Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming has stepped in to play bass for Wolf Alice as they support Olivia Rodrigo on her expansive ‘Unraveled Tour’. The collaboration comes as the band navigates a temporary lineup change during their high-profile support run.
Julia Cumming and Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell. CREDIT: Joshua Applegate/Getty and Andy Ford for NME
The support slot coincides with Rodrigo’s 65-date ‘Unraveled’ tour, celebrating her third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love. Following the massive success of her 2021 debut Sour, Rodrigo has been performing across North America, with Wolf Alice providing direct support for the current leg of the tour.
For the duration of these dates, Wolf Alice bassist Theo Ellis is taking a leave of absence to be with his partner as they welcome a new baby. In his stead, Julia Cumming has stepped in to handle bass duties. Cumming announced her involvement last week, sharing her enthusiasm for the opportunity to join the band throughout the month of October.
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“Theo and his family are going through some big personal life changes and I couldn’t be more honoured to be asked to fill in,” Cumming stated. She has since shared behind-the-scenes glimpses of her preparation, including rehearsals for tracks like ‘White Horses’ from the band’s latest album, The Clearing.
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Following their performance in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cumming expressed her appreciation for the experience, particularly noting the energy of playing ‘Play The Greatest Hits’ live. She praised Ellis as one of the most engaging bass players in rock, adding, “My life is cool.”
The partnership between Cumming and Wolf Alice is not entirely new; the artist previously collaborated with the band on their The Clearing: B Sides project, contributing to a cover of The Roches’ ‘Hammond Song’. Wolf Alice’s tour with Rodrigo continues through October with stops in Chicago, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, and Columbus.