Fall 2014 Releases (Part 2) September 19 2014
Our second batch of Fall releases is all over the map ... in a good way.
For animated sci-fi masterpiece La Planète Sauvage (a.k.a. Fantastic Planet), composer ALAIN GORAGUER creates a hypnotic score from a palette of effects-laden guitars, flutes, Fender Rhodes and strings. While the lush arrangements are reminiscent of GORAGUER's collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg in the 1960s, space-age synth flourishes suggest a more psychedelic era.
First 500 copies on translucent blue vinyl plus 24" x 36" full-color poster. Mail-order exclusive. Pre-order here.
Originally released in 1981 on 99 Records, GLENN BRANCA's first full-length album The Ascension effectively tears down the genre-ghettos between 20th century avant-garde and ecstatic rock 'n' roll. Chiming, shimmering tones unfold into sinister drone-territory à la Tony Conrad, while abrasive guitars and repetitive beats retain the raw primitivism of No Wave. Pre-order here.
Cleveland's electric eels (all lower case in homage to poet e.e. cummings) is America's quintessential proto-punk band. Die Electric Eels collects their best material from 1975 including their classic Rough Trade single Agitated which blazed a trail for high-art, low-concept rock. Superior Viaduct also presents a first-time reissue of the group's second single, Spin Age Blasters / Bunnies, in a limited edition of 1,000 copies. Pre-order LP here and Pre-order 7-inch here.
Lost & Found: DEVO Hardcore Deluxe September 18 2014
We recently moved the SV office and found a box of DEVO's Hardcore deluxe bundles. Here's your chance to get the limited edition red vinyl of both Volumes along with 24" x 24" full-color poster. Very few left.
SENSATIONS' FIX: First Live Shows in California September 03 2014
SENSATIONS' FIX, the legendary astral-folk rock band from Florence, Italy circa the mid-70s, has had a resurgence in recent years. With impressive releases on various imprints (Brooklyn's RVNG Int'l, Vienna's Editions Mego, and Superior Viaduct), singer/guitarist Franco Falsini has attracted fans as diverse as SONIC YOUTH, ARIEL PINK and DJ SHADOW.
For the first time in 40 years, SENSATIONS' FIX performs live in the US.
Saturday, September 6th
Brick & Mortar, San Francisco
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Monday, September 8th
Los Globos, Los Angeles
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PETER JEFFERIES Electricity US Tour August 26 2014
Unfortunately, Peter Jefferies was denied entry last minute due to a visa issue. Hopefully we can re-schedule for next year. Advance tickets refunded by the venues. We are very sorry, folks.
Hailing from New Plymouth, New Zealand, PETER JEFFERIES helmed legendary post-punk acts NOCTURNAL PROJECTIONS and THIS KIND OF PUNISHMENT throughout the 1980s. Jefferies' ruminative solo debut from 1990, The Last Great Challenge in a Dull World, has drawn comparisons to classic singer-songwriters like Nick Drake and Townes Van Zandt and was named by The Wire magazine as the best reissue of 2013.
For this Fall 2014 tour, his first US shows since 1997, JEFFERIES will be supporting the reissue of his brilliant sophomore album, Electricity, on Superior Viaduct. JEFFERIES' earthy baritone weaves between stripped-down piano and guitar, pulling in listeners to the deep pastoral life of his music.
Fall 2014 Releases (Part 1) August 25 2014
Our first batch of Fall releases pulls from unique DIY artists hailing from island nations – Oz and England.
In the late '60s, PIP PROUD recorded two of the oddest records ever to come out of Australia – Adreneline & Richard and A Bird In The Engine – before vanishing into obscurity for the better part of three decades. Often called the "Australian Syd Barrett," yet PROUD actually released his second album in 1969, a year prior to The Madcap Laughs, and developed his indigenous psychedelia in virtual isolation. Pre-order here.
PHILIP JOHNSON, a lost figure in the dark waters of early industrial music, self-released over 25 tapes starting in the late '70s. As a part of the "cassette culture" in the UK, he produced ethereal soundscapes, damaged electronics and undanceable drum patterns, along with homemade j-cards. For his first and only LP, 1982's Youth In Mourning, JOHNSON further refined his approach with mesmerizing audio collages and Mark-E-Smith-ian vocals to make one of the most unique documents of the era. Pre-order here.
Now Shipping: CRIME August 15 2014
San Francisco's first and only rock 'n' roll band, CRIME loomed over the entire Mabuhay Gardens scene with their blistering 1976 single Hot Wire My Heart. For the first time, this LP release collects the sick energy of CRIME's three singles along with nine previously unreleased studio recordings from 1976 to 1980. The visceral churn and unwieldy leads on tracks like "Frustration" and "Piss On Your Dog" make Murder By Guitar the definitive statement from this prescient American underground band.
First 500 copies on translucent red vinyl + special poster. Get it here.
Now Shipping: PETER JEFFERIES and GRUPPO August 12 2014
Electricity is the brilliant sophomore album by New Zealand legend PETER JEFFERIES' (THIS KIND OF PUNISHMENT, NOCTURNAL PROJECTIONS, etc.). With guest appearances from heavyweights in the NZ music scene (STRAITJACKET FITS' Shayne Carter, PLAGAL GRIND's Robbie Muir and THE DEAD C's Bruce Russell), Electricity has garnered a cult following among fans, yet the songs possess a singular quality – every note, utterance and flourish reflect back to JEFFERIES alone. This first-time vinyl reissue includes four bonus tracks from 1992's Swerve EP and is highly recommended for fans of Flying Nun Records, John Cale and Jim Shepard. Get it here.
Before 1976's benchmark release, Musica Su Schemi, GRUPPO recorded this eponymous album in 1973 (featuring Franco Evangelisti, Egisto Macchi and Ennio Morricone). Whether the passages are jarring or soothing, clamorous or silken, the ensemble retains astounding organic coherence. An ultra-rare entry in GRUPPO's formidable discography, Gruppo d'Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza is finally reissued for the first time ever. Get it here.
Now Shipping: HELDON and BRIGITTE FONTAINE August 08 2014
Allez-Téia, the second album by French guitarist Richard Pinhas under the HELDON moniker, was originally released in 1975 on the artist's own Disjuncta imprint. Far from the band's prog-tinged trio lineup, Allez-Téia features a menagerie of guitars, Mellotron and analog synthesizers. The album's heady textures and rhythmic meditations are reminiscent of the German Kosmische movement (CLUSTER, HARMONIA, et al.) and post-rock experimentalists (such as Jim O'Rourke and GASTR DEL SOL). Acoustic guitar even makes a rare appearance – on the beautiful and melancholy "Aphanisis." Get it here.
Never one to settle on a single musical style, BRIGITTE FONTAINE followed up her debut, Est...Folle, and her astonishing collaboration with THE ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO, Comme À La Radio, with the most eclectic release of her lengthy career, 1972's Brigitte Fontaine. It is telling that FONTAINE chose an eponymous title for her third album, the sole release from her venerable '70s catalogue attributed to her alone. Here the actress-cum-singer has finally arrived. Get it here.
CRIME in MOJO August 07 2014
Jon Savage reviews CRIME's Murder By Guitar in the September issue of MOJO.
"This important release restates CRIME's place in the punk pantheon and fills in the history of a lost pop moment. It also celebrates the diversity of the proto-punk groups: that fascinating moment when change was at hand but the rules were not yet set. Murder By Guitar is a testament to that sense of discovery."
Residents Day July 05 2014
Thanks everyone who came out for Residents Day. We had a blast. Special thanks to Homer Flynn from Cryptic Corporation.
Homer Flynn at Stranded. Photo by Kevin Brown.
Now Shipping: FLESH EATERS and GUN CLUB June 27 2014
Both originally released on Ruby Records in 1981, A Minute To Pray A Second To Die and Fire Of Love are two classic '80s underground albums from Los Angeles.
Inspired by African tribal music, '60s garage-rock churn and Funhouse-era STOOGES swing, THE FLESH EATERS' A Minute To Pray remains (according to author / archivist Byron Coley) "the best rock record ever recorded."
Get this first-time vinyl reissue or CD version (which has been unavailable for almost 15 years).
Fire Of Love is the no-nonsense debut from blues-punk legends THE GUN CLUB. Formed in 1979 – when singer Jeffrey Lee Pierce taught a young Kid Congo Powers to play guitar – the band injects the Delta blues, rockabilly and '60s garage with their own amplified fury.
Get the CD version (which has been unavailable for 20+ years).
Summer 2014 Releases (Part 2) June 23 2014
Along with CRIME's Murder By Guitar archival LP which we announced a couple weeks ago, our second batch of Summer releases includes two first-time vinyl reissues: PETER JEFFERIES' brilliant sophomore album, Electricity, and GRUPPO D'IMPROVVISAZIONE NUOVA CONSONANZA's ultra-rare self-titled album from 1973.
Electricity is a sparse and nocturnal affair. JEFFERIES' (THIS KIND OF PUNISHMENT, NOCTURNAL PROJECTIONS, etc.) earthy baritone weaves between piano, guitar, cello and analog tape machine noise, pulling in listeners to the deep pastoral life of his music. Get it here.
Led by Franco Evangelisti and Ennio Morricone, GRUPPO advanced the innovations of 20th century avant-garde in laboratory-like studio settings where the intuitive interplay between members flourished. Get it here.
Pre-order CRIME's Murder By Guitar LP June 09 2014
Decades in the waiting ... Finally the LP collection of CRIME's singles + unreleased studio recordings. Get it here.
Photo by James Stark.
Announcing Residents Day June 02 2014
Please join us for this special event, celebrating the recent re-release of two classic records by THE RESIDENTS. We will have screenings of rare Residents films and limited edition Residents t-shirts for sale.
In the spirit of the original Santa Dog series, copies of the double 7-inch reissue will be given away for free (while supplies last).
A representative from Cryptic Corporation will attend in the afternoon.
Fans are encouraged to dress up as your favorite Residents characters!
Saturday July 5th, 2014 - 12pm to 7pm
at Stranded, Superior Viaduct's record store in Oakland.
Please note: for this event, we will be at our new Temescal location, 4929 Telegraph Ave (cross street is 49th).
Now Shipping: A Monastic Trio May 30 2014
A Monastic Trio, created in the year following her husband's passing, is ALICE COLTRANE's first recording as a band leader and features six original compositions.
While John's spirit can be felt throughout – from the song titles ("Ohnedaruth" was his adopted Hindu name) to the personnel (Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali, and Pharaoh Sanders were frequent collaborators) – the album showcases Alice's immense talent for fusing spiritual free jazz and new age with classical, Eastern, post-bop and gospel.
Pre-orders shipping immediately. Get it here.
Now Shipping: Witch May 23 2014
Produced in the twilight of the '80s in London and originally released on white-label LP with homemade rubber stamp impression, Witch is the mysterious and powerful debut from poet, artist, and musician LESLIE WINER.
The Quietus describes WINER as a "fearsome, fearless prophet before her time whose beats were blunt, whose aesthetics were ingenious and whose lyrics were both provocative and cerebral."
This first-time domestic release is pressed in a limited edition.
Pre-orders shipping immediately. Get it here.
Summer 2014 Releases (Part 1) May 09 2014
Our first batch of Summer releases draws a nice parallel between '80s punk Los Angeles and '70s avant-garde Paris.
Originally released on Ruby Records in 1981, THE FLESH EATERS' A Minute To Pray A Second To Die features the greatest band in American rock history. This first-time vinyl reissue and long out-of-print CD release has been carefully remastered and features liner notes by author / archivist Byron Coley.
Also originally released on Ruby in 1981, Fire Of Love is the no-nonsense debut from L.A. blues-punk legends THE GUN CLUB. Take it straight from Chris D. of THE FLESH EATERS who wrote liner notes for this long out-of-print CD release: "Fire Of Love is probably the definitive record to come out of this roots revival movement."
Next up, we return with another installment by French iconoclast Richard Pinhas under the HELDON moniker. 1975's Allez-Téia contains heady textures and rhythmic meditations reminiscent of the German Kosmische movement (CLUSTER, HARMONIA, et al.) and post-rock experimentalists (such as Jim O'Rourke and GASTR DEL SOL), foreshadowing Pinhas's incredible solo work for decades to come.
Last but not least ... We continue on the BRIGITTE FONTAINE series that began last year with 1972's Brigitte Fontaine. In many ways, this first-time vinyl reissue is FONTAINE's most compelling work and an excellent entry point for those unfamiliar with this unique French icon.
Now Shipping: The Mirror / Stalker LP and Nommos CD May 02 2014
The postman just rang. We were stoked to find two new titles on our stoop.
Andrei Tarkovsky is one our all-time favorite directors. Last year we released the amazing Solaris soundtrack. This year we are offering two more magnificent original soundtracks, The Mirror / Stalker (also by composer EDUARD ARTEMIEV), in heavy gatefold jacket. Pre-orders shipping immediately. Get it here.
Plus, we finally have the CD version of CRAIG LEON's great debut album, Nommos. Get it here.
Now Shipping: RESIDENTS April 21 2014
After much anticipation, THE RESIDENTS vinyl reissues have finally arrived. We couldn't be happier with how they turned out. Santa Dog is an exact repro of the group's landmark double 7-inch debut from 1972. Residue Of The Residents is a late '70s / early '80s comp, expanded to double LP with 14 bonus tracks.
Pre-orders shipping immediately. Thanks for your patience everyone!
Solaris: Second Edition April 01 2014
Finally back in stock!
Listed as #11 in The Wire's top archival releases of last year, the Solaris soundtrack is an hour-long harrowing score by composer EDUARD ARTEMIEV. While the first pressing had three unique front-cover designs, for the second pressing we decided to simplify things with only one design.
If you previously ordered the first pressing of Solaris along with other pre-order titles, don't worry – we are holding copies of the first jacket design for you.
We apologize for the delays with upcoming releases. You have been patiently waiting, but you will not be disappointed. Pre-orders for THE RESIDENTS shipping April 21st (or sooner) and The Mirror / Stalker first week of May.
Get the second pressing of Solaris here.
I Regret Nothing: BRIGITTE FONTAINE in MOJO March 23 2014
MOJO magazine features Superior Viaduct's BRIGITTE FONTAINE reissues in their April issue.
"Rebellious, poetic, incendiary, beautiful, the albums of BRIGITTE FONTAINE are remarkable things."
A Record Is A Record: Superior Viaduct Pop-Up Shop February 22 2014
A Record Is A Record
Superior Viaduct Pop-Up Shop
March 1 - 31, 2014
Steven Wolf Fine Arts
2747 19th Street, Suite A
San Francisco, California
Superior Viaduct is a San Francisco based record label that focuses on curated reissues of art-punk, free jazz, and 20th century experimental music. During the run of the show, we will feature the work of photographer RUBY RAY, screen early films by renowned minimalist composer PHILL NIBLOCK, and present a series of live performances including legendary sax player Roscoe Mitchell, dissonant acoustic guitarist Bill Orcutt, and more. In conjunction with the exhibition "John Kilduff - Very Good Plus (VG+)"
Schedule of Events:
- Saturday, March 1st (6 - 9pm) – Opening reception, screening films by Phill Niblock
- Saturday, March 8th (1 - 5pm) – Record swap co-sponsored by Stranded and Explorist International
- Saturday, March 15th (6 - 8pm) – Live performance by Roscoe Mitchell
- Saturday, March 22nd (6 - 8pm) – Live performance by Bill Orcutt
- Saturday, March 29th (6 - 9pm) – Closing party with live performance by Circuit Des Yeux
All events are free and all ages.
Display of photos by RUBY RAY.
Roscoe Mitchell live at SV pop-up store.
Bill Orcutt live at SV pop-up store.
Circuit Des Yeux live at SV pop-up store.
Photo by RUBY RAY.
Pre-Order ALICE COLTRANE and LESLIE WINER February 18 2014
First-time vinyl reissue of one of the great debuts in jazz history, ALICE COLTRANE's A Monastic Trio was originally released on Impulse in 1968 and features Pharaoh Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, and Rashied Ali. As the late Amiri Baraka writes, "'I Want to See You' is a monastic piano concerto. With echoes of Europe ..., it has a solemnity and majesty to it.... Yes, monastic is the word. The piano broods in its earth imagination."
First-time domestic release of long out-of-print "hidden gem" (according to John Peel), LESLIE WINER's Witch features Jah Wobble (PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.) and is recommended for fans of PORTISHEAD, Vincent Gallo, and LIFETONES. Even though Witch predates Massive Attack and Tricky's breakthroughs by a year or more, WINER quickly rejected NME's christening her as the "grandmother of trip-hop."
Lesson No. 1: GLENN BRANCA February 05 2014
Lesson No. 1 is the landmark debut from avant-garde guitarist / composer GLENN BRANCA, originally released on legendary underground label 99 Records. This first-time vinyl reissue includes "Bad Smells," a bonus single-sided 12-inch featuring Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore.
The driving beat and interlocking patterns resemble German pioneers NEU! playing Phillip Glass.
Now shipping pre-orders. Get it here.
Now Shipping: GLAXO BABIES December 11 2013
GLAXO BABIES are the greatest UK post-punk band you've never heard. Formed in Bristol in late 1977, band members later joined THE POP GROUP and MAXIMUM JOY.
Put Me On The Guest List collects the band's early demos and Nine Months To The Disco is their sole proper album – both originally released on Heartbeat Records in 1980. Highly recommended for fans of PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED, THE HOMOSEXUALS, and WIRE.
Released in the US for the first time ever, the albums are available on vinyl and CD with liner notes by THE POP GROUP founder Mark Stewart and GLAXO members Rob Chapman, Dan Catsis, and Charlie Llewellin. Get them here.
Now Shipping: BRIGITTE FONTAINE December 10 2013
French vocalist BRIGITTE FONTAINE's career spans over four decades. On Est...Folle and Comme À La Radio, she synthesized chanson (French pop song) and world music, which has won her international acclaim as a performer and collaborator with a variety of artists from around the world (ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO, SONIC YOUTH and STEREOLAB, to name just a few).
Richard Metzger from Dangerous Minds says it best: "I was truly astounded. As in the 'WOW, you've got to be fucking kidding me'/grinning from ear to ear type of payoff that a music snob gets when he or she hears something fucking amazing for the first time."
Now shipping CDs and special limited edition color vinyl. Get them here.
Need A New Machine: TUXEDOMOON December 04 2013
Joie de vivre! The TUXEDOMOON reissues have arrived.
TUXEDOMOON's first two EPs document their formative years spent in San Francisco's nascent punk scene. No Tears shows the group's unique combination of synthesizer and guitar that placed them at the forefront of the US post-punk movement in the late '70s. Scream With A View contains brilliant analog concepts recorded at THE RESIDENTS' private studio in 1979.
Recommended for fans of UNITS, THE NORMAL, CABARET VOLTAIRE, and Brian Eno.
Pre-orders shipping immediately. Limited edition clear vinyl still available. Get them here.
How Ya Feelin? NEGATIVE TREND November 25 2013
Along with THE SLEEPERS' debut EP, NEGATIVE TREND's self-titled 7-inch reigns supreme as the best Punk record to come out of San Francisco in 1978. Raw, heavy, and carefully restrained, these four songs made such an impression on a young Henry Rollins that decades later he reissued them on CD on his 2.13.61 imprint.
It makes perfect sense that NEGATIVE TREND's break-up birthed even more maladjusted offspring. Craig Gray (guitar) would go on to found TOILING MIDGETS, Will Shatter (bass) and Steve DePace (drums) formed FLIPPER, and Mikal Waters (vocals) joined SOUL REBELS.
Superior Viaduct and Subterranean Records are proud to make NEGATIVE TREND's sole studio recordings available again in their original 7-inch format.
Now shipping. Get it here.
Nothin To Look At Just A Record November 14 2013
PHILL NIBLOCK's recording debut, Nothin To Look At Just A Record, is a high-water mark in 20th century music. Closely pitched together trombone drones, delicately spliced to remove breathing pauses, create beat patterns that envelops the listener with each tonal subtlety. Often cited as NIBLOCK's masterpiece, this first-time vinyl reissue with exact reproduction of the original insert marks the celebration NIBLOCK's 80th birthday.
Originally released on India Navigation in 1982, Nothin To Look At Just A Record is listed as #5 on Alan Licht's Minimal Top 10 and recommended for fans of John Cage, Terry Riley, and La Monte Young.
Now shipping. Get it here.
Solaris Solaris Solaris October 08 2013
The Solaris soundtrack just arrived. I must say, we really outdid ourselves on this one. Three different cover designs with hand-applied photographs and debossing. A booklet of beautiful film stills. Plus, an hour-long harrowing score by composer EDUARD ARTEMIEV. Truly amazing.
Pre-orders are shipping immediately. These took a bit longer to produce, but you will not be disappointed. Thanks for your patience. Get it here.
Now Shipping: Interface October 05 2013
Apologies for the delay with HELDON's Interface (as well as the Solaris soundtrack, which ships next week). We did some fancy printing, which took a little longer than expected, but the jackets turned out incredible. Definitely worth the wait!
If you are unfamiliar with HELDON, they were an experimental rock group from Paris circa mid 70s – loud, dark and unrelenting with a maximal approach to minimalism. This first-time vinyl reissue of their sixth album, Interface, creates some real otherworldly soundscapes. Recommended for fans of Fripp & Eno, SENSATIONS' FIX, and MAGMA. Get it here.
Now Shipping: Fragments of Light September 22 2013
Originally released on Polydor in 1974, SENSATIONS' FIX's Fragments of Light does not bend to mid-'70s genre-classism. Fluid, meditative guitar leads and innovative use of synthesizers, combined with a noted lack of percussion (and vocals) on all but a few songs, have drawn comparisons to Kosmische legends NEU! and POPOL VUH.
Debut album from Italian psych prog group, this is its first-time vinyl reissue. Get it here.
You're Not Alone: MX-80 SOUND Release Party August 03 2013
MX-80 SOUND is one of the real oddities in American music. Their debut album, Hard Attack (released in the UK on Island Records), found little-to-no audience in the States upon its release in 1977, yet remains a key document of the mid-'70s proto-punk zeitgeist. According to Trouser Press, "If ever a band realized the potential of pre-punk 'underground' noise rock, MX-80 is it."
In 1978, band members relocated to San Francisco and signed to THE RESIDENTS' Ralph Records label. For the past 35+ years, MX-80 wrote and recorded volumes of staggering music – six nights a week in various clubs or in their basement practice space. Superior Viaduct is honored to present the definitive version of Hard Attack. Meticulously restored from the original analog tapes, this 2CD set features 19 previously unreleased songs from 1976-1978.
To celebrate the occasion, MX-80 founders Bruce Anderson and Dale Sophiea will perform live at Stranded in Oakland on Sunday, September 1st. Spread the word.
Photo by Andrea Ross.
Now Shipping: Nommos July 19 2013
This week at the viaduct ... We listened to CRAIG LEON's Nommos over and over and over, about two hundred times. If you don't have this great record, you need to. And since it's in limited edition, you need to act fast. Get it here.
Also, be sure to check out Henry Rollins' radio show on KCRW this Sunday, 8:00-9:00 PM Pacific (listen online right here). As usual Henry will be spinning all kinds of cool jams, but this week will be especially cool because he will do a whole block dedicated to Superior Viaduct. Thanks, Henry!
Now Shipping: DEVO Hardcore CD July 06 2013
Following our recent dispatch of DEVO's Hardcore Volumes 1 & 2 on vinyl, Superior Viaduct is proud to offer both volumes together on one 2-CD set. Featuring 40 tracks recorded in Akron, Ohio circa 1974 to 1977 and including four previously unreleased songs, this CD version comes with a full-color 16-page booklet that includes liner notes by long-time fanatic Henry Rollins.
Like you we have been waiting over a decade for this special day to happen. Now is the time! Get it here.
R.I.P. Alan Myers.
Front cover photography by Moshe Brakha. Drawings by Mark Mothersbaugh.
Heavy Breathing: FACTRIX show in Oakland June 22 2013
Bay Area folks and wannabe time-travelers!
We are very excited to announce that FACTRIX will perform live for the first time together in 30+ years. One of our all-time favorite bands; last year we reissued their album Scheintot and collaboration with MONTE CAZAZZA, California Babylon. This is a special event to honor the release of RUBY RAY's book which features FACTRIX on its cover.
Night Light, Oakland
Friday, July 26th at 9pm
FACTRIX and BRONZE
with DJ set by Special Lord B.
We recommend buying advance tickets at superiorviaduct.com, although some tickets will be available at the door. Spread the word
Photo by RUBY RAY.