Musicians & Bands · Rock
Book Fruit Bats
Fruit Bats is the long-running indie rock and folk project of singer-songwriter Eric D. Johnson, who started it in Chicago in 1997 with homemade four-track cassettes. A former guitar and banjo teacher at the Old Town School of Folk Music and an onetime multi-instrumentalist in Califone, Johnson released the debut Echolocation in 2001 and played his first show at Chicago's Empty Bottle that same year. Early tours found the band supporting The Shins, Modest Mouse and The Sadies, and in 2002 Fruit Bats joined Sub Pop Records, which issued Mouthfuls in 2003. The catalog has grown steadily ever since, with Spelled in Bones (2005), The Ruminant Band (2009), Tripper (2011), Absolute Loser (2016), Gold Past Life (2019), The Pet Parade (2021), A River Running to Your Heart (2023), Baby Man (2025) and The Landfill (2026). Johnson stays the one constant member, surrounded by a rotating cast of players on stage and in the studio. A Fruit Bats show offers warm melodies, gentle grooves and literate, heartfelt songwriting, delivered with a relaxed charm honed across two-plus decades on the road.
- Genres: folk rock
- Active since 1997
- Formed in Chicago
- Members have included: Eric D. Johnson
- Labels: Perishable Records
- Category: Musician
Estimated fee range
How much does Fruit Bats cost?
Our estimate puts Fruit Bats' booking fee in the Under $25K range. Treat it as a planning estimate rather than a quote: dates, location, event type and travel, production and hospitality all affect the final cost.
*Estimate only. Not a quote. Actual fees depend on date, location, travel and event details.
Video

Fruit Bats - The Bottom of It (Live on KEXP) · KEXP Watch on YouTube
Career timeline
Milestones
- Released the album Echolocation
- Signed with Sub Pop Records
- Released the album Mouthfuls
- Released the album Tragedy + Time = Fruit Bats
- Released the album Spelled in Bones
- Released the album The Ruminant Band
- Released the album Tripper
- Released the album Absolute Loser
- Released the album The Glory of Fruit Bats
- Released the album Gold Past Life
Similar talent
If you like Fruit Bats
FAQ
Booking Fruit Bats: questions
What is the typical fee range for Fruit Bats?
Our estimate puts Fruit Bats in the Under $25K range (estimate).
Who is similar to Fruit Bats but in a higher fee range?
If the budget allows, similar active acts in a higher estimated range include Alex Ebert, World Classic Rockers, Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
How do I send a booking inquiry for Fruit Bats?
Use the availability form on this page with your date, city, event type and budget range. Altus Entertainment contacts Fruit Bats' representatives and replies within one business day; there is no cost to ask.
What is Fruit Bats' booking fee?
The estimated booking fee for Fruit Bats is Under $25K (estimate).
How much does it cost to book Fruit Bats?
Plan for an estimated Under $25K for the fee itself, plus travel, production and hospitality. Altus Entertainment will confirm the real number for your date.
Who is Fruit Bats' booking agent?
c-e-l-e-b.com is operated by Altus Entertainment, a celebrity booking agency. Altus does not claim to represent Fruit Bats; it contacts Fruit Bats' representatives on your behalf to check availability and negotiate terms.
How do I book Fruit Bats?
Send the inquiry form with your event date, location, budget range and event type. Altus Entertainment responds within one business day.
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