New York (Top40 Charts/ Epic Records) - Top Dog/Atlantic recording artist
Uncle Kracker has announced details of his upcoming US headline tour. The Detroit-based singer-songwriter will kick off the "Happy Hour Tour" on March 11th with a home state show at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan. Dates will then continue through April (see itinerary below). The tour comes as Uncle Kracker's current hit single, "Smile," continues to explode across a variety of radio formats. The track - included on "HAPPY HOUR," Uncle Kracker's latest album - has already reached No 2 at Hot AC, where it remains a Top 10 favorite. What's more, "
Smile" is now ascending the airplay charts at both Country and CHR/Pop, where it is now climbing the Top 40.
In addition, the track's companion video clip is in rotation at VH1, where it has been a fixture on the channel's "VH1 Top 20 Countdown" since its initial release last August. And as if all that weren't enough, the "Smile" ringtone is a Top 20 seller on this week's Nielsen RingScan's top-downloaded master ringtones chart.
After the conclusion of the first of leg of his "Happy Hour Tour," Uncle Kracker will be among the stars performing on Kid Rock's inaugural "Chillin' The Most Cruise." Already sold-out, the four-day fun-fest - slated for April 29th to May 3rd - will travel from Tampa, Florida to Grand Cayman on board the Carnival Inspiration, highlighted by round-the-clock concerts from choice artists and DJs, parties, activities, contests, and much more. For details and Waiting List information, please visit www.kidrockcruise.com/.
Produced by multiple Grammy Award-winner Rob Cavallo (Kid Rock, Green Day, Paramore), "HAPPY HOUR" sees Uncle Kracker continuing to craft his idiosyncratic blend of country-flavored pop and rock 'n' roll. Initially known for his role as DJ in Kid Rock's legendary Twisted Brown Trucker band, Uncle Kracker made a stunning solo debut with 2001's "DOUBLE WIDE." Fueled by the No 1 smash, "Follow Me," the album exploded onto the Billboard 200's top 10 on its way to 2x-platinum certification from the RIAA.
"NO STRANGER TO SHAME" followed in 2002, highlighted by the top 10 Hot AC hit, "In A Little While," as well as Uncle Kracker's biggest solo single to date, a cover of Dobie Gray's classic "Drift Away." The track reached the top 10 on Billboard's "Hot 100" while also setting the record for most weeks at No 1 on the AC chart, remaining atop the format's ranking for a remarkable 22 straight weeks.
2004's "SEVENTY TWO AND SUNNY" saw Uncle Kracker emphasizing his melodic songwriting and a unique stylistic synthesis of pop, rock, country, soul, blues, and even doo-wop. That same year, "When The Sun Goes Down," his collaboration with country superstar Kenny Chesney, proved a No 1 success, topping Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" chart for five consecutive weeks.
Uncle Kracker celebrated last September's release of "HAPPY HOUR" with a major US tour alongside Train, as well as a number of high-profile TV performances. Among them were visits to NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," CBS' "The Early Show Saturday Edition," and ABC's "Live! With Regis and Kelly" (as part of a special Las Vegas edition).
Known to his parents as Matt Shafer, Uncle Kracker has also maintained his role as one of Kid Rock's closest friends and collaborators. His co-writing credits alongside the one and only Rock N Roll Jesus include such blockbuster hits as "Bawitdaba," "Cowboy," "Forever," "Only God Knows Why," and 2008's No 1 classic, "All Summer Long."
For further news and information, please visit www.unclekracker.com or https://www.myspace.com/unclekracker.
(TOUR ITINERARY BELOW)
UNCLE KRACKER - "Happy Hour Tour":
(Dates subject to change)
MARCH
11 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
12 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
13 Traverse City, MI Streeters & Ground Zero Nightclub
14 Cleveland, OH Peabody's Downunder
17 Hutchinson, KS Memorial Hall
18 Des Moines, IA People's Court
19 Libertyville, IL Austin's Saloon - Fuel Room
20 Maplewood, MN The Rock
22 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre
23 Columbia, MO Blue Note
25 Bloomington, IN Bluebird Nightclub
26 Dayton, OH McGuffy's House of Draft
27 Pittsburgh, PA TBA
28 Albany, NY Northern Lights
30 New Haven, CT Toad's Place
31 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock
APRIL
2 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
3 Philadelphia, PA TBA
4 Baltimore, MD Recher Theatre
6 Richmond, VA The Hat Factory
7 Greenville, SC The Handlebar
8 Charlotte, NC Amos' Southend
9 Wake Forest, NC Crossroads
10 Lynchburg, VA Cattle Annies
