yesterday, and we got the presents. The singer-songwriter/Wilco frontman welcomed his 52nd year on the planet with a performance at THING, a new music and arts festival that took place over the weekend at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, WA. Prior to his festival set, Tweedy did a short live stream with the KEXP folks. You can watch it below. (UPDATE: Sadly, the owner of the video has made it private) (UPDATE: The video is public again!). During the stream he performed solo acoustic versions of “An Empty Corner” and “White Wooden Cross.” Both songs are off Wilco’s new album, Ode to Joy, which is out October 4th via dBpm Records. Fans who pre-order the album now have a chance to win prizes. Wilco kick off their Ode to Joy tour on September 4 in Norway.

For music and comedy lovers, THING was where it was at this weekend. Produced by Sasquatch founder Adam Zacks and the Seattle Theatre Group, THING’s inaugural edition featured an eclectic lineup across four stages in a magnificent natural setting. Along with Jeff Tweedy, other acts included De La Soul, Khruangbin, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Chris Gethard, Natasha Lyonne, Snail Mail, Todd Barry, Parquet Courts, John Reilly and Friends, and more. If you have to work on your birthday, this seems like the best way to go. Plus, Tweedy got a free cantaloupe for his troubles.

This isn’t the first time Tweedy has performed Ode to Joy songs “An Empty Corner” and “White Wooden Cross” solo acoustic. Earlier this summer, he worked them into his setlist at Lincoln Center Out of Doors.

Besides the new songs, Tweedy’s mini KEXP set included “Family Ghost” off his solo album Warmer, and Wilco’s “Impossible Germany.” Tweedy also spoke about the new album and how his son Sammy wanted to call it The Trouble with Caring. However, the band ruled it out because it felt too on the nose.

Back in June, when Wilco’s big 2019 tour was announced, we speculated a studio album was on the way. Then, in July, news came that Ode to Joy was in the can. The new LP consists of 11 songs recorded by the band in January at The Loft in Chicago. Tweedy and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche laid the foundation for most of the songs, which are described as being “big folk songs” set against disturbing sonic landscapes. The record is a reaction to our current volatile times.

The band previously released the album’s lead single, “Love Is Everywhere (Beware).” A guitar-driven track, it sounds hauntingly like Elliott Smith. You can check out the song below. We’ve also included the new album’s complete tracklist.

If you haven’t pre-ordered Ode to Joy yet, you’ll want to get a move on. Those who pre-order the album here before August 27 are entered to win a pair of tickets and soundcheck passes to any upcoming Wilco tour date. Ordering before September 17 gets you entered to win a copy of the Ode to Joy limited art book and vinyl LP. And, lastly, if you order before October 1 you could walk away with an autographed Fender guitar from The Loft.

The band’s tour kicks off next week. They come through New York City in October to play Radio City Music Hall and Brooklyn Steel. All dates are below.

Ode to Joy Tracklist:
1. Bright Leaves
2. Before Us
3. One and a Half Stars
4. Quiet Amplifier
5. Everyone Hides
6. White Wooden Cross
7. Citizens
8. We Were Lucky
9. Love Is Everywhere (Beware)
10. Hold Me Anyway
11. An Empty Corner

Wilco Tour Dates:
Wed. Sept. 4 – Trondheim, NO @ Tapperiet &
Fri. Sept. 6 – Stavanger, NO @ Stavanger Konserthus Zetlitz &
Sat. Sept. 7 – Bergen, NO @ USF Verftet &
Sun. Sept. 8 – Oslo, NO @ Sentrum Scene &
Tue. Sept. 10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Den Gra Hal &
Thu. Sept. 12 – Berlin, DE @ Tempodrom &
Fri. Sept. 13 – Cologne, DE @ Carlswerk Victoria &
Sat. Sept. 14 – Hamburg, DE @ Elbphilharmonie – SOLD OUT
Sun. Sept. 15 – Warsaw, PL @ Progresja &
Wed. Sept. 18 – Zürich, CH @ Volkshaus *
Thu. Sept. 19 – Milan, IT @ Fabrique *
Fri. Sept. 20 – Padova, IT @ Gran Teatro Geox *
Sun. Sept. 22 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon *
Mon. Sept. 23 – Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg Grote Zaal * – SOLD OUT
Tue. Sept. 24 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma * – SOLD OUT
Thu. Sept. 26 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands *
Fri. Sept. 27 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall * – SOLD OUT
Sat. Sept. 28 – London, UK @ Eventim Apollo *
Tue. Oct. 8 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage (w/ special guest Lord Huron)
Thu. Oct. 10 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
Fri. Oct. 11 – Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
Sat. Oct. 12 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall – SOLD OUT
Sun. Oct. 13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel – SOLD OUT
Tue. Oct. 15 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Wed. Oct. 16 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Fri. Oct. 18 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
Sat. Oct. 19 – Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre
Sun. Oct. 20 – Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry House
Tue. Oct. 22 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom – SOLD OUT
Wed. Oct. 23 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory
Fri. Oct. 25 – Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center
Sat. Oct. 26 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater – SOLD OUT
Sun. Oct. 27 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater – SOLD OUT
Mon. Nov. 4 – Grand Rapids @ 20 Monroe Live
Tue. Nov. 5 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Hill Auditorium
Wed. Nov. 6 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall
Fri. Nov. 8 – Charlottesville, VA @ Sprint Pavilion
Sat. Nov. 9 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
Sun. Nov. 10 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
Tue. Nov. 12 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Murat Theatre
Wed. Nov. 13 – Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace
Thu. Nov. 14 – St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre
Fri. Nov. 15 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ Paramount Theatre
Sun. Nov. 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Tue. Nov. 19 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
Wed. Nov. 20 – Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre
Sat. Jan. 18 – Tue. Jan. 21 – Riviera Maya, MX @ Hard Rock Hotel
Sat. Jan. 25 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropólitan

&= w/ Spiral Stairs
*= w/ Ohmme