Out Now: The Hold Steady Returns with New Album ‘Open Door Policy,’ ‘The Weekender’ Live Stream Shows 3/5-6

Open Door Policy is the eighth full-length album from adored Brooklyn indie/rock band The Hold Steady. The record was officially released on Friday. Fronted as always by Craig Finn, it’s another fine entry in the band’s vaunted catalog.

Thrilled to be putting Open Door Policy out into the world today. It's the 8th studio record by THS and I could not be more proud. Huge thanks to bandmates and all else who helped us get it here. https://t.co/81uhMe8dFi

— Craig Finn (@steadycraig) February 19, 2021

Click here to pick up Open Door Policy on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up Open Door Policy on LP from our Rock Cellar Store

Here’s some additional information about the record, which is the follow-up to 2019’s Thrashing Thru the Passion:

Recorded at The Clubhouse in Rhinebeck, NY with producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin, OPEN DOOR POLICY marks the second LP by The Hold Steady to feature the band’s current six-piece lineup. Additional performers include Stuart Bogie and Jordan McLean on horns, Cassandra Jenkins and Annie Nero on backup vocals.

“OPEN DOOR POLICY was very much approached as an album vs. a collection of individual songs, and it feels like our most musically expansive record,” says Finn. “This album was written and almost entirely recorded before the pandemic started, but the songs and stories explore power, wealth, mental health, technology, capitalism, consumerism, and survival – issues which have compounded in 2020.”

Instead of staging in-person live concerts to promote the album, The Hold Steady will be hosting an amended version of The Weekender, the band’s annual multi-show live event for fans in the U.K. and Europe. The special live stream shows are scheduled for Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6:

Thrilled to announce that The Weekender 2021 is happening on Friday, March 5 & Saturday, March 6 live from @brooklynbowl to your home with UK/European friendly start times! Tickets on-sale now. More details here: https://t.co/0Emwd2D3CI pic.twitter.com/LVCHtXoNKG

— The Hold Steady (@theholdsteady) February 9, 2021

Via a news release:

Traditionally held at the legendary Electric Ballroom in Camden, London, this year will see The Weekender livestreaming directly from Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Bowl for two concerts on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 at 8pm (20:00) GMT / 3pm EST (US). Tickets are on sale now via FANS.LIVE, including single-show tickets (£15.00/$20.00) and two-night packages (£27.50/$35.00). In addition, fans purchasing show tickets will be able to buy additional tickets for an exclusive Soundcheck event, set for Saturday, March 6 and priced at £20.00/$25.00.

Stream Open Door Policy below: