Sleep studies at THE HANDSOME FAMILY Laboratory are progressing smoothly thanks to generous anonymous donations and several death threats. In the last month I have awoken only once to briefly check the smoke detectors in the guest bathroom. They had been tampered with, just as I suspected... In any case, we are pleased to bring you several tips on slipping below the dream waters, and an unfortunate display of TOUR DATES as follows:

A small blue bead wound into hair at nape of neck (may also ward off witches) inspires delightful dreams of dancing snakes in pure white tubs of milk.
 
ALBUQUERQUE, NM--THE OUTPOST, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 8pm
with special guest Selsun Blue
210 Yale SE (2 blocks south of Central)
For more info. Call 505-268-0044

Horse skulls hung in a tree outside bedroom window may attract dogs and induce sleepwalking, but also offer several hours of dreamless sleep. Works best in a rainstorm and/or near an airport.

IRELAND-- “Other Voices” TV show airs our performance on Oct. 8 on RTE at 11:45pm.

A dirty plate held over the face for two to three hours can bring a floating, oceanic feeling as well as long, untroubled sleep. Some screams upon awaking are perfectly normal.
 
USA-- WEST AND THEN EAST WITH GIANT SAND
All of these shows are with Giant Sand. Check with the venues—some shows we’re on last and some shows Giant Sand are on last. Dang it, they’re an amazing band so come see us both.

10/27 - Phoenix, AZ no venue confirmed yet. Check our website in a few weeks (www.handsomefamily.com)
10/28 - Pioneertown, CA (Joshua Tree) at Pappy & Harriett's
10/29 – Los Angeles, CA at the Getty Museum (SOLD OUT. Sorry everyone these tickets went fast. We’ll have to come back to play another show in the coming months.)
10/30 - San Diego, CA at the Casbah (EARLY SHOW. CHECK WITH VENUE FOR TIMES)
10/31 - San Francisco, CA at The Great American Music Hall
11/2 –  Portland, OR at Berbati's Pan
11/3 –  Seattle, WA at the Tractor Tavern
11/6 –  Minneapolis, MN at the Fine Line Cafe
11/7 –  Chicago, IL at the Double Door
11/10 – Boston, at TT the Bears
11/11 – Brooklyn, NY at Southpaw
11/12 – Manhattan, NY at The Mercury Lounge
11/14 – Arlington, VA at Iota

One pound old bacon, cut small, roasted well, add handful of fish worms, one gill oats, three spoonfuls salt. Roast until black then strain through towel, add brandy, vinegar, boy’s urine. Rub on leg crosswise on the third, sixth and ninth day after new moon. Foolproof! Also helpful in cases of dropsy, neuralgia, distemper, ague, croup, and lazy eye as well as scarlet fever, yellow fever, brain fever, blood fever and snow blindness.
 
UNITED KINGDOM— THE OYSTERBAND’S BIG SESSION. A night of collaboration. We’re not doing a separate set of songs. Instead we’re performing as special guests with The Oysterband. We'll probably do a few of our songs with them and a few folk songs with them. Should be other special guests as well.

Fri 26 Nov BATH PAVILION 01225 463 362
Sat 27 Nov SHEFFIELD MONTGOMERY THEATRE 0114 276 7093
Tue 30 Nov LEICESTER DE MONTFORT HALL 0116 233 3111
Wed 1 Dec BASINGSTOKE THE ANVIL 01256 844 244
Thu 2 Dec PONTYPRIDD MUNI ARTS CENTRE 01443 485934
Fri 3 Dec BRIGHTON DOME - CORN EXCHANGE 01273 709 709
Sat 4 Dec SOUTHPORT ARTS CENTRE 01704 540011
Sun 5 Dec SALFORD LOWRY 0870 787 5790
Tues 7 Dec BIRMINGHAM ACADEMY 0870 771 2000 (www.ticketweb.co.uk)
Wed 8 Dec EXETER ST GEORGES HALL 01392 425309
Thu 9 Dec SALISBURY CITY HALL 01722 327676
Fri 10 Dec  CANTERBURY GULBENKIAN THEATRE 01227 769 075
Sat 11 Dec LONDON FORUM 0870 534 4444

Forty seven peach stones eaten every morning for three weeks or until symptoms disappear.
 
JANUARY/FEBRUARY IN AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND —all dates are not confirmed yet, but here’s what we’re working on:

Sat Jan. 15th Melbourne (with Sally Timms and Jon Langford)
Sun Jan. 16th Melbourne (with Willard Grant Conspiracy)
Tue Jan. 18th Adelaide
Wed Jan. 19th Brisbane
Thu Jan. 20th  Sydney
Sun Jan. 23rd Harvest Festival, Red Hill (outside Melbourne)
Tue Jan. 28th - Sat Jan 31th “Came So Far For Beauty: The Songs of Leonard Cohen” at The Sydney Opera House. We’ll be among an amazing group of musicians performing the songs of Leonard Cohen. Four performances.

Somewhere in the first week of February: Auckland and Wellington (NZ)

Walk directly north out of the front window of your house. Pick up the first white rock you see. Walk backwards with rock towards home. Use care in crossing intersections. Put rock under pillow. SPEAK OF THIS TO NO ONE! Repeat as necessary.

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, The Paradiso: February 26, 2005. A night of songs from The Harry Smith Folk Anthology.

Sprinkle salt in someone else’s shoes and/or place glass of water on head. Wait for boil.

Sweet dreams, friends. I must return to the lab. I hear glass breaking...

ox Rennie