Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek have joined forces on an exciting new collaboration called Fiction Family. Their self-titled debut album will be released on January 20 via ATO Records/Credential Recordings. Fiction Family will kick off a 21-date nationwide tour beginning January 13 in Ann Arbor, MI. (See below for details.) 

Fiction Family is also offering a free download of the song "When She's Near" at www.fictionfamily.com when fans sign up for their newsletter.

Both Fiction Family artists have achieved immense success with their respective bands. Jon Foreman is the guitarist and lead singer of the GRAMMY-nominated rock band Switchfoot, which has sold over five million records worldwide. Foreman has had considerable success as a solo artist as well. He released two double-EPs in 2007 to critical acclaim with the Philadelphia Daily News applauding his "...brooding, sensitive folk-pop...from the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray."  Sean Watkins is the guitar player and founding member of the GRAMMY award-winning trio Nickel Creek. Watkins has a weekly residency at the Largo in Los Angeles known as "The Watkins Family Hour," which regularly features guests such as his sister and fellow Nickel Creek bandmate Sara Watkins, as well as Fiona Apple, John C. Reilly, Greg Leisz and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The seemingly unlikely duo met a few years ago at a show featuring Wilco, R.E.M., Nickel Creek and Switchfoot. Over time, they began writing songs together, which quickly turned into a full-length album consisting of 12 original tracks written, arranged and recorded by Watkins and Foreman at their homes in San Diego. Since they are both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, they often take turns singing lead vocals, and they both play several instruments on each song including guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, baritone ukulele, piano, organ, mandolin, steel guitar, 12-string guitar and more. Nickel Creek fiddle player Sara Watkins is featured on a few songs as well.

"It's almost the ideal artistic setup," Foreman explains, "because you don't really care about timing or any commercial aspect. We figured it'd probably never come out and we'd probably never finish it. But, hey, we've got these songs, so we're just gonna work on them when we feel like it."

FICTION FAMILY TOUR:
January 13                                       The Ark                                   Ann Arbor, MI
January 14                                     Calvin College                         Grand Rapids, MI
January 15                                        Abbey Pub                                      Chicago, IL
January 17                               Ransburg Auditorium                      Indianapolis, IN
January 18                                    Mountain Stage                        Morgantown, WV
January 20                                   Bowery Ballroom                           New York, NY
January 21                                 Paradise Rock Club                              Boston, MA
January 22                                   World Café Live                         Philadelphia, PA
January 23                               Crawford Auditorium                       Grove City, PA
January 24                                       Jammin Java                                    Vienna, VA
January 25                                Brubaker Auditorium                          Grantham, PA
January 27                                    Gravity Lounge                      Charlottesville, VA
January 29                                  Variety Playhouse                               Atlanta, GA
January 30                                          Belcourt                                     Nashville, TN
February 3                                          Neumos                                        Seattle, WA
February 4                                    Aladdin Theatre                               Portland, OR
February 5                                   The Independent                      San Francisco, CA
February 6                                        Anthology                                 San Diego, CA
February 7                             Largo at Coronet Theatre           West Hollywood, CA