After a successful 9-date winter solo tour, folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Willie Watson is gearing up to hit the road again this spring. His tour will kick off in Sebastopol, Calif., on March 19th, 2015, and take him through many regions of the United States before wrapping up in mid-May.
Watson is playing a number of dates as a headlining artist. But, he also is going to be supporting the Grammy award winning Tedeschi Trucks Band for a portion of their spring tour in March. And then, after the dates with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Watson will have one solo headlining date in New York City, before joining The Wood Brothers on their spring leg for a concert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on April 8th.
As a headlining artist and at the shows where he will be supporting the aforementioned groups, Watson will be playing songs from his debut solo album, Folk Singer, Vol. 1, that was released in 2014. Folk Singer, Vol. 1 is out now on Gillian Welch’s label Acony Records.
Legendary musician David Rawlings, a longtime friend and producer of Watson’s previous band, Old Crow Medicine Show, also handled the production duties on Folk Singer Vol. 1. The two have also shared the stage, as Watson is a member of the folk music super-group The Dave Rawlings Machine.
“There’s a lot of weight in the way Willie performs,” Rawlings said in a press release. “He’s had some tragedy in his life, which has informed his art. There’s an emotional edge to what he does because of who he is as a human being. Willie is the only one of his generation who can make me forget these songs were ever sung before.”
To get a taste for Watson’s sound and what to expect on the upcoming tour, take a look at his performance of “Mexican Cowboy” from Pickathon’s Lucky Barn stage, below. And then, if you like what you’ve heard, be sure to take a look at the list of tour dates.
Willie Watson Spring Tour 2015
[An * by any of the shows indicate that Watson is opening for the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and dates marked with a + indicate that he is opening for The Wood Brothers.]
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Mar. 19 Sebastopol, CA – The Abbey at HopMonk
Mar. 20 Amador City, CA – Feist Wines
Mar. 21 Amador City, CA – Feist Wines
Mar. 22 Redding, CA – Vintage Wine
Mar. 27 Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre *
Mar. 28 Columbia, MO – Rose Music Hall
Mar. 29 St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House *
Apr. 01 Shreveport, LA – The Strand Theatre *
Apr. 02 Memphis, TN – Orpheum Theatre *
Apr. 03 Tulsa, OK – Brady Theater *
Apr. 07 New York, NY – Communion Club Nights @ Rockwood Music Hall
Apr. 08 Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater +
Apr. 09 Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall +
Apr. 10 Syracuse, NY – The Westcott Theater +
Apr. 11 Katonnah, NY – Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
Apr. 12 Albany, NY – Madison Theater
Apr. 14 York, PA – Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center +
Apr. 15 Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater +
Apr. 16 Ashland, VA – Ashland Coffee & Tea
Apr. 17 Shelby, NC – Don Gibson Theatre +
Apr. 18 Silk Hope, NC – Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival
Apr. 19 Charleston, SC – Pour House
Apr. 21 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Apr. 22 Wilmington, NC – Bourgie Nights
Apr. 25 Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest
May 16 Madison, IN – RiverRoots Music and Folk Arts Fest