The Recent Past digital release + Canadian Tour

Hayden Live Winter Tour 2027 Cross-Canada tour datesAfter a few weeks of only being available in physical formats, The Recent Past, Hayden’s 10th full length studio album is now available on music streaming sites. Recorded throughout 2023-2025, this collection of songs was produced and engineered by Hayden in Grey Country and Toronto. It was mixed by Tom Schick at The Loft in Chicago.

Here’s some advance praise:

“The Recent Past is an intimate collection of handmade songs that are lived in, sneakily perfect, discretely cathartic. Slightly uneven, brooding but hopeful, and utterly soulful.” — Brad Wheeler, Globe & Mail

“His simple reflections on love, friendship, memory, and the passage of time are deeply contemplative, but are consistently leavened by some droll humour that prevents things from becoming too heavy.” — Bryan Bance, Americana U.K.

“Hayden Desser has remained the unsung great of the Canadian songwriting guild.” — Jörg Feyer, Rolling Stone Germany

A 20 date cross-Canada solo tour in support of the album is now announced and on sale:

Jan 20 St John’s, NL at Majestic Theatre
Jan 21 Halifax, NS at Light House Arts Centre
Jan 22 Charlottetown, PE at Trailside Music Hall
Jan 23 Fredericton, NB at Shivering Songs Festival
Jan 26 Peterborough, ON at Market Hall
Jan 27 Ottawa, ON at First Baptist Church
Jan 28 Montreal, QC at La Sala Rossa
Jan 29 Kingston, ON at Spire
Jan 30 Gormley, ON at Harmony Hall
Feb 3 Elora, ON at Hope Springs United Church
Feb 4 Clarksburg, ON at Marsh Street Centre
Feb 5 London, ON at Aeolian Hall
Feb 6 St Catharines, ON at St. Thomas Anglican Church
Feb 7 Hamilton, ON at Westdale Theatre
Feb 10 Winnipeg, MB at Park Theatre
Feb 11 Saskatoon, SK at Capitol Music Club
Feb 12 Edmonton, AB at Horowitz Theatre
Feb 13 Calgary, AB at Grand Theatre
Feb 17 Victoria, BC at Capitol Ballroom
Feb 18 Vancouver, BC at St. James Community Square


Hayden releases 10th studio album, The Recent Past

Album cover for "The Recent Past" by Hayden DesserHayden’s tenth studio album, The Recent Past, is released today in physical formats and available on vinyl, CD and cassette through the Hardwood Records online shop. You can also find the LP in your local record shop.

The new song, “Time Has Been More Kind“, is shared today on streaming platforms.

Track listing:
This Beautiful Day
Bombs Away
Stardust Or Avalon
Outta Nashville
Field of Lovers
Come For Us
Small Town Airport Restaurant
Time Has Been More Kind
On My Mark
Makes No Sense
You’re The Only Reason

Hayden Residency at Revue Cinema in Toronto

Hayden will be performing the last three Wednesdays in September (The 16th, 23rd and 30th) at the Revue Cinema on Roncesvalles Ave in Toronto. Join us for some new songs and some old favourites. The concession stand will be open!

Tickets for all shows are available now at the links below. It’s a small show, so tickets are limited. The shows are all ages and doors will be at 6pm.

Wednesday Sept 16
Wednesday Sept 23
Wednesday Sept 30


Elk-Lake Serenade 20th Anniversary vinyl reissue

Elk-Lake Serenade 20th anniversary poster featuring the tip of a canoe in water with the text "Hayden ~ Elk-Lake Serenade 20th Anniversary" and release details indicating a standard and deluxe version available for pre-order.Hayden celebrates the 20th Anniversary of his beloved Elk-Lake Serenade album with a vinyl reissue available in both standard and limited edition, double-vinyl versions. The release marks the launch of a larger project that will see Hayden’s Hardwood Records reissuing his extensive catalogue on vinyl, many for the first time. Pre-orders for Elk-Lake Serenade (20th Anniversary) are open now at hardwoodrecords.com.

A small run of very special performances will accompany the 20th Anniversary of Elk-Lake Serenade:

October 1 ~ Gravenhurst, ON at Gravenhurst Opera House
October 3 ~ Guelph, ON at Sonic Hall
October 4 ~ St Catharines, ON at Cicada Music & Arts Festival
October 5 ~ Toronto, ON at Lee’s Palace

Tickets are on sale Friday, July 4 at 10am.


Album Release Day + more shows announced

Hayden’s 9th studio album, Are We Good, is out today on Arts & Crafts. Please listen and follow at your favourite streaming site.

Hayden holding Are We Good album jacketVinyl preorders are still available through the Arts & Crafts online shop for standard vinyl; the deluxe version is sold out.

Watch the new video for the title track, co-written with Matt Berninger of The National.

Hayden has added a run of dates leading up to his show at Massey Hall in May, and will be joined by special guest Ada Lea.

May 23 – Kingston, Isabel Bader Rehearsal Hall
May 24 – Ottawa, First Baptist Church *with Ada Lea
May 25 – Montreal, le Gesù *with Ada Lea
May 27 – Toronto, Massey Hall *with Ada Lea

Tickets can be purchased through the links on the tour page.