Heavens to Betsy reunites after 32 years and announces US tour

Heavens to Betsy, the indie rock band formed by Corin Tucker and her childhood friend Tracy Sawyer, has reunited after 32 years of silence. The duo surprised fans with an unexpected show in Portland, with the announcement spread mostly through flyers around the city. The performance took place at the small Portland venue Turn Turn Turn, which perfectly captured the intimate and DIY spirit of the band.

Heavens to Betsy was founded in the early nineties when Tucker was studying at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Their very first performance was in 1991 at the legendary International Pop Underground festival put on by K Records. In the years that followed they released several singles on vinyl, and in 1994 their only studio album Calculated came out, which is now considered a feminist punk classic from that era. Shortly after the album's release the band called it quits.

After Heavens to Betsy broke up, Tucker went on to found Sleater Kinney, the band that brought her worldwide recognition. The reunion of her earlier project is therefore quite remarkable news, especially for fans of American indie rock and riot grrrl. Alongside the surprise show in Portland, a broader US tour has been announced, though further details about dates and locations are still pretty limited at this point.

Sources: Pitchfork, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan