Livin’ It Up Live With CBR

U.K. singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae continues to climb back to the top of the heap following a two-year break from the business. Besides a new album and ever-growing tour schedule, the singer is preparing to release a live album in August.

Rae has just added eight new headlining dates to a North American tour in support of her latest studio recording, The Sea.

The singer’s trek now kicks off August 6 at The Beach at Governers Island in New York City, with other fresh gigs on the books including Kanawha Plaza in Richmond, Va. (August 7), House of Blues in New Orleans (Sept. 1), Cannery Ballroom in Nashville (Sept. 6), and Electric Factory in Philadelphia (September 11).

This is the second run of dates behind the critically acclaimed Sea. Earlier shows drew high praise from all quarters, including LAWeekly.com which proclaimed “Rae was sublime, proving yet again why she’s one of the best live performers around today.”

Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The singer performs at a concert honoring Paul McCartney, recipient of the Gershwin prize, in the East Room of the White House.

Fans will also be able to catch the singer on the tube soon, with PBS airing an episode of “Live from the Artist’s Den” recorded last December at NYC’s Hiro Ballroom and an all-star concert honoring Sir Paul McCartney taped last week in the East Room of the White House.

Besides Rae, the tribute included performances by Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Dave Grohl, Jonas Brothers, Lang Lang, Jack White and Jerry Seinfeld, and was presented as McCartney received the third Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Rae’s “Live from the Artist’s Den” show will premier the week of July 26 (check local listings for times) and “In Performance at the White House” featuring the McCartney tribute airs nationwide July 28 at 8 p.m. EDT.

“Live From Soho,” which was recorded earlier this year at the Apple Store Soho, will be available through iTunes beginning August 10.

And finally, those who haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Rae perform live can also visit Vevo.com though the end of the month to see the singer’s May 2010 show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.