NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Capitol Records Nashville) - 'Carolina', the highly anticipated sophomore release from Eric Church, is set for release March 24, 2009 on Capitol Records Nashville.
The album's single, 'Love Your Love The Most,' has been steadily climbing country charts in recent weeks and the song's music video, shot in New York City, is due out next week. On March 19, Church will be the musical guest on NBC's new late-night program, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Additionally, Church is gearing up for 'The Young & Wild Tour,' a nationwide tour which opened March 12 in Evansville, IN.
'I'm both excited and anxious to be embarking on my first headline tour,' says Church. 'Excited about seeing the fans and playing some music after a four month break, and anxious about being a headliner for the first time. As with everything in my career, I am placing my faith in the people - that they will show up and set the tone for this tour. I believe they will.'
As Billboard recently noted, 'Church has built his audience the old-fashioned way. He tours. A lot. During the last two years Church has done upwards of 240 dates, opening for Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, and he's also toured with Bob Seger.' The trade publication also quotes Jay Williams, Church's agent at the William Morris Agency, 'For someone at the club level to have this intense a fan base is rare . . . He comes across as honest and true and his fans identify with that.' Church has lovingly dubbed his large fan base 'the Church Choir.'
Newcomers Jonathan Singleton & the Grove and Ashley Ray will join Church at various dates on the tour. Church says, 'I can't say enough about Jonathan and Ashley, and their involvement in the 'Young & Wild' tour. They were hand-picked, and the fans will soon know why.'
'Carolina' arrives on the heels of the breakthrough success of Church's first effort 'Sinners Like Me', which debuted in the Top Ten on Billboard's country albums chart, landing three Top 20 singles and a No 1 video. The album earned Church widespread critical praise from Associated Press, Rolling Stone, People Magazine and The New York Times, which proclaimed, '...it's a strong candidate for country album of the year.'
'We are basically bringing an arena-style tour to more intimate settings at a blue collar price,' Church explains. 'I hope the fans are ready, cause we sure are!'
'Looking at him, you're looking at country.' - New York Times
'[Sinners Like Me] could be the literary country album of the year.' - Rolling Stone
Eric Church Spring 2009 tour dates:
(Dates and information subject to change.)
March 13 The Intersection - Grand Rapids, MI
March 14 Clutch Cargo's - Detroit, MI
March 18 Mr. Small's Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
March 19 BB Kings - New York, NY
March 20 Showcase Live - Foxboro, MA
March 21 Prospectors Steakhouse & Saloon - Mt. Laurel, NJ
March 22 Crocodile Rock - Allentown, PA
March 25 Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
March 26 Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
March 27 The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
March 28 Wild Bill's - Atlanta, GA
March 31 Rick's Cafe - Starksville, MS
April 1 Lyric Theatre - Oxford, MS
April 2 Minglewood Hall - Memphis, TN
April 8 Jupiter Bar and Grill - Tuscaloosa, AL
April 9 The Bluebird Nightclub - Bloomington, IN
April 10 Joe's Sports Bar - Chicago, IL
April 11 The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
April 15 The Valarium - Knoxville, TN
April 16 State Theatre Falls - Church, VA
April 17 Coyote Joe's - Charlotte, NC
April 18 Blind Horse Saloon - Greenville, SC
April 22 George's Majestic Lounge - Fayetteville, AR
April 23 Stubb's Jr. - Austin, TX
April 24 Billy Bob's - Ft. Worth, TX
April 25 Firehouse Saloon - Houston, TX
April 29 Canopy Club - Urbana, IL
April 30 Barrymore Theatre - Madison, WI
May 1 8 Seconds - Indianapolis, IN
May 2 Neon Armadillo - Ft. Wayne, IN
May 7 Voodoo Lounge - Kansas City, MO
May 8 Grizzly Rose - Denver, CO
May 9 Cowboy's - Colorado Springs, CO
May 14 The Round Up - Davie, FL
May 15 Dallas Bull - Tampa, FL
May 16 The County Line - Melbourne, FL
