BURBANK, CA (Warner Bros. Records) - Robert Randolph & The Family Band, led by the critically heralded pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, will hit the road this summer as special guests of The
Black Crowes. The nine-week tour, which launches June 10th in Seattle, will criss-cross the U.S. into mid-August and play to more than 400,000 fans over thirty-eight dates.
Following the tour with The Black Crowes, The Family Band will also join Dave Matthews Band on the road for several shows, including stops in California, Utah, Colorado, and the two final sold-out shows of the tour at the new John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia. In addition, Randolph and the band will perform at this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 16th in Manchester, Tennessee, along with Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello & The Imposters, and Bonnie Raitt. The Family Band has appeared at Bonnaroo every year since the festival's inception in 2002, except for last year when Randolph performed with Luther Dickinson, Chris Crew, and Cody Dickinson of North Mississippi All-Stars and John Medeski of Medeski, Martin & Wood as part of The Word.
Critics have waxed lyrical about The Family Band's jubilant, roof-raising live shows, praising Randolph's "raucous showmanship" in Daily Variety, and calling him "an energetic and inspiring presence...a time-stopping, trouble-erasing wizard who engages his listeners to march, press on, stomp their feet, clap their hands, and scream," in Rolling Stone.
The summer tour dates lead up to the fall release of Randolph's as-yet-untitled new album, the follow-up to "Unclassified," his Grammy-nominated 2003 debut on Dare/WBR. The new album is said to be a potent mix of rock, funk, country, blues, and gospel, showcasing The Family Band's dazzling musicianship, as well as Randolph's powerful vocal chops. It is being produced by studio vets Mark Batson (Dave Matthews Band, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani) and Drew & Shannon (The Temptations, India.Arie, Johnny Lang, Marc Broussard), as well as top gospel producer/songwriter Tommy Sims (Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton).
Robert Randolph & The Family Band's upcoming tour dates with The Black Crowes and Drive-By Truckers are as follows:
June
10 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheatre
11 Ridgefield, WA Clark County Amphitheatre
13 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
14 Los Angeles, CA Greek Theatre
17 San Diego, CA Concerts in the Park
18 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
23 St. Louis, MO UMB Bank Pavilion
24 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion
25 Pittsburgh, PA Chevrolet Amphitheatre
27 Nashville, TN Amsouth Amphitheatre
28 Birmingham, AL Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
30 Dallas, TX Smirnoff Amphitheatre
July
1 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
2 Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
3 Austin, TX The Backyard
6 Atlanta, GA HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
7 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
8 West Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre
11 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
12 Raleigh, NC Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
14 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
16 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata
18 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
19 Wantagh, NY Tommy Hilfiger @ Jones Beach
21 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
22 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
23 Boston, MA Tweeter Center
25 Darien Center, NY Darien Lakes Amphitheatre
26 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theater
28 Cleveland, OH Tower City Amphitheatre
29 Philadelphia, PA Penn's Landing
30 Saratoga Springs, NY SPAC
August
1 Columbus, OH TBA
3 Milwaukee, WI Marcus Amphitheatre
4 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
5 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
6 Somerset, WI Float Rite Park Amphitheatre
12 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Robert Randolph & The Family Band's upcoming tour dates with the Dave Matthews Band are as follows:
August
25 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
26 Chula Vista, CA Coors Amphitheatre
28 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
30 West Valley City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
September
6 Sacramento, CA Raley Field
8-9 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
12-13 Denver, CO Pepsi Arena
22-23 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
