As 2009 begins historically in America, so begins what is shaping up to be another historic year for the Chicago rock band Wilco -- the group formed by guitarist and songwriter Jeff Tweedy in the mid-1990’s.

2009 will see the release of a new studio album – their seventh.  It follows their Grammy-nominated 2007 recording Sky Blue Sky (which followed their 2005 double Grammy winner A ghost is born.)  Recordings have been underway at the band’s Chicago studio, The Loft.  The current plan is to emerge from Chicago’s deep freeze with a completed album by the spring thaw (which in Chicago could mean summer….)

Before the new studio recording, Nonesuch Records will release Ashes of American Flags, a new film presenting the band live in concert during their 2008 tour. Culled from concerts in five quintessentially American venues -  Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, The Mobile Civic Center, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. – the film captures the energy, poignancy and musicality of a Wilco concert and tour.
 
Ashes of American Flags is a Trixie Films production in association with Nonesuch Records and dBpm, Inc.  Shot in HD and directed and produced by Brendan Canty (Fugazi) and Christoph Green, it intersperses interviews with band members and day-in-the-life footage as the band travels across the U.S.  It sees worldwide release on Nonesuch Records this April. For more information please visit http://ashesofamericanmovie.com.

Plenty of touring is on tap for Wilco in 2009. The band will play concerts in Spain and their first concerts ever in Portugal in May. Many more dates will be announced in the coming weeks and months. Full confirmed tour dates can be found at the band’s official website in the “Shows” section: http://wilcoworld.net/tours/index.php

Wilco are:

Jeff Tweedy – guitars, vocals; John Stirratt – bass, vocals; Glenn Kotche – drums, percussion; Nels Cline – guitars; Pat Sansone – guitars, keyboards, vocals; Mike Jorgensen – keyboards, vocals