Lovett started Communion in the summer of 2006 in London as an independent platform for new artists who needed help promoting their music. He scheduled monthly club nights, where up-and-comers like Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling and Lovett's own band would have a chance to play to a packed room. Lovett is now trying the same approach in the U.S. with nine club dates throughout October. The tour makes stops in Nashville, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City�where they'll kick things off tonight (October 1) at Rockwood Music Hall.

In an interview with Radio.com, Lovett said that helping young bands has always been important to him and that his first job was actually as a promoter. At 12 years old, he was organizing birthday parties for kids in his neighborhood; by 15, he was booking bands for his high school dance.

After nearly seven years in the UK promoting acts like Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Deap Vally and Gotye through not just the live shows but Communion Records as well, Lovett decided to move to New York to see if he could work his magic stateside. America, he feels, is where new bands need the most help getting their music out their to the masses. Blogs on blogs can preach their rookie picks, but Lovett argues that they're not serving the audience as well as they could be.