Howe Gelb's Giant Sand over for two Dutch shows: Nijmegen and Utrecht

Giant Sand, the long-running project of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Howe Gelb, has been a cornerstone of the American indie and alt-country scene since the early 1980s. Born in Tucson, Arizona, out of Gelb’s fascination with the desert landscape, the band quickly earned a reputation for its unpredictable blend of rock, country, punk, and experimental sounds. More a collective than a fixed group, Giant Sand has featured a rotating lineup of collaborators over the years, including John Convertino and Joey Burns—who later formed Calexico. Through dozens of albums, the band’s shape-shifting nature and Gelb’s offbeat, laid-back presence have kept their music fresh and adventurous.

Though Gelb briefly retired the Giant Sand name in 2016, the project resurfaced in 2018 with a revived lineup that reinterprets old material while pushing into new territory. This fall, the band returns to the Netherlands for two live shows, promising a mix of beloved classics and inventive reimaginings delivered with the spontaneity that defines their sound. Catch Giant Sand on October 5 at Doornroosje in Nijmegen and on October 18 at Ramblin’ Roots in Utrecht.