The Legendary Little Feat is Back with ‘Strike Up the Band’

BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

Pioneering, innovative, and eclectic rock & roll outfit, Little Feat continue to build upon the expansive lore of the band with a brand new album, Strike Up the Band which is out now through the Hot Tomato imprint.

The 17th official entry into the Little Feat studio canon, Strike Up the Band finds the iconic, genre-bending collective in fine form, characteristically testing boundaries while maintaining the core approach that brought the band to prosperity in the first place all those decades ago.

Among the album’s 11 tracks can be found contributions from contemporary heavy-hitters like Molly Tuttle and Larry Campbell. Another notable contribution comes in the form of a collaborative writing effort with late legendary American lyricist and musician, Robert Hunter – known for having co-written a significant portion of the original material performed by the Grateful Dead.

“When Robert Hunter and I began writing, he usually sent me the lyrics first,” says Payne of the experience of writing with the acclaimed songsmith. “After several times of doing it this way, he suggested I send him the music first. I had a short instrumental entitled ‘Banjo Wanderings’. I was amazed at how this small clip inspired the expansive and wonderful lyrics he called ‘Bluegrass Pines.’ The music I gave him essentially covered only the chorus. Everything else was the result of his imagination and my mining of the melody and chords from the scenery he painted.”

Despite traces of the classic Little Feat song throughout, Strike Up the Band is navigated through an array of stylistic territories including pop, big band, bluegrass, and “Gonzo funk,” among others.

Strike Up the Band is available now for streaming and purchase through Hot Tomato Records.

Little Feat is hitting the road in support of the new album with shows scheduled through the rest of the year and into 2026. Upcoming performance dates for the legendary Little Feat can be seen below.

Upcoming Little Feat Tour Dates

Friday, May 9, 2025 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – Ithaca, NY – State Theatre
Monday, May 12, 2025 – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Music Center
Friday, May 16, 2025 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – Des Plaines, IL – Rivers Casino Des Plaines
Monday, May 19, 2025 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
Friday, May 23, 2025 – Chandler, AZ – Gila River Resorts & Casinos Wild Horse Pass
Friday, June 13, 2025 – Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theatre
Saturday, June 14, 2025 – Napa, CA – Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions at Meritage Resort
Sunday, June 15, 2025 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
Thursday, June 19, 2025 – Boise, ID – The Egyptian Theatre
Saturday, June 21, 2025 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live at the Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino
Sunday, June 22, 2025 – Redmond, VA – Marymoor Live
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – Bonner, MT – Kettlehouse Amphitheater
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 – Pocatello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre
Thursday, June 26, 2025 – Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Garden
Saturday, June 28, 2025 – Winter Park, CO – Blues From The Top
Friday, August 29, 2025 – Charlestown, RI – Rhythm & Roots 2025
Saturday–Monday, August 30 – September 1, 2025 – Woodstock, NY – Feat Fest at Bearsville Theater
Monday–Sunday, September 15–21, 2025 – Ketchikan, AK – Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea – Alaska 2025
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theatre
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 – Franklin, TN – Firstbank Amphitheater
Friday, October 17, 2025 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Saturday, October 18, 2025 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Sunday, October 19, 2025 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
Friday, October 24, 2025 – Baltimore, MD – The Lyric Baltimore
Saturday, October 25, 2025 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
Sunday, October 26, 2025 – Red Bank, NJ – Count Basie Center for the Arts

Saturday–Saturday, January 11–18, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Sandy Beaches Cruise 2026
Sunday–Sunday, January 18–25, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – The Big Easy Cruise 2026

Photo: Strike Up the Band artwork