Earth Libraries

Making this album has been the most creatively rewarding endeavor of my life. I am really lucky to be surrounded by immensely talented and generous friends, and I can't thank you all enough for your beautiful contributions and enthusiastic participation. I hope you enjoy it ❤️ 🌹Musical contributions by Michael Mitchell, Frankie Tillo, Max Smay, Bill Tracy, Joseph Hein, Jens Kuross, Jim Rizzuto, Cooper Trail, Bart Budwig, Shaun Scrivner, John Fricke, Zacky Calkins, and Michael Springer.. y'all are the best, thank you. 🌹Artistic contributions by Bri Stivers, George Adamson, Cait Harris, and Corey Oglesby 💫 thank you. 🌹Audio contributions by the goat, Corey Oglesby, Timothy Stollenwerk, Bill Tracy, and Jesse Blake Rundle 🎶 thank you. 🌹A big thank you to Bryant Saxon for believing in this project in its very early stages, Sophie Griffin, Lee Shook, and the rest of the Earth Libraries fam.. thank you. And to all of you ❤️ thanks for listening. I love ya 😊

We bring you…. STREETSWEEPER - the fifth solo album from John Andrews & the Yawns. ❤️🏑 This warm, dreamy record explores Andrews’ time the past few years tucked away in Red Hook, Brooklyn - a neighborhood that sits just beyond the natural drift of the city. Once shaped by maritime industry and later a haven for artists in search of vast warehouse space, its history and isolation give it a quiet magnetism. Streetsweeper reflects that vantage point-tranquil, self-contained, and curious about the movements most people overlook. Listen and enjoy<3 Photo #2 by Adrienne Ruberti Photo #5 by Michael Stasis Album art by @regularlittletwigs

Earth Libraries and Saturn are beyond excited to welcome back the one and only Sun Ra Arkestra for a very special evening of music on Friday, May 22nd, as part of this year’s Sun Ra Day Festival honoring Sonny Blount’s 112th “arrival day” here in the Magic City. The final event of a three day celebration happening at venues around the city from May 20-22, the concert at Saturn will see the band return to our stage for the first time since 2016, marking ten years since they last lifted off with us here in Birmingham in what proved to be an unforgettable night of cosmic tone therapy broadcast by Subcarrier for Alabama Public Television. The festival itself will kick off on May 20th with a screening of the recently released documentary Sun Ra: Do The Impossible at Sidewalk Cinema, followed by a special showing of the legendary 1959 film The Cry of Jazz on May 21st at the Birmingham Museum of Art presented by Film Birmingham that will be accompanied by a panel discussion with members of the Arkestra— and led by our very own Burgin Mathews from the Southern Music Research Center and Jessica Chriesman from Sidewalk Film Festival!!!— about Ra’s contributions to the world of cinema and visual art. And to top it all off, at noon on May 22nd there will be a special public dedication at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame of their new Hammond Solovox display in the Sun Ra exhibit to help celebrate Sun Ra Day. If you attended last year’s event, you know this is a not-to-be-missed festival experience. Doors at 7pm, and the show will be starting promptly at 8 pm. Space is the place!!!

The Sun Ra Day universe expands to Nashville! We are partnering with Vinyl Tap for their Sun Ra Happy Hour on May 22nd. Join DJ Dave Guy for an all-vinyl set celebrating Sun Ra, and his Arkestra, on Ra’s 112th arrival day. To help honor the occasion, we’re giving away two tickets to the Saturn show in Birmingham - tag a friend you’d like to bring in the comments and you’re entered to win! We’ll also be giving away some exclusive Sun Ra merch at Vinyl Tap... Visit sunraday.com for more details.🪐🪐🪐

May 22nd is OFFICIALLY Sun Ra Day in Birmingham - and now we’re taking it international. Thanks to everyone who helped us pull it off last year… let’s run it again!!! Visit sunraday.com to secure your tickets🪐

Enter the World of Sun Ra 🪐 ROVR celebrates Sun Ra Day - An evening dedicated to the cosmic world of Sun Ra and his lasting influence on music, art, and culture. Expect a special exhibition, rare limited editions, music throughout the night, and a live Ra-miniscences & talk featuring Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Paul Smith (Blast First), alongside a DJ set by Peter Dennett (Art Yard). 22.05 ROVR Soho - 14 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3HQ Free Entry

11 days until the Sun Ra Arkestra lands at Saturn🪐 it’ll be a night to remember! Secure your tickets at sunraday.com

Hopefully, after checking out Lee’s first video, you’ve had a chance to dive into Sun Ra for the first time or revisit some of your favorite records and films. Now, Lee gets down to business and outlines all of the excellent programming he’s planned for this year’s Sun Ra Day celebration. Films, photo and art exhibits, panels, and, of course, a performance from the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra at Saturn — it’s a heady series of experiences designed to honor a musician and artist that transcends all boundaries. This is the kind of thing that can only happen in Birmingham, Alabama, truly. Here’s the rundown (link to more info in bio): May 20: Festival Kickoff Movie, “Sun Ra: Do The Impossible” (Sidewalk) May 21: Veryl Oakland Book Signing (Alabama Booksmith) May 21: Movie Screening + Art Talk (Birmingham Museum or Art) May 22: Dedication of Sun Ra Hammond Solovox Exhibit (Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame) May 22: Sun Ra Photo Exhibit + Artist Talk (Seasick Records) May 22: Sun Ra Arkestra Live at Saturn!!

The BMA welcomes the @sunraarkestraofficial to explore the creative legacy of Birmingham native, Sun Ra. The Cry of Jazz: Film Screening and Panel Discussion featuring the Sun Ra Arkestra Thursday May 21 from 6–7:30pm Free Registration This special screening of the 1959 film "The Cry of Jazz," will be followed by a panel discussion with moderators Burgin Matthews and Jessica Chriesman in conversation with Sun Ra Arkestra members Carl LeBlanc, Knoel Scott, and Vincent Chancey, exploring their lasting influence across music, film, and visual culture. Presented in partnership with @filmbhamspotlight and @earthlibraries , the program is part of this year’s Sun Ra Day Festival, a three-day celebration taking place across Birmingham from May 20–22 and culminating in a live performance at @saturnbham . The festival also extends to London with a month-long exhibition at ROVR Art Gallery in Soho, alongside film screenings and twenty-four-hour radio broadcasts, highlighting the global legacy of Birmingham native Sun Ra. Register for free on our website now. #BMAEvent #FilmScreening #ThingsToDoInBhamAL #BirminghamMuseumOfArt – Sun Ra Collection, "Universe in Blue" album cover print proof, 1972, Clarence B. Hanson, Jr. Library and Archives, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama, ARC.2022.2, © Sun Ra LLC

ROVR CELEBRATES SUN RA DAY 🪐 A celebration of Sun Ra’s cosmic legacy through exhibition & music - with talks from Thurston Moore & Paul Smith (founder of Blast First), plus an exclusive limited-edition signature merch collection. RA-MINISCENCES & TALK Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) & Paul Smith (Blast First) DJ set by Peter Dennet (Art Yard) 22 May • 18:00 Free Entry ROVR Soho 📍14 Richmond Buildings

STREETSWEEPER has been out for over a month now🥲❤️ Catch the full band record release shows later this month!! 5/22: NYC @ Union Pool 5/23: Kingston @ Tubbies 5/24: Burlington, VT @ Lamp Shop 5/25: Portland, ME @ Apohadion Theatre

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20: Please join us for the kickoff event for this year's Sun Ra Day Festival for a special screening of the recently released documentary SUN RA: DO THE IMPOSSIBLE - a biographical, musical, illuminating journey into the work and vision of Sun Ra, exploring his jazz roots, endless innovations, and ceaseless artistic and social quests. This screening is part a three day celebration of Sun Ra's 112th "arrival day" in the Magic City! On May 21st, there will be a screening of the 1959 film "The Cry of Jazz" at the @bhammuseum featuring a panel discussion with members of the @sunraarkestra moderated by @southernmusicresearch 's Burgin Mathews and Sidewalk's Director of Education + Outreach @jchries . On May 22nd, the Arkestra will perform at @saturnbham ! SUN RA: DO THE IMPOSSIBLE plays Wednesday, May 20 at 7pm. Tickets available NOW at sidewalkfest.com/tickets