Bartees Strange – Ain’t Nobody Making Me High
Bartees Strange releases “Shy Bairns Get Nowt,” a six-track EP via 4AD featuring songs that didn’t fit his February album “Horror” but pointed in new directions. The title comes from a northern UK saying meaning quiet mouths don’t get fed—sometimes you have to speak up to get what you want.
“Ain’t Nobody Making Me High” opens the EP with gospel-influenced vocals that build before guitar kicks in. Strange recorded these tracks during “Horror” sessions and from writing sessions over the past couple years. The EP includes five new songs plus a different version of “Baltimore” produced by Jack Antonoff, who also worked on “Horror” after Strange collaborated with Antonoff’s band Bleachers.
Strange initially worked on “Horror” with Yves Rothman and Lawrence Rothman before bringing in Antonoff. Born in Ipswich, England, Strange grew up in Mustang, Oklahoma—a predominantly white, conservative rural town outside Oklahoma City—before launching his music career in Washington, D.C. He also worked in the Obama administration between his time in Oklahoma and D.C.
“Horror” marked Strange’s third album following 2022’s “Farm to Table” and 2020’s “Live Forever.” He first gained attention covering The National tracks, including on his 2020 EP “Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy” released on Brassland, a label run by members of the band.
Strange hits the road for November US dates, including solo acoustic shows in Milwaukee, Davenport, Bloomington, Lawrence, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, plus four dates supporting Joy Oladokun in Boulder, San Francisco, West Hollywood, and Grand Rapids.
Tracklist:
- Ain’t Nobody Making Me High
- Pigs Fly
- Baltimore (Jack Antonoff Version)
- (Additional tracks from EP)
Tour Dates North America:
- November 2: Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium (solo acoustic)
- November 3: Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel (solo acoustic)
- November 4: Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop (solo acoustic)
- November 6: Lawrence, KS @ Repetition Coffee (solo acoustic)
- November 7: Oklahoma City, OK @ ACM@UCO Live (solo acoustic)
- November 10: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater (with Joy Oladokun)
- November 12: San Francisco, CA @ August Hall (with Joy Oladokun)
- November 15: West Hollywood, CA @ Peppermint Club (with Joy Oladokun)
- November 18: Grand Rapids, MI @ St. Cecelia Music Center (with Joy Oladokun)
- November 19: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop – B Side Lounge (solo acoustic)
- November 21: Pittsburgh, PA @ Funhouse (solo acoustic)
