There’s no turning back now! Claude VonStroke, the mastermind house persona behind Dirtybird Records, just solidified his metamorphosis into bass music as Barclay Crenshaw with a forthcoming headline tour and new album Open Channel.
Announced today, December 6, the news comes just weeks after Crenshaw took to social media to declare his hiatus from both the VonStroke project and his role at Dirtybird in mid-November.
“Next year is a whole new chapter for me. As you know, bass has always been a huge part of my identity, even in house music. I’m taking a hiatus from Claude VonStroke and building something totally new as Barclay Crenshaw.” he added.
The Open Channel Tour will start in March 2024 and will feature 10+ stops, including an opening performance at New York City’s iconic Webster Hall and will visit festivals like Electric Forest and Sol Fest. Signifying a new era in his acclaimed career, he promises to curate an immersive experience that blends his musical past with a vision for the future. In addition to a brand-new tour production, fans can expect massive performances from artists like Eprom, Tiedye Ky, Super Future, and more.
Check out the Open Channel Tour poster below.
In conjunction with the tour, Crenshaw will also release his highly anticipated album, Open Channel, which is set for a spring arrival with its first single, Big In The Game feat. Snowy & Manga Saint Hilare dropping on January 5th.
On December 1st, fans got a taste of what’s to come through a brand new track, Blue Mile feat. Strategy. A bass-heavy collab with Of the Trees, which they debuted at their jaw-dropping Red Rocks performance on November 12. Fusing deep bass and trap-heavy beats, Crenshaw not only started his bass era with a banger but displayed his vast reach as a producer.
However, diving into bass music is nothing new for Crenshaw. In fact, while his transition from house is seen as a fresh start for his career, he’s also paying homage to his artistic roots as a producer, where he made everything from experimental bass to electronica, hip-hop, and more.
Crenshaw first introduced his bass persona at the inaugural Dirtybird Campout before releasing his self-titled debut album Barclay Crenshaw in 2017. Since then, he has continuously refined his craft through curated DJ sets at festivals like Wakaan Fest and edits of tracks like Bon Iver’s 715-CREEKS, all while touring as Claude VonStroke and running Dirtybird.
But now that the Vonstroke persona is on hiatus, the multifaceted producer focuses solely on redefining his artistic identity. He not only aims to unveil a new sound but hopes to build a community of connection and musical exploration that mirrors the grassroots energy of his original camping festivals.
“I dig and dig through countless genres and experiment so that you don’t have to,” Crenshaw explained. “I want to play new music that makes you say, ‘Wow.’ Your algorithmic playlist is just a formula that echoes songs you like until you are completely pigeonholed. Let’s start a community of explorers that connects over great tunes and isn’t controlled by computers.”
You can grab tickets to Barclay Crenshaw’s Open Channel Tour on December 8th at 10 am local time HERE!