This year, Grant-Lee Phillips will release his 12th solo album, the self-produced In the Hour of Dust. It’s a work that doesn’t shy away from the big themes of contemporary life. “The mood on this album is contemplative,” says Phillips, “trying to find meaning in an age of confusion, feeling your way through the blinding dust of unreality.”
In the Hour of Dust is also a highly intimate affair, both in its musical presentation and the personal—often autobiographical—lyrics in the songs, all set, the songwriter admits, “against this larger discordant backdrop.”
Audiences first discovered Phillips’ thoughtful, literate songwriting in the context of the rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, a trio which found success with their 1993 debut, Fuzzy. The title track catapulted the group to international recognition. Grant Lee Buffalo followed up Fuzzy with 1994’s Mighty Joe Moon (an album featuring the modern rock hit “Mockingbirds”), etching a distinct mark while transcending the era.
Beginning with his 2000 solo debut, Ladies’ Love Oracle, Phillips opened another chapter in his career as a folk- and Americana-focused artist crafting songs and stories rich with detail and humanity. At this precise moment, Phillips was invited to join the cast of a burgeoning television series. Gilmore Girls would enjoy lasting syndication and a multi-generational embrace, introducing Phillips, the “Town Troubadour,” to a new audience.
Phillips is often on the road, performing to eager fans throughout the U.S. and overseas. With the release of In the Hour of Dust in September 2025, concert dates are planned for the U.S., UK, Europe, and other regions to follow. Look for Grant-Lee Phillips on tour in your area, performing songs from his new album, In the Hour of Dust, along with favorites from throughout his long career.
Reflects Phillips, “I don’t see songs of love and songs of protest as being so far apart, really. It’s all about recognizing the value of connection in a disconnected time.”