Julia Cumming Kicks Off Sunflower Bean Summer Tour Across US and Canada

Sunflower Bean frontwoman Julia Cumming marked the official start of summer last night by announcing the kickoff of her band’s coast-to-coast tour. In a simple Instagram post reading “Last night summer began 💙,” Cumming set the stage for a 20-city run across the US and Canada supporting the group’s fourth studio album, Mortal Primetime.

Tour Kicks Off In Washington, Dc

Cumming’s Instagram caption teased “manyyyyy surprises,” promising more than just a standard setlist. The trek officially launches May 23 at The Atlantis DC in Washington, DC, with openers Gift NYC and Birthday Girl NYC. From there, the band hits Raleigh’s Kings (5.24) and Nashville’s The Blue Room (5.27) before rolling into southern favorites.

Coast-to-coast Dates

After Atlanta’s Bad Earl (5.28) and back-to-back Texas nights in Denton (5.30) and Austin (5.31), Sunflower Bean heads through Houston (6.1) and Phoenix (6.4). West Coast stops include San Diego’s Casbah (6.5), Los Angeles’ Lodge Room (6.6), and San Francisco’s The Chapel (6.7), then northward to Portland (6.9) and Seattle (6.10). The Rocky Mountain run spans Salt Lake City’s Kilby Court (6.12), Fort Collins’ The Coast (6.13), and Denver’s Hi-Dive (6.14). Midwest fans can catch Minneapolis’ 7th St. Entry (6.17), Chicago’s Sleeping Village (6.19), and Detroit’s Third Man Records (6.20) before the finale in Toronto at The Garrison on June 21.

From Brooklyn Beginnings To International Tours

Hailing from Brooklyn, Sunflower Bean formed in 2013 when Cumming joined guitarist Nick Kivlen and drummer Olive Faber. Their debut, Human Ceremony (2016), built a cult following; Twentytwo in Blue (2018) broke them into indie playlists, and Headful of Sugar (2022) expanded their sonic palette—paving the way for the ambitious production on Mortal Primetime.

Backstage Reflections And Live Riffs

Ahead of the tour, Cumming revisited a fan-favorite stage moment in a throwback post. “This is one of my favorite bass lines to play on stage, because it sounds great when I hit the slide up perfectly,” she wrote. “But when I do and I can feel us really communicating on stage, it feels amazing.” That sense of connection, she says, drives every performance.

Spotlight On ‘mortal Primetime’

Mortal Primetime arrived in May as Sunflower Bean’s most daring effort yet. The record dives into new wave textures, lush synths, and polished production while preserving the garage-tinged edge that earned early acclaim. Tracks like “Love Like a Brunette” explore shaggy-hair nostalgia, and the video for “There’s a Part I Can’t Get Back,” directed by Harv Frost, underscores the album’s moody visuals.

The release was celebrated with a sold-out Rough Trade NYC in-store set and exclusive baby-tee merch drops at Warsaw Concerts before the band hit the road.

Tour Essentials And Surprises

True to her gas-station snack legend, Cumming hinted that Wawa pretzels and post-show Diet Cokes will fuel the road crew. Yet she’s already plotting surprises—from guest musician sit-ins to setlist curveballs. “Can’t wait to see what we’ll come up with in each city,” she teased.

As summer officially kicks off on stage, Cumming’s coast-to-coast journey underlines her prowess not just as frontwoman and bassist, but as a curator of live experiences. With Gift NYC and Birthday Girl NYC in tow, plus unexpected local nods and exclusive merch, each date promises a communal celebration—one she declared has already begun “last night.”