New York, NY (Top40 Charts) This is shaping up to be a banner year for the Atlanta-based band Blackberry Smoke. The hard workin', ass kickin' southern rock outfit has been playing sold-out shows around the world to an ever-expanding audience since the February release of Holding All The Roses, their critically-acclaimed debut for Rounder Records and fourth studio album. Blackberry Smoke, who is currently on tour with legendary rock band ZZ Top, have announced new dates in
Europe and the US, extending into early 2016, which will kick off with the group headlining the Outlaw Country Cruise in February.
Blackberry Smoke will perform their latest single, "Rock and Roll Again," on TBS's CONAN on Sept. 14. The video for the upbeat love song, which was shot on location in Atlanta, will also be unveiled in September. The performance comes just in time for the digital release of their new EP Wood, Wire and Roses on
September 18.
And just in time for football season, "Holding All The Roses," the title track from the EP, will be featured on the soundtrack for EA Sports'
Madden NFL 16, which dropped on August 25.
Madden NFL 16 marks the return of the legendary EA Trax soundtrack, recognized as the industry's foremost music showcase. In addition to Blackberry Smoke, the
Madden NFL 16 soundtrack features more than 30 tracks from artists you already know and love, including The Weeknd, Yelawolf, Lee Brice, twenty one pilots,
James Bay and Sigma. The mix also includes brand new music from John Newman, Don Broco, Robert DeLong, Fashon, and Rag'n'Bone Man.
"For the last few years, our
Madden soundtracks focused on recreating the stadium experience," explains Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of
Music and Marketing for EA. "But with
Madden NFL 16, we've now returned to our roots for introducing new artists and new music. This soundtrack is truly one of our most adventurous, and one we think fans will enjoy the mix of genres and artists we've included. Once again, 'Madden Music' will define the sound of the upcoming season."
Blackberry Smoke is scheduled to play the following tour dates, presented by Ole Smoky Moonshine.
Blackberry Smoke On Tour
**with ZZ Top
9.1 Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville, TN**
9.3 Bold Sphere Music, New Orleans, LA**
9.4
Music Hall of Fair Park, Dallas, TX**
9.7 Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
9.10
Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Lincoln, CA**
9.11 Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA**
9.12 Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona, CA**
9.13 Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay, San Diego, CA**
9.16 Idaho Center Amphitheater, Boise, ID**
9.17 The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
9.18 Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Telluride, CO**
9.20 CAM-PLEX Heritage Center, Gillette, WY**
9.22 Bismarck Civic Center, Bismarck, ND**
9.23 The Swiftell Center, Brookings, SD**
9.25 Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lancaster, NE
9.26 McGrath Amphitheater, Cedar Rapids, IA**
10.1 Paradiso Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
10.3 Academy, Birmingham, UK
10.4 Academy, Sheffield, UK
10.5 Academy, Newcastle, UK
10.6 Academy, Manchester, UK
10.8 The Forum, London, UK
10.9 Lafayette Theatre, Lafayette, IN
10.10 Madison Theater, Covington, KY
10.17 BUT Madrid, Madrid, Spain
10.18 Sala Bikini, Barcelona, Spain
10.20 Trabendo, Paris, France
10.22 Alcatraz, Milan, Italy
10.23 Dynamo, Zurich, Switzerland
10.24 Flex, Vienna, Austria
10.26 C-Club, Berlin, Germany
10.29 Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden
10.30 Mejeriet, Lund, Sweden
12.6 MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
12.8 MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
2.7 - 2.11 Outlaw Country Cruise, Miami, FL
About Blackberry Smoke:
Holding All the Roses compellingly captures the energy, attitude, and honesty that have already helped to make
Blackberry Smoke one of America's hottest live rock 'n' roll outfits, a truly grass-roots phenomenon with a large and fiercely loyal fan base. The 12-song set—produced by Grammy-winner Brendan O'Brien, whose previous production clients have included AC/DC, Aerosmith,
Pearl Jam,
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young—showcases the Atlanta-based quintet's emotion-charged mix of bluesy rock, gospel soul, and country, with Charlie Starr's raspy twang matched by his and Paul Jackson's snarling guitars,
Brandon Still's hauntingly expressive organ and piano, and the propulsive sibling rhythm section of Richard and Brit Turner. The songs' appeal is further elevated by the band's three-part vocal harmonies and elaborate arrangements that make judicious use of fiddle and added percussion. The depth displayed throughout Holding All the Roses demonstrates how
Blackberry Smoke has evolved from rough-edged club act to arena-ready rock 'n' roll juggernaut as well as continues to steadily extend and expand the Southern rock tradition.