NASHVILLE, TN. (RCA) - Recently showered with congratulations for receiving his 5th CMA Award and surpassing 5 million in career record sales, country star
Brad Paisley announces the initial dates of his 2005 Mud & Suds headline tour. Beginning January 14, Paisley will be joined by CMA Award winner and Double-Platinum seller
Sara Evans and very special guest, Andy Griggs.
The concert series name comes from the combination of Brad Paisley's current single and album title, 'Mud On The Tires,' and Sara Evans' recent multi-week No 1 smash, 'Suds In The Bucket.' Paisley enthuses, 'It's not often you get to do tour dates with people that you have known for as long as the three of us have known each other, and I'm looking forward to the fact that between the three artists, there are countless hits. And looking back on what Sara and Andy have done in their careers, I'd be tempted to be in the audience myself, 'cause I'd love to hear those songs, too.
'I think I speak for all three of us in saying that I'm so focused on doing the best performances of my career so far on this tour. I know how much it means when someone buys a ticket to hear music. Having spent the last six years attempting to get as many people as possible to do that very thing, I'm excited about the opportunity to really give people their money's worth. And with this trio of artists, hopefully we'll do just that.'
'This tour is all about three great singer-songwriters with hit after hit!' emphasizes Joe Galante, Chairman of RCA Label Group- Nashville , home to all three acts. 'The fans are going to love this tour. It's a fresh package and will be an incredible evening of some the best music our format has to offer.'
The initial listing of Mud & Suds tour dates is as follows. Dates are subject to change, with additional markets forthcoming.
1/14 Verona , NY Turning Stone Casino Resort
1/15* Wheeling , WV WesBanco Arena
1/20 Reading , PA Sovereign Center
1/21 Augusta , ME Augusta Civic Center
1/22** Lowell , MA Paul E. Tsongas Arena
2/18 Fairfax , VA Patriot Center
2/19 Salisbury , MD Wicomico Youth & Civic Center
2/20 Uncasville , CT Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort
2/24 Normal , IL Braden Auditorium, Illinois State University
2/25 TBA
2/26 Johnstown , PA Cambria County War Memorial
3/4 TBA
3/5 West Lafayette , IN Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University
3/6 Rochester , MN Mayo Civic Center Arena
(*) Paisley's second Homecoming benefit, with proceeds being donated to flood relief organizations in the Ohio Valley
(**) Andy Griggs not at this concert, due to a previous commitment
With three back-to-back Platinum-certified albums, three No 1 singles, eight Top 5 hits and multiple CMA, ACM and Grammy nominations, Brad Paisley has established himself as one of country's finest young artists. Paisley 's outstanding performance style and stellar songwriting have also earned him the proud distinction of being the Grand Ole Opry's youngest cast member. With hit songs such as 'Celebrity,' 'Little Moments,' 'I'm Gonna Miss Her' (The Fishin' Song) and 'He Didn't Have to Be' - all of which he has written or co-written - this 5-time CMA trophy winner has consistently demonstrated a gift for music and videos that blend both humor and heart.
Since his single and album debut in 1999, this Arista Nashville entertainer has accumulated an outstanding track record of concert and album reviews. According to the Chicago Tribune's Chrissie Dickinson, 'I have seen the future of country music, and his name is Brad Paisley. Exhibiting the heavyweight ease of an Alan Jackson or a George Strait, Paisley proves he's on the verge of superstardom. A guitar-picker of lightning skill, the young singer held his stage with ... just good, old-fashioned skill, talent, wit and that most elusive of traits, organic charisma.' Among his 2003 year-end raves for his Mud On The Tires disc, were top picks by USA Today, Chicago Sun-Times, The Tennessean and Dallas Morning News.
Over the course of four albums, three No 1 singles including 'Born to Fly' and 'No Place That Far,' six Top Ten hits, and nearly four million units sold, RCA Nashville beauty Sara Evans brought a new energy to the country music landscape. The recent CMA and ACM Female Vocalist nominee crafts songs that alternate with ease between the wistful sentimentality and sexy playfulness that have helped establish her as one of the genre's most enjoyable stylists.
Equally captivating on camera, Sara won her first CMA award for the video to 'Born to Fly,' the title track to the Double-Platinum album which offered another powerful showcase for her talents as a songwriter. Born to Fly also marked her debut as album co-producer - a practice that continues on her latest collection, Restless. Nearing RIAA Platinum certification, Restless introduced the hit 'Perfect' (written by Evans), as well as the multi-week chart-topper, 'Suds in the Bucket,' with the video for each single becoming a No 1 favorite at CMT.
On disc, in her videos, or on the road, Evans turns heads, and with recent cover features in such publications as American Profile and Country Weekly, she continues to demonstrate not only why she's become one of country music's preeminent female artists, but also, as Billboard raves, 'country's next female superstar.'
'I've been wanting to tour with Brad for a long time. I think he is such a talented artist,' remarks Sara. 'Ever since we wrote 'New Again' together for the Passion of the Christ soundtrack, he and I have become friends. We are excited to hang out with him on the road.'
Andy Griggs was so determined to make music his life, he quit college in his last year to move to Music City . Since his arrival in Nashville, the soulful baritone has earned five Top Ten hits, including his No 1 debut single, 'You Won't Ever Be Lonely,' and a Gold album for his debut collection of the same name. The Louisiana native's current album, This I Gotta See, has yielded the Number Five hit 'She Thinks She Needs Me,' and the recently released 'If Heaven,' which rings radio station phones each time it's played.
Andy is the perfect fit to round out the Mud & Suds tour with his country blues, rock and gospel/bluegrass roots.
Griggs relates, 'Brad, Sara and I all toured with Alan Jackson a few years ago, and I've never looked forward to a tour more than this one. It's almost like a class reunion.'
All artists are hopeful of extending the Mud & Suds tour beyond the first quarter of 2005.
