MARTHA WAINWRIGHT’S SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM 

TO BE RELEASED ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MAY 23, 2025

INCLUDING BONUS DISC ON CD/DIGITAL

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR BEGINS THIS MONTH

Twenty years ago, Martha Wainwright stepped out of her family’s illustrious shadow and announced herself to the world with her stunning debut album Martha Wainwright. Featuring “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole”, a song about her father, “Factory” and “When The Day Is Short,” it immediately proved she was a major talent to be reckoned with. 

On May 23rd, [PIAS] will release this album on vinyl for the very first time. This classic debut will also be released on CD and digital with extra tracks and a bonus disc that features 14 rarities and alternate versions.

Gems include “Bring Back My Heart” featuring Rufus Wainwright, “Our Love” with Kate & Anna McGarrigle and “Far Away” featuring the late, great Garth Hudson, both never previously released.

“In the years before my first album was released, I was doing my own version of ‘artist development’ – playing a lot of gigs and going into the studio to make demos,” Martha remembers. “I got to New York City in 1998. It was a magical blur of fun and discovery, meeting musicians, playing and seeing shows and going into the studio. Hopping from bar to bar in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.”

“These are some of the recordings that came out of that time,” Martha says of the bonus material. “Some were released as EPs that I would sell at shows but others have never been released. These are the ones that best reflect that time and the wild eclecticism I’ve always had, for better or worse, as an artist.”

To support the release, Martha will play shows this spring across North America, including the Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA and Le Poisson Rouge in New York, NY

“20 years ago my life as an artist took shape when my first record was released,” Martha recalls. “In many ways that record defined me, as well as launched me into a now over 20 year long career that has made me who I am. It was after 10 years of playing in bars, making cassettes and EPs to sell at my shows, singing backup for my brother Rufus, falling in love and out of love, practising, writing, singing until I could barely sing anymore, partying, playing with musicians and listening to great artists, working with my ex-husband in the studio for 2 years, all that created this first record.”

“20 years later, with 6 other albums under my belt, 2 kids and a career that is chugging along, I can safely say my first record paved my way forward. On March 21st we will release the record on vinyl for the first time ever as well as digitally release unheard songs, outtakes and early material from that 10 year period of discovery that led to my first record. There will be a tour with a few great musicians, where I’ll play the record in its entirety as well as a few new songs- there’s no 48 year old me with the 28 year old me.”

Martha Wainwright plays the following dates across North America this year. For more information, visit marthawainwright.com. 

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT LIVE 2025

MARCH 

21 – Hamilton, ON – Bridgeworks

22 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark

23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Midtown

25 – Minneapolis, MN – The Hook & Ladder Theater

26 – Des Moines, IA – xBk Live

27 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater

29 – Las Vegas, NV – Myron’s at The Smith Center

30 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy + Harriet’s

 

APRIL

1 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

2 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

4 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios

5 – Seattle, WA – Fremont Abbey Arts Center

6 – Burnaby, BC – Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

7 – Sidney, BC – Mary Winspear Centre

23 – Chicoutimi, QC – Théâtre C (Festival Jazz et Blues)

24 – Quebec City, QC – Palais Montcalm

25 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Outremont

26 – Natick, MA – The Center for the Arts 

27 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios

29 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live

30 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge

MAY

1 – Red Bank, NJ – The Vogel

2 – Annapolis, MD – Ramshead Live 

3 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall

5 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie's Attic 

6 – Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsley

8 – St Louis, MO – Blue Strawberry 

9 – Chicago, IL – Schubas Tavern

10 – Three Oaks, MI – The Acorn

11 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall

CONNECT WITH MARTHA WAINWRIGHT:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | THREADS