The English trio The Staves have announced plans for a 16-city North American tour beginning June 3. Stops include Minneapolis, Washington, Nashville, and New York, among others, along with previously announced sets at the Firefly and Eaux Claires festivals. A fan pre-sale for the newly announced dates begins this Wednesday, March 2, via thestaves.com; general on-sale begins on Friday, March 4.

The Staves return to the US and to Eau Claire, WI, the town where they recorded their album If I Was, to perform at the second-annual Eaux Claires Festival. The festival, helmed by Justin Vernon, who produced the album, takes place August 12 and 13; tickets are on sale now. To celebrate the announcement, The Staves have unveiled a video for the album track "Horizons" set at last year's festival. Watch it here. "It was a truly humbling experience to be a part of something so pure, so human, so musical, and ultimately so inspiring," says the trio of the festival. "Bring on August!"

NPR Music has announced its Favorite Songs of 2015, including tracks from eight Nonesuch Records releases from The Arcs, Rhiannon Giddens, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Kronos Quartet, Lianne La Havas, Punch Brothers, St Germain, and The Staves, as well as Mbonwana Star's World Circuit release. These are across a broad range of genre lists, including rock, folk/Americana, country, electronic, world, and classical. You can hear them here.

The Staves have unveiled the official video for "Make It Holy," off their album If I Was. "We're excited to share a new video for 'Make It Holy,' put together by the gifted Lauren Josephine using Dan Huitings' footage from when we recorded the album at April Base Studios, in Wisconsin," says the trio of producer Justin Vernon's studio. "It brings back such happy memories for us and we hope you enjoy it, too." Watch it here.

Stereogum has published its list of the 50 Best Albums of 2015, and among them is The Staves' new album, If I Was. "There is so much tender beauty in this album," says Stereogum's Chris DeVille. "It’s one of the greatest albums of its kind ... this music just about made my year by virtue of its exquisite beauty."

The Staves have been nominated for two UK Americana Awards: UK Album of the Year for If I Was and UK Song of the Year for the album track "Black & White." (You can watch a live take on "Black & White" here.) The awards will be presented to the winners at the inaugural UK Americana Awards show at St John at Hackney on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. The band will perform at the Firefly Festival in Delaware in June.

The Staves have unveiled the official music video for "Steady," off their album If I Was. "We worked with the wonderful Brian and Karl on this surreal piece," says the trio. "So if you would like to see Jess face down in a swimming pool, Camilla struggling to turn off an alarm clock and Emily pretending she's in The Godfather, you can watch it here." The Staves conclude their UK tour as special guests of Florence and the Machine with two nights at Alexandra Palace in London tonight and Friday. 

Lianne La Havas's song "What You Don't Do," from her new album, Blood, and The Staves' "Black and White," from their new album, If I Was, have made NPR's Heavy Rotation, the monthly list of Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing. La Havas is "glowing, her voice as rich as ever," says KCRW's Anne Litt. "There's no doubt that Lianne La Havas is a powerhouse with a full heart, creating music that's sweeping, inspiring and downright fun." The Staves "are incredible performers with unmatched harmonies," says WFUV's Russ Borris. The album "is a stunning piece of work with a beauty that connects and cuts at the same time," with this song "exemplifying what makes this band unique and impressive."

The Staves' new album, If I Was, "is perhaps the most achingly beautiful album released this year," exclaims New York NPR member station WFUV, which has named it New Dig of the week. "If I Was is a heavenly blend of soft, billowy folk and grand anthems of yearning, desire and heartbreak ... Discovering toughness and tenderness concurrently on this handsome release, The Staves are bright stars illuminating the pop music landscape." The trio will be at Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires Festival this weekend.

The Staves' Nonesuch Records debut album, If I Was, has been named to Stereogum's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2015 So Far. "Some albums demand gushing, so here goes: Once I got past thinking of the Staveley-Taylor sisters as Justin Vernon's pet project or the English folk-rock Haim and immersed myself in If I Was, I scoffed at past-me for ever seeing them as anything but the Staves, one of the greatest bands in the universe," exclaims Stereogum's Chris DeVille. "These 12 elegies for a failed romance are brutally honest and unimaginably beautiful."

The Staves recently stopped by the WFUV studios in New York City to perform a live session of songs from their new album, If I Was, and talk with host Russ Borris about their music. You can watch their performances of "Steady" and "Black & White" here and listen to the complete session on WFUV. "The sisters are incredible performers with unmatched harmonies," Borris exclaims. "The trio’s new album, If I Was, produced by Justin Vernon, is a stunning piece of work ... The Staves brought those incredible harmonies to Studio A for an amazing session." He concludes: "Hands down, this is one of my favorite sessions of the year."

The Staves have unveiled the official music video for "Teeth White," a song off their Nonesuch debut album, If I Was. The video, which was filmed in Paris by the team at La Blogothèque, premiered via Q magazine, where it's Track of the Day. You can watch it here. The group performs at Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires Music Festival in Wisconsin in July.