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Public recordCompiled from 10 credited sources · Updated Sep 24, 2026

Tortoise

Rock band from Chicago, IL · formed 1990

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Tortoise photo
Photo from the public record
Shows on record
55
Rooms played
52
Cities
46
Releases
33
Last show
Aug 2, 2026Zebulon

About

Tortoise is a band from Chicago, IL, formed in 1990, tagged chicago school, electronica, experimental by its sources. Shows on record run from 1996 to 2026, across 52 rooms in 46 cities.

The summary is assembled from the record fields and shows on this page; each fact listed names its source. See Sources & corrections for what each source supplied.

Shows

55 on record · Songkick, archive etree
No upcoming shows on record.Know of one? Tell us

Shows per year

  1. 19961 show
  2. 19983 shows
  3. 20012 shows
  4. 20045 shows
  5. 20054 shows
  6. 20062 shows
  7. 20075 shows
  8. 20082 shows
  9. 20091 show
  10. 20106 shows
  11. 20125 shows
  12. 20131 show
  13. 20141 show
  14. 20163 shows
  15. 20176 shows
  16. 20222 shows
  17. 20232 shows
  18. 20264 shows
Show history
DateVenue
Aug 2, 2026Zebulon · Los Angeles (LA)Headlinerwith Tara Jane O'neil
Jun 25, 2026Ruins, Knockdown Center · QueensHeadlinerwith L'Rain
May 23, 2026Salt Shed · ChicagoSupportwith The Jesus and Mary Chain, Pixel Grip, Smerz, +1
Apr 4, 2026The Englert Theatre · Iowa CityHeadliner
Nov 6, 2023Union Transfer · Philadelphia PAHeadliner
Mar 31, 2023Teragram Ballroom · Los Angeles, CA, USAHeadliner
Oct 2, 2022Elsewhere · New YorkHeadliner
Oct 2, 2022The Hall, Elsewhere · BrooklynHeadlinerwith 75 Dollar Bill
Sep 29, 2017Camp Ramblewood · DarlingtonSupportwith Cut Copy, Emancipator, Com Truise, +16
Mar 24, 2017Downtown Knoxville · KnoxvilleSupportwith Alvin Curran, The American Contemporary Music Ensemble, Carla Bley Trio, +20
Mar 23, 2017Terminal West · AtlantaHeadlinerwith Tara Jane O'neil
Mar 22, 2017High Dive · GainesvilleHeadlinerwith Tara Jane O'neil
Mar 21, 2017Crowbar · Ybor CityHeadlinerwith Tara Jane O'neil, The Soft Rock Renegades
Mar 20, 2017The Social · OrlandoHeadlinerwith Tara Jane O'neil
Jun 5, 2016Paloma · NîmesSupportwith Shellac, Beach House, Metz, +5
Mar 22, 2016Headliners Music Hall · LouisvilleHeadliner
Mar 16, 2016Le Poisson Rouge · ManhattanHeadlinerwith Mind Over Mirrors, 75 Dollar Bill
Mar 30, 2014Bronze Peacock Room, House of Blues · HoustonSupportwith The Grouch & Eligh, The Grouch
Jul 14, 2013Empty Bottle · Chicago, ILHeadliner
Oct 13, 2012Corner Hotel · RichmondHeadlinerwith Grails, sleepmakeswaves, New War
Oct 11, 2012The Hi-Fi · SydneyHeadlinerwith sleepmakeswaves, The Laurels
Sep 15, 2012Webster Hall · New York (NYC)Headlinerwith Matmos, Future Islands, Liturgy, +2
Sep 13, 2012Rams Head Live! · BaltimoreSupportwith Future Islands, Matmos, Dan Friel, +3
Jan 24, 2012Empty Bottle · Chicago, ILHeadliner
Nov 23, 2010Beatpol · DresdenHeadlinerwith Phon
Nov 19, 2010Paradiso Grote Zaal · AmsterdamSupportwith Broken Social Scene, Menomena
Nov 17, 2010Élysée Montmartre · ParisSupportwith Broken Social Scene, Menomena
Nov 16, 2010KOKO · LondonSupportwith Broken Social Scene
Nov 15, 2010KOKO · LondonSupportwith Broken Social Scene
Feb 11, 2010Headliners Music Hall · LouisvilleHeadliner
Oct 19, 2009UIC Pavilion · ChicagoHeadliner
Sep 27, 2008Memorial Union Terrace · Madison WIHeadliner
Sep 5, 2008Mod Club · TorontoHeadliner
Jun 26, 2007Neumos · SeattleHeadlinerwith Yellow Swans
Jun 20, 2007Rhythm Room · Phoenix, AZHeadliner
Jun 19, 2007Urban Lounge · Salt Lake CityHeadliner
Jun 17, 2007The Waiting Room · Omaha NEHeadliner
Feb 17, 2007Het Depot · LeuvenHeadlinerwith Tuk
Sep 17, 2006Bowery Ballroom · New YorkHeadliner
Sep 14, 2006Great American Music Hall · San Francisco, CAHeadliner
Oct 20, 2005The Independent · San FranciscoHeadliner
Oct 11, 2005Barrymore Theatre · Madison, WI USAHeadliner
Oct 10, 2005Metro · Chicago, ILHeadliner
Sep 25, 2005Zilker Park · AustinHeadliner
Dec 31, 2004Tabernacle · Atlanta, GAHeadliner
Jun 9, 2004Engine Room · HoustonHeadliner
Jun 4, 2004Henry Fonda Theater · Los AngelesHeadliner
May 3, 2004Young Avenue Deli · MemphisHeadliner
Apr 14, 2004Majestic Theatre · Detroit, MIHeadliner
Jun 12, 2001Stubb's · AustinHeadliner
May 14, 2001Club Soda · MontréalHeadliner
Jun 7, 1998Palladium · Vancouver, CanadaHeadliner
May 30, 1998Union Theatre · Salt Lake City, UTHeadliner
May 18, 1998Emo's · AustinHeadliner
Mar 14, 1996Forum · London, EnglandHeadliner

Where they play

52 rooms in 46 cities

Rooms played most

Cities played

  • Austin3 shows
  • Chicago, IL3 shows
  • Chicago2 shows
  • Houston2 shows
  • London2 shows

and 41 other cities

Releases

33 releases, 1993–2025

  • Oganesson Remixes

    2025 · Ep

  • Touch

    2025 · Album

  • Oganesson

    2025

  • Oganesson Remix EP

    2025

  • The Catastrophist Tour Book Live Tracks

    2017

  • The Catastrophist

    2016 · Album

  • FACT Mix 541

    2016

  • Box

    2016

  • Shake Hands With Danger

    2016

  • Lonesome Sound / Mosquito

    2012

  • Hot Coffee

    2012

  • Gonna Be

    2011 · Ep

  • Why Waste Time?

    2010 · Ep

  • Beacons of Ancestorship

    2009 · Album

  • Beacons of Ancestorship Remixes

    2009

  • A Lazarus Taxon

    2006 · Compilation

  • The Brave and the Bold

    2006 · Album

  • It’s All Around You

    2004 · Album

  • Standards

    2001 · Album

  • In the Fishtank, Volume 5

    1999 · Ep

  • TNT

    1998 · Album

  • A Digest Compendium of the Tortoise’s World

    1996 · Compilation

  • Djed

    1996 · Single

  • Millions Now Living Will Never Die

    1996 · Album

  • Music for Workgroups: The Oval Remixes

    1996 · Ep

  • Remixed

    1996 · Album

  • Gamera

    1995 · Single

  • Rhythms, Resolutions & Clusters

    1995 · Album

  • Why We Fight

    1995 · Single

  • Tortoise

    1994 · Album

  • Lonesome Sound

    1993 · Single

  • Mosquito

    1993 · Single

  • 2009-07-08: Morning Becomes Eclectic, KCRW, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    Album

Lineup

  • Dan Bitney
  • John Herndon · drums (drum set)
  • Douglas McCombs
  • John McEntire
  • Jeff Parker

Former

  • David Pajo
  • Bundy K. Brown

Airplay

  • KEXP airplay: 50+ plays, 2021-05-24–2026-09-21 — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Variety Mix' (Sean) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Astral Plane' (DJ Jewel) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'The Midday Show' (Cheryl Waters) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'The Afternoon Show' (Larry Mizell, Jr.) — KEXP
  • Played on KEXP show 'Drive Time' (DJ Riz) — KEXP

Photos, art and posters

Tortoise — Salt Shed, 2026-05-23
Poster · Salt Shed, 2026-05-23 — Songkick
Tortoise — Le Poisson Rouge, 2016-03-16
Poster · Le Poisson Rouge, 2016-03-16 — Songkick
Tortoise — Paradiso Grote Zaal, 2010-11-19
Poster · Paradiso Grote Zaal, 2010-11-19 — Songkick

Sources & corrections

Report a correctionRequest removal
What each source supplied
SourceUsed for
MusicBrainzArtist facts
WikipediaArtist facts
Tortoise on Last.fmArtist facts
Tortoise on DiscogsArtist facts
KEXPAirplay
SongkickShow history, Show posters
archive etreeShow history
DiscogsCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
Last.fmCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it
WikidataCredited on the record; no item on this page cites it

This is a partial record of publicly documented activity. Missing shows, releases or members do not mean there are none. It does not confirm availability for booking.