Absolute Punk and Barsuk are excited to announce that anyone who pre-orders Rocky's new album true devotion before February 23rd will be entered to win some pretty great stuff, as well as getting immediate exclusive digital access to the album plus a bonus 7" single with two non-album tracks (while supplies last). Details can be found here.

A free MP3 from true devotion has just been posted as well, for the song red river.

Seattle musician Rocky Votolato is a soft-spoken, very kind, hard-working father of two, born in rural Texas and raised in the Pacific Northwest indie scene (where he fronted the acclaimed rock band Waxwing). Votolato writes graceful, understated, human, unpretentious songs, demonstrating that simplicity is still a viable option for accomplished songwriters. His last two releases, makers (2006, Barsuk) and the brag and cuss (2007, Barsuk), found him exploring and paying homage to the folk and country music that shaped his early life in Texas. True devotion, his new album, is a passionate, stripped down, and mostly acoustic reflection on moments from his current life; showing us where he is, where he has just come from, and where he’s going.

Rocky Votolato will be performing next week at the Seattle International Film Festival before the screening of a film called my suicide, a dark coming of age comedy which features 4 songs by Rocky (as well as music by Radiohead, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, and Tim Kasher of Cursive). The film will be shown on June 10th at the Pacific Place Cinema, and Rocky will perform at 9pm.

Enjoy an exclusive in-studio performance from Rocky Votolato (doing two songs from his most recent album, the brag and cuss), up now at Pure Volume.

When the Pittsburgh, PA Rocky Votolato/Portugal The Man show was changed at the last minute from all-ages to 21-and-over, there were 50+ disappointed underaged kids stranded outside the venue. One of the kids volunteered his apartment as a place for an under-21 house party and, taking him up on his offer, Rocky and Portugal The Man each went up to the apartment after their performances at the club and played an impromptu 8 or 9 song set. You can read about the experience here.

Rocky Votolato will be performing live on Puget Sound's public radio station, KUOW, tomorrow (Aug 1st) at 2pm PST. If you're not in the Seattle area, you can stream the performance on KUOW's website.

If you've been wondering when your favorite Barsuk band is going to be coming around to your neck of the woods again, wait no longer. A dizzying number of tour dates have just been announced, including Nada Surf's US tour in October, Menomena's third big tour of the year (this time with Illinois in October and November), David Bazan's epic journey (with support Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, September through November), Rocky Votolato (playing some dates with Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter) in September and October, John Vanderslice (celebrating his new album, emerald city) and Smoosh (supporting Bloc Party in September). Check out our shows page for more details.