“One year ago I thought I was on my death bed,” says Irata drummer Jason Ward, of his severe illness due to an infection caused by a broken collarbone. “I survived. Other than being with my children, I can’t think of anything better than playing our new album Sweet Loris live, touring across the country with two kick ass bands (Freedom Hawk and All Them Witches) and making new friends along the way! Seriously, what could be better?”

Irata tour dates:

February 3  Nashville, TN  Springwater Supper Club & Lounge

February 4  Ft. Worth, TX  Rail Club

February 5  El Paso, TX  Rock House

February 7  San Diego, CA  Soda Bar

February 8  Anaheim, CA  Out of the Park Pizza

February 9  San Francisco, CA  Thee Parkside

February 10  Eugene, OR  Old Nick’s Pub

February 11  Portland, OR  High Water Mark

February 12  Seattle, WA  Funhouse

February 13  Yreka, CA  Chromaphonic Music Hall

February 14  Sacramento, CA  Starlite Lounge

February 15  Las Vegas, NV  Beauty Bar

February 16  Tucson, AZ  Flycatcher

February 17  Ft. Stockton, TX  The Garage

February 18  Austin, TX  Swan Dive

March 3  Winston-Salem, NC  The Garage

March 4  Winston-Salem, NC  The Garage

March 5  Carrboro, NC  Cat’s Cradle

March 7  Washington, DC  DC9

March 9  Philadelphia, PA  Johnny Brenda’s

March 10  New York, NY  Bowery Ballroom

March 11  Cambridge, MA  The Sinclair

March 12  Montreal, QC  Bar Le Ritz

March 14  Toronto, ON  Horseshoe Tavern

March 15  Ferndale, MI  Magic Bag

March 16  Chicago, IL  Empty Bottle

March 17  St. Paul, MN  Turf Club

March 18  Madison, WI  High Noon Saloon

March 19  Grand Rapids, MI  Founders Brewing Company

Feb. 3 to Feb. 18 dates with Freedom Hawk

March 3 to March 19 dates with All Them Witches

New Noise said of Sweet Loris, “Irata’s progressive-ish take on doom-y rock/metal is impressive, both in its execution (these songs are fun both despite and because of their length) and in how well they carve out their own take on the style.” Hometown alt-weekly, the Triad City Beat, said the seven-song release’s title “is an apt metaphor for the Greensboro band’s grueling but awe-inspiring journey into a harsh yet exhilarating sonic frontier.”

Irata is Jonathan Case (bass/vocals), Cheryl Manner (guitar) and Jason Ward (drums/vocals/synths).

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Photo credit: Rodney James Hicks