Rufus Wainwright "revisits his roots" with Folkocracy tour

Film composer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright recently announced his return to the National Concert Hall in Dublin. On Saturday, July 22nd, he will perform songs from his upcoming studio album, Folkocracy, due for release on June 2nd.

Aside from being the artist's 12th studio album, it also marks the singer's 50th birthday. It features contributions from artists such as David Byrne, Anohni, John Legend, Brandi Carlile, Chaka Khan, Sheryl Crow, and Nicole Scherzinger.

On Folkocracy, Wainwright revisits the summers of his childhood, most of which he spent at folk festivals and watching his famous family on stage.

The American-Canadian musician will be accompanied by friends and family, as he has been in previous performances. On his Folkocracy tour, he will thus be joined by his sister Lucy Wainwright Roche and singer Petra Haden, who will perform featured parts of his new songs.

Listen to the album's lead single 'Down In The Willow Garden' below:

Previously shying away from folk and drifting into the worlds of opera and pop, the singer came to the idea of revisiting his childhood during the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony. When he noticed the countless folk and Americana categories, he said that he "felt a pang for the past".

"The fact is I’m from a bona fide folkocracy who mixed extensively with other folkocracies such as the Seegers and the Thompsons. As I hurtle towards 50, I’m back where it all began," he said.

In addition to performing new songs and some of his greatest hits, Wainwright will also cover and reinterpret songs by renowned folk singers such as Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 21st, and can be purchased here.