Native Speaker the debut long player from justifiably tipped Canadian quartet BRAIDS started as a musical experiment, now several years on, the results of that experiment are being gloriously realized. BRAIDS have spent the last few months wowing audiences across America with their live show, including tastemakers at this year’s SXSW. They also recently wowed UK audiences at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton this May, along with a sold out European Tour, and will be returning this July for 6 European Festivals.

The band will then be gearing up for a long run of shows this Summer at 7 Canadian Fesitivals. Starting off the summer with the Flemish Eye showcase at Great Hall with Chad VanGaalen and Jennifer Castle, the band crosses the country hitting Sled Island in Calgary, the Ottawa Bluesfest, Hillside in Guelph, Osheaga in Montreal and the Regina Folk Festival.

Also, the band’s recent homecoming performance at the Grand in Calgary was recently captured by CBC Radio One. Despite having debilitating bronchitis, singer Raphaelle Standell-Prestongave a mesmerizing performance to the sold-out crowd while armed with a vaporizer and throat spray. Check out the recording here: http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20110330braid

And beginning in September, BRAIDS will be returning to the U.S., for a headlining tour with fellow label mates, Pepper Rabbit.