A heartfelt tribute to legendary American troubadour Townes Van Zandt, who inspired the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams
One of Evan Dando’s favourite songwriters, Van Zandt is celebrated through interpretations of classics including ‘I’ll Be Here in the Morning’, ‘Pancho and Lefty’ and ‘Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel’.
Guest appearances: Katie Belle Van Zandt (Townes' daughter), Brazilian musical icon Almir Sater on viola caipira, Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), and Beatriz Sater (Dando’s stepdaughter)
Extensive Lemonheads Sept and Oct UK/IRE/EU + Feb/March 2027 US tours
Performance on THE TONIGHT SHOW with Jimmy Fallon earlier in 2026
Recent Evan Dando’s book ‘Rumors Of My Demise: A Memoir’ released via Faber
The Lemonheads release their full-length studio album, Townesville - a collection dedicated entirely to the songs of legendary Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Recorded in Nashville, the record captures a mature Evan Dando at his most raw and honest, an artist who, much like Van Zandt himself, has lived every mile of his songs, carrying the restless spirit of a true American troubadour.
Townesville is anchored by a sense of family, warm connection, and remarkable synchronicity. Far from a standard homage, the album weaves an intimate circle of guest appearances across its track list. Katie Belle Van Zandt, Townes' daughter, contributes percussive spoons, bringing direct ancestral lineage straight into the recordings. Brazilian music icon Almir Sater brings the resonant, rustic warmth of central Brazil with his signature viola caipira work. Dando shares a moving duet with his stepdaughter, Beatriz Sater, marking one of the album's most poignant vocal highlights. Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers) lends his distinct vocal presence to the iconic ballad "Pancho and Lefty." Emerging Nashville band Paperview provides youthful energy and harmony to the project's layered soundscapes.
At its core, Townesville highlights the rare kinship between Evan Dando and Townes Van Zandt. Both artists possess an innate ability to turn vulnerability into song, drifting through life with a guitar and an unwavering commitment to musical truth. Stripped of pretence and captured with raw authenticity, Dando’s voice shines with the clarity of a songwriter who has weathered the storm and emerged with his craft intact.
Bob Dylan: "Townes Van Zandt is one of my favourites. He writes songs that have this timeless, ancient quality. It’s like they’ve always existed."
Lucinda Williams: "He proved that country and folk music could be completely uncompromising, gritty, and fiercely beautiful all at once."
 
 
“Few musicians of his generation could knock out gorgeous cover versions quite as effortlessly as Evan Dando.” Record Collector
“One of the most distinctive voices of the ‘90s”  The New York Times
“The Lemonheads are one of my favorite bands” Jimmy Fallon
“Evan Dando was always as impressive reinterpreting the songs of others as singing his own material” Q