Chicago native Willis Earl Beal started out as a street performer. Like most of us, he wanted to be heard. Unlike most of us, he left a trail of homemade novels, art and CD-Rs across America. And last year, his practice of gifting handmade music got him an audience; the cover of Found magazine, a feature in the Chicago Reader, and a release with Hot Charity/XL recordings: the acclaimed Acousmatic Sorcery; an 11-song set recorded on a discarded karaoke machine.

We’re working with Willis Earl Beal to bring the artist’s analog practice of gifting music online. Curious listeners: get the 5-song soundtrack to Willis Earl Beal’s soon-to-be-released Principles of a Protagonist film, for free, when you download the BitTorrent Bundle.

If you want to give back to the artist, XL’s offering 15% off Acousmatic Sorcery in their store between now and November 1st. Willis Earl Beal is on the road through October. We’ll be at the LA/SF shows (10.18/10.20) – stop by and say hi + listen to some amazing music.

Catch Willis on the Principles of a Protagonist tour

1 October @ The Drake – Toronto, ON (Tickets available at Rotate This and Soundscapes)

2 October @ Il Motore – Montreal, Q

3 October @ TT the Bears – Cambridge, MA

5 October @ Milkboy – Philadelphia, PA

6 October @ Red Palace – Washington, DC

9 October @ Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY

13 October @ Lamberts – Austin, TX

14 October @ Austin City Limits Festival – Austin, TX – SOLD OUT

17 October @ Casbah – San Diego, CA

18 October @ The Echo – Los Angeles, CA

20 October @ Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA

22 October @ Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR

23 October @ Barboza – Seattle, WA

24 October @ Electric Owl – Vancouver, BC