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Feb 24, 2026 By Mark Redfern Photography by Lindsey Byrnes

Courtney Barnett is releasing a new album, Creature of Habit, on March 27 via Mom + Pop. Now she has shared two new songs from it, “Mantis” and “Sugar Plum.” Listen to both below, followed by her upcoming tour dates, including newly added shows in Richmond, Seattle, and Portland.

Barnett had this to say about “Mantis” in a press release: “‘Mantis’ is the microcosmic centerpiece of this album, it embodies the message and meaning of every track. It’s a song about searching, and it helped me find my way through Creature of Habit.

“I was feeling particularly lost while I was working on this song. One day, I was standing in the kitchen, making a coffee, when I noticed a little green praying mantis sitting on top of the doorframe. I had never seen one there in the desert house, so I took it as an important sign from the universe. I texted a photo to Stella and she said, ‘It’s good luck, look it up!’ I did a quick search and found it to also represent patience, perseverance and a guide for those who needed direction. I stood and spoke to the mantis for a while, it was a strange and enlightening moment that I’ll never forget. Eventually, I got back to writing, and finally I had the chorus to this song.”

Barnett shared the album’s opening track, “Stay In Your Lane,” last October. When Creature of Habit was announced in January she shared its second single, “Site Unseen,” which features Waxahatchee and was one of our Songs of the Week.

In 2023 Barnett released a new instrumental album, End of the Day. Barnett’s last album of regular songs, Things Take Time, Take Time, came out in 2021 via Mom + Pop Music/Marathon Artists. Check out our Under the Radar Podcast episode, where we spoke to Barnett about that album.

Creature of Habit was written after Barnett relocated from her native Australia to Los Angeles and also closed down her label, Milk! Records.

Check out our 2018 interview with Courtney Barnett.

Courtney Barnett Tour Dates:

May 1 - Austin, TX - RADIO/EAST *
May 2 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall *
May 3 - Dallas, TX - The Bomb Factory *
May 5 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium *
May 6 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle *
May 8 - Richmond, VA - The National * JUST ADDED
May 9 - Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre ^ * LOW TICKETS
May 10 - Washington, DC - The Anthem ^ *
May 12 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore ^ *
May 13 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner ^ *
May 15 - Madison, WI - The Sylvee *
May 16 - St. Paul, MN - Palace Theatre *
May 19 - St. Louis, MO - The Hawthorn *
May 20 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall *
May 21 - Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre *
May 22 - Toronto, ON - History *
August 11 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater +
August 12 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre +
August 14 - Cincinnati, OH - MegaCorp Pavilion +
August 15 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman +
August 18 - Seattle, WA - Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater “ + JUST ADDED
August 19 - Portland, OR - Pioneer Courthouse Square “ + JUST ADDED
August 21 - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom +
August 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Rockwell at The Complex +
August 24 - Sacramento, CA - Channel 24 +
August 26 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore + SOLD OUT
August 27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore + LOW TICKETS
August 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium “ +

^ with Momma | * with Truman Sinclair

“ with Built to Spill | + with Zoh Amba

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