It’s a big news day for jamtronica favorites Lotus: in addition to announcing a two-night run at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the band is premiering a new single/video from forthcoming release Citrus exclusively via Live For Live Music.

On Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th, Lotus will return to Red Rocks for a two-night run of concerts. The Lotus performances mark the first new dates to be added to the 2021 Red Rocks summer schedule since last year. Tickets for the April 2021 Lotus shows at Red Rocks will go on sale on Friday, April 2nd at 10:00 a.m. MT via AXS and Live Nation here.

lotus red rocks, lotus red rocks 2021

In addition to the Red Rocks news, Live For Live Music is thrilled to present today’s premiere of “Journey to Saturn”, a new single off the veteran dance-jam outfit’s forthcoming album, Citrus. Serving as a sort of companion piece to 2020’s Free SwimCitrus is due to arrive in full on April 6th. On April 5th, Lotus will pass the album off to fans via an official listening party set to stream at 10 p.m. ET on the band’s YouTube page.

Citrus is the chill-out session to the Free Swim pool party,” bassist/producer Jesse Miller explained in a press release when the album was announced. “The music is more downtempo, drawing from 70s space-funk, rock and West African music. We’ve never played these songs live before, but I think they will feel like old favorites.”

On “Journey to Saturn”, that vintage feel is immediately apparent. As keyboardist/guitarist Luke Miller tells Live For Live Music, “Writing this song I wanted to combine vintage synth sounds with the space-rock sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. The vibe walks a tightrope between melancholy and blossoming optimism. Learning to play the keyboard parts simultaneously was challenging with a hand-stretching ostinato and a melody that jumps over two octaves. … During the recording I thought the drums and bass line really locked in to form a rock-solid base for the guitar to let loose over. ”

The melodically complex, Pink Floyd-tinged groove chugs along behind a catchy synth pattern with a grand piano foundation before eventually lighting the burners and voyaging through an asteroid field of cosmic chord changes. The ship eventually finishes its orbit and loops back to the initial riff—though cleverly transposed up a step. Watch the official Lotus live studio video for “Journey to Saturn” below or stream/download the single via Bandcamp below.

Lotus – “Journey to Saturn” – Live Studio Performance

[Video: Lotus]

Lotus – “Journey to Saturn”