Lambchop, the beloved shapeshifting Nashville institution, returns with their seenteenth album Punching the Clown. Produced by Ryan Olson (Poliça, Gayngs) with songs by Lambchop’s principal Kurt Wagner and member Andrew Broder, Punching the Clown was tracked over three days, the studio of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and features Vernon on banjo as well as a six-part choir throughout. 

Listen to Punching the Clown wherever you stream music, and reserve your copy of Punching the Clown on CD, LP, or limited-edition Frosted Clear Peak Vinyl from the Merge store or Lambchop's Bandcamp page.

The musical world of Lambchop in 2026 consists of: vocals, choir, banjo, guitar. That’s all Punching the Clown needs. With this line-up, they’ve created music that lies somewhere between gospel, folk, and country. On the one hand, it’s focused and stripped-back. On the other hand, it’s incredibly rich and powerful. And when it came to the songwriting, Wagner was more consistent than ever: he learnt from the best and resolved to give a chance only to songs that could measure up. And so, in the band’s 33rd year, Punching the Clown emerges as the new masterpiece of the masterful Lambchop discography.

The second of Lambchop’s three dates at Minneapolis’ Crooners Supper Club takes place next week, August 30. Following the conclusion of the residency, Lambchop will play Chicago, NYC, and Europe. Tickets are on sale now. Follow Lambchop on Instagram for more news from the project.

Lambchop on tour: 
Aug 30 Minneapolis, MN – Crooners Supper Club
Sep 27 Minneapolis, MN – Crooners Supper Club
Sep 29 Chicago, IL – Maurer Hall @ The Old Town School of Folk Music
Oct 01 Brooklyn, NY – Public Records
Oct 02 Brooklyn, NY – Public Records
Nov 18 Viseu, PT – Teatro Viriato
Nov 19 Lisbon, PT – Culturgest
Nov 21 Braga, PT – Theatro Circo
Nov 22 Espinho, PT – Auditório de Espinho
Nov 24 Manchester, UK – New Century Hall
Nov 25 Sheffield, UK – Octagon
Nov 26 Gateshead, UK – Sage 2
Nov 27 London, UK – Union Chapel
Nov 28 London, UK – Union Chapel
Dec 01 Dudelange, LU – Opderschmelz
Dec 02 Antwerp, BE – Arenberg
Dec 03 Roeselare, BE – De Spil
Feb 07 Oslo, NO – Konserthus
Feb 09 Trondheim, NO – Byscenen
Feb 11 Copenhagen, DK – DR Koncerthuset
Feb 12 Hamburg, DE – Christianskirche
Feb 13 Berlin, DE – Passionkirche
Feb 14 Erlangen, DE – Markgrafentheater
Feb 16 Vienna, AT – Theater Akzent
Feb 17 Budapest, HU – House Of Music
Feb 19 Glasgow, UK – St Lukes
Feb 20 Galway, IE – St Nicholas’ Church
Feb 21 Dublin, IE – The Helix