The magnetic, multi-GRAMMY-nominated duo—whose new single, “Stealing A Kiss,” is out now—brings their exhilarating blend of blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country and more to Levitt venues across the country. 

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., April 25, 2024 – Mark your calendars for a night of phenomenal live music as the multi-GRAMMY nominated duo The War and Treaty, selected as this year’s headliner of the 2024 Levitt National Tour, will perform at the Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks on Friday, July 26.

The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a social impact funder supporting nonprofits nationwide at the intersection of music, public space and community building, announces the return of its annual Levitt National Tour this summer. The War and Treaty, the multi-GRAMMY-nominated Nashville duo, will headline the tour, which is scheduled to visit five Levitt venues, free admission for audiences. The tour kicks off in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, June 21, and continues to Bethlehem, Pa. (Friday, July 26); Sioux Falls, S.D. (Friday, August 9); Dayton, Ohio (Saturday, August 24); and concludes in Denver (Friday, September 13).

Continuing the Foundation’s mission of building community through music, The War and Treaty will headline the eighth iteration of the Levitt National Tour, which began in 2014 with the world-music fusion of Playing For Change. A highlight of the free concert seasons at Levitt venues across the country, other Levitt National Tour artists have included La Santa Cecilia (2023), celebrated for their electric fusion of cumbia, rock, bolero and jazz; the danceable rock, pop and soul of trio The New Respects (2022); Flor De Toloache (2019), with their blend of traditional mariachi with jazz, salsa and pop music; Southern rocker Paul Thorn and gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama (2018); Gulf Coast soul sensation The Suffers (2017); and genre-busting violin duo Black Violin (2015).

Since forming in 2014, The War and Treaty have amassed a following as varied as their sound, a bluesy yet joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country and rock and roll. Known for a live show nearly revival-like in intensity, the husband and wife duo of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter create an exhilarating exchange of energy with their audience.

Recently earning GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song for “Blank Page,” they also received this year their first ever Duo of the Year nomination from the Country Music Association, Vocal Duo nomination from the Academy of Country Music, plus recognition by the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry and Americana Music Association including earning AMA Duo/Group of the Year for the second straight year. One of the most electrifying groups in American music today, the duo just released their first new single of 2024, “Stealing A Kiss”—a seductive envelope of country soul (listen here).

Highlighting the collective impact of Levitt venues in communities across the country and a shared mission to build community through music, the Tour is a collaborative programming effort of the Foundation and its Levitt venue partners. “Collectively, the Levitt network presents the largest free outdoor concert series in America, and we are beyond excited that this year The War and Treaty will be sharing their powerful music as part of our National Tour,” says Sharon Yazowski, CEO of the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. “Known for creating an energetic, electric atmosphere through their resounding, soulful beats and compelling lyrics that speak to contemporary themes and issues, The War and Treaty are the perfect artist for this year’s Tour.”

The Trotters aren’t strangers to Levitt stages, either—back in 2018 and 2019, they mesmerized Levitt Shell Memphis (now Overton Park Shell) and Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks audiences with their commanding presence, defined by Tanya’s soaring twang, Michael’s effortless piano prowess, and the couple’s full-bodied harmonies, all bolstered by an equally expressive supporting band. “For me, [the best part of playing at Levitt venues] is seeing people sit down at first—then, after a little while, they end up in front of the stage, dancing and having themselves a good ole’ time, a good ole’ party,” Michael Trotter Jr. says. “That’s what we’re looking forward to most about these upcoming shows.”

The 2024 Levitt National Tour will also see the return of the #LevittTour superfan campaign on the Foundation’s Instagram channel (@levittfoundation). One lucky Levitt audience member will win memorabilia signed by The War and Treaty: a one-of-a-kind memento! The winner will be selected from photo and/or video submissions by Levitt audiences that capture the energy and excitement of the Tour and include the hashtag #LevittTour in the caption. Additional details will be announced leading up to the start of the Tour.

About The War and Treaty

Comprising wife and husband Tanya Trotter and Michael Trotter Jr., The War and Treaty has emerged as one of the most electrifying new acts in American music. Since 2014, the critically acclaimed duo has dazzled audiences in the U.S. and internationally on stages in Europe and Australia, earning accolades from the Country Music Association (nominated for Duo of the Year), the Academy of Country Music (nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year), Folk Alliance International (winner of Artist of the Year) and the Americana Music Association (2x winner of Duo/Group of the Year award). In addition to recognition from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry, The War and Treaty most recently received two GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song (for their 2023 song “Blank Page”).

With a name that pays homage to the dichotomy between hard times and healing—partially inspired by army veteran Michael Trotter Jr. who, at 19, left for a tour of duty in Iraq—The War and Treaty crafts warmhearted roots music that shares narratives of love, loss, commitment, and conflict. In 2016, the pairing released their first album, Love Affair, under the pseudonym Trotter & Blount (Blount being Tanya’s maiden name). Not long after, in 2018, the musicians changed their stage name to The War and Treaty; with that new handle came a new record, Healing Tide, which garnered rave reviews. Following was 2020’s Hearts Town, and last year, the Trotters released their fourth album as a pair and their first on a major label (Mercury Nashville), Lover’s Game—a sonic feat of wholehearted, soulful rock ‘n’ roll evidencing that “the colossally talented pair continue their commando, no-limits journey to the top of the music world,” as noted by the Associated Press. Thematically, the album takes listeners on a voyage of love winding across different situations and seasons.

Described by The Tennessean as “unlike any other act in music,” The War and Treaty has collaborated with country stars like Zach Bryan, Wilder Woods and Brothers Osborne and has opened for living legends like Al Green and Van Morrison and celebrated artists Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, John Legend, Jason Isbell and Lauren Daigle. With their immense talents, the Trotters have electrified their industry peers and captivated audiences across the globe. Learn more at TheWarandTreaty.com

About Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks

Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks is part of a national network of outdoor Levitt music venues and Levitt AMP concert sites dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities in America through free, live music in public spaces. Presenting high-caliber talent and a broad array of music genres and cultural programming, Levitt venues are welcoming, inclusive destinations where families, friends and neighbors of all ages and backgrounds come together. Levitt venues are managed, programmed and supported by Friends of Levitt nonprofit partners, and the Levitt AMP Music series is presented by a range of nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.levitt.org

About the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation

The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private family foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. We support changemakers and nonprofits across the country to activate underused outdoor spaces through free outdoor concerts, creating welcoming and inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together, fosters belonging, and invigorates community life. Levitt venues and concert sites attract people of all ages and backgrounds and reflect the character of their town or city, while benefitting from the framework and best practices of the Levitt program.

In 2024, the Levitt network is presenting 650+ free concerts in 45 towns and cities across the country, with audiences over 800,000. In addition to supporting free concerts, the Levitt Foundation is dedicated to advancing equitable music ecosystems through research and partnerships. www.levitt.org

About ArtsQuest

ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events.

Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, over 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Bryn Keeney