Bill MacKay and Michael Zerang Unite for New Collaborative Album Scarlet Hour and Announce 2027 US Tour

The contemporary underground and avant-garde music communities are preparing for a notable cross-pollination of Chicago’s finest avant-folk and free-jazz talent as guitarist and composer Bill MacKay joins forces with master percussionist Michael Zerang. Their debut collaborative full-length album, titled Scarlet Hour, is scheduled for release on January 29, through the esteemed independent record label Drag City. Comprising eight intricately crafted tracks, the album draws deep inspiration from international folk traditions—specifically looking toward Arabian, Turkish, Indian, and Iberian sonic landscapes. The release will be supported by a string of live performances across the United States in early 2027, highlighting the dynamic interplay between two of Chicago’s most enduring creative figures.

Background and Context of the Collaboration

Both Bill MacKay and Michael Zerang are deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Chicago’s legendary improvised and experimental music scenes. MacKay, whose prolific output has frequently been spotlighted by leading contemporary music publications, has built a reputation for fluidly bridging the gaps between American Primitive guitar styling, folk lyricism, and avant-garde exploration. His collaborative spirit was recently demonstrated through his work with Elena Setién under the moniker Black Duck, an alliance that further cemented his versatility as a composer and collaborator.

Michael Zerang, meanwhile, is an iconic figure within American jazz and free-improvisation percussion. With a career spanning decades, Zerang has established himself as a tireless innovator of rhythm, texture, and spontaneous composition. His extensive resume boasts collaborations with towering avant-garde figures such as Peter Brötzmann, Jeff Parker, Eugene Chadbourne, Tashi Dorji, and Daniel Higgs.

When two artists with such rich, distinct pedigrees converge, the result is rarely a standard genre exercise. Scarlet Hour represents a convergence of MacKay’s harmonically rich, texturally evocative string work and Zerang’s deeply responsive, highly nuanced rhythmic architecture. The album features a mix of jointly written compositions alongside pieces penned individually by each artist, ensuring a balanced dialogue between their distinct compositional voices.

Chronology of the Release and Lead Single

The promotional campaign for Scarlet Hour officially commenced with the release of its lead single, an evocative piece titled New Song. Accompanying the audio release is an official music video directed by fellow Chicago-based musician and visual artist Michael Vallera.

Vallera, known for his work in both sonic and photographic mediums, brings a distinct aesthetic to the project. His visual style frequently prioritizes internal symmetry, spatial balance, and architectural framing. In the video for New Song, Vallera’s photography and videography serve as a direct visual counterpoint to the music. Just as MacKay and Zerang carefully negotiate the boundaries between complex rhythmic structures and soaring melodic passages, Vallera’s imagery emphasizes structural harmony and visual equilibrium.

Following the single release, physical and digital distribution of Scarlet Hour will be managed by Drag City on January 29. The release date will simultaneously serve as the launchpad for the duo’s live touring itinerary.

Supporting Data and Live Itinerary

To celebrate the arrival of Scarlet Hour, MacKay and Zerang have announced an initial series of live performances across the American Midwest for early 2027. Fans wishing to experience the intricate dynamics of the album in a live setting will have several opportunities to catch the duo:

• January 29, 2027: The Hideout – Chicago, IL (Official Record Release Show)
• March 19, 2027: Rozz-Tox – Rock Island, IL
• March 20, 2027: Arts + Literature Laboratory – Madison, WI
• March 21, 2027: Woodland Pattern – Milwaukee, WI

These venues—renowned for supporting adventurous, non-commercial, and community-driven art—provide an ideal intimate setting for the complex, listening-intensive performances expected from the pair. Pre-orders and pre-saves for the album are currently being handled through major independent music distributors via dedicated platforms.

Artistic Implications and Cultural Impact

The partnership of MacKay and Zerang on Scarlet Hour offers significant implications for the contemporary landscape of improvised and folk-adjacent music. In an era where genre boundaries are increasingly porous, projects that draw directly from non-Western folk traditions—such as Turkish, Arabian, Indian, and Iberian forms—require a delicate balance of respect, deep listening, and technical proficiency.

By filtering these diverse global traditions through the lens of Chicago’s rich history of creative music and free jazz, MacKay and Zerang avoid pastiche. Instead, they produce a contemporary dialogue that honors traditional structures while pushing them into new, uncharted territories. Furthermore, the album underscores the ongoing vitality of Chicago as a breeding ground for inter-generational artistic collaboration. By linking MacKay’s contemporary avant-folk sensibilities with Zerang’s storied free-jazz lineage, Scarlet Hour bridges historical eras of the city’s underground music scene.

As the music industry looks toward the early months of 2027, Scarlet Hour stands out as a masterclass in collaboration, proving that when two visionary artists share a common vocabulary of rhythm and melody, the resulting sonic landscape is boundless.