In August 2026, as Trumpism grips his home country and looms large in the world, Alabama songwriter Lee Bains will embark on his first solo tour of the U.K. and Europe, carrying music that Rolling Stone once called "Southern gospel punk" and a message of defiance, solidarity, and hope.

A cult songwriter forged in independent scenes, his work has carried him all over the U.S. and Europe, has received acclaim from the likes of The New York Times, NPR and the Guardian, has allowed him to open for artists including the Alabama Shakes, Drive-By Truckers and John Moreland, and has led him to be a supporting musician for artists like Lonnie Holley, Moor Mother and Algiers.

This year will see Bains release a live solo album, Free South 2025, on Don Giovanni Records, and publish his debut poetry collection, Work Lunch, through Hub City Press.