Snail Mail to return to Baltimore to play five nights at Ottobar for “Valentine Fest”

For the first time in years, Snail Mail will return to Baltimore to play for hometown fans, the indie rock act announced Wednesday.

Helmed by guitarist and singer-songwriter Lindsey Jordan, Snail Mail will return next year for “Valentine Fest,” a series of five shows at the Ottobar.

Each night, from Feb. 10-14, Snail Mail will appear along with a number of “surprise special guests,” the band announced in a Facebook post Wednesday, along with a poster for the show drawn by animator Corinne James.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, Nov. 11.

Jordan grew up in Ellicott City. She played her first show as Snail Mail at Ottobar in 2015, along with two friends on bass and drums, as part of U+NFest, run by local promoter Unregistered Nurse Booking.

Before that, she played some shows around Baltimore’s DIY scene, she told Variety, pointing to dream-pop duo Beach House and legendary filmmaker John Waters as Baltimore artists that inspire her.

The Ottobar, a relatively small venue located in Charles Village, was named one of the 10 best live music venues in America by Rolling Stone in 2018.

“It feels like no matter where you’re at in your career, you play the Ottobar, it’s really homey and I love that place,” Jordan told Variety.

In 2018, Snail Mail released its first album, “Lush,” drawing praise from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone and other publications for Jordan’s confessional lyrics and guitar chops.

Snail Mail’s second album, “Valentine,” came out last year, garnering another round of praise from national critics.

“Valentine Fest” was originally scheduled for Feb. 2022 but was postponed due to Jordan’s vocal cord surgery, according to a Facebook event description. Jordan’s last hometown performance, according to Variety, was more than four years ago.

The band will be selling a limited edition, heart-shaped double 10-inch of “Valentine” with alternate artwork at the festival, according to the Facebook page.

cadence.quaranta@thebaltimorebanner.com