Portishead to Play ATP New Jersey, Hammerstein Ballroom

Portishead usually make themselves pretty scarce. The legendary trip-hop outfit waited 11 years to record Third, the psych-rock follow-up to their self-titled 1997 album, and they haven’t toured North America in more than a decade.

That’s about to change. This week the band announced a month-long, coast-to-coast tour including consecutive dates at Hammerstein Ballroom, one of Manhattan’s most pristine-sounding midsize venues.

The tour begins in earnest on Oct. 1 in Asbury Park, N.J., where the band will curate and perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival I’ll Be Your Mirror (also featuring noted recluse Jeff Mangum). Portishead have also been making noises about a fourth album since late 2009; the only new material we’ve seen since then, though, was charity single “Chase the Tear.” Regardless, this band has a history of avoiding the spotlight; it may be a long time before you get another chance to see them in concert.

Portishead North America tour dates:

Oct. 1-2: I’ll Be Your Mirror Festival, Asbury Park, N.J.

Oct. 4-5: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY

Oct. 7: Jacques Cartier Peir, Montreal, Quebec

Oct. 9-10: Sound Academy, Toronto, Ontario

Oct. 12: Aragon Ballroom, Chicago

Oct. 15: Corona Festival, Mexico City, Mexico

Oct. 18: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles

Oct. 21: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Calif.

Oct. 23: Washington Mutual Theatre, Seattle

Oct. 24: PNE Forum, Vancouver, British Columbia

Oct. 27: 1st Bank Center, Denver,

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