BJ Barham of American Aquarium to Embark on Solo Tour
Normally when the frontman of a hard-driving alt-country band announces they’re going on a solo acoustic tour, it may be a bit deflating. Hell, we want the full-bodied experience, not the coffee shop version. But when it comes to BJ Barham of American Aquarium, the songwriting is so great and his skill for holding a room with just an acoustic guitar is so adept, story time with BJ is an opportunity that some fans of the North Carolina native salivate for.
And that’s exactly what some lucky fans will get this Spring on BJ Barham’s solo acoustic tour. And when we say it will be intimate venues, we mean intimate, like the tiny but legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and Atlanta’s Eddie’s Attic. At numerous venues, BJ will be doubling up on shows just so he can keep it all in close quarters.
Even though it will just be BJ and no band, don’t be surprised if he plays some songs from American Aquarium’s most recent album Chicamacomico, which took a slightly more intimate tone itself. Barham also released a solo album called Rockingham in 2016 that is worthy of being in your collection right beside all the Aquarium albums. This will be BJ’s first solo acoustic tour in four years. He once hit every one of the lower 48 states in the same solo tour.
“These are some of my favorite listening rooms in the country and seating will be extremely limited for each show,” BJ Barham says. “Round up some friends and make plans for an intimate evening of sad songs and singalongs with yours truly this Spring.”
Tickets go on sale Friday morning, January 13th at 10am EST, except Nashville and the Bluebird Cafe, which goes on sale February 3rd.
BJ Barham Solo Acoustic Tour Dates:
3/23 – Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse (2 shows)
3/24 – Atlanta, GA – Eddie’s Attic (2 shows)
3/25 – Nashville, TN – Bluebird Cafe (2 shows)
3/26 – Waverly, AL – Standard Deluxe (2 shows)
3/27 – Mobile, AL – The Merry Widow
3/28 – Baton Rouge, LA – Red Dragon Listening Room
3/29 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theatre
3/30 – Austin, TX – The 04 Center
3/31 – San Antonio,TX – Sam’s Burger Joint
4/1 – Fort Worth, TX – Magnolia Motor Lounge
4/2 – Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Door (2 shows)
4/3 – Tulsa, OK – Mercury Lounge (2 shows)
4/4 – St Louis, MO – Off Broadway
4/5 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
4/6 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
4/7 – Detroit, MI – El Club
4/8 – Pittsburgh, PA- Club Cafe
January 12, 2023 @ 10:05 am
: D i flipping love this picture.
Didn’t you take this?
January 12, 2023 @ 10:57 am
Yes that is my photo, thanks.
January 12, 2023 @ 10:22 am
Unrelated, but just picked up my tix for Sierra Ferrell & Greensky at Red Rocks. I don’t think Sierra Ferrell has played Red Rocks yet. I’ve seen Greensky there a few times already, so am sure that will be a great show. You gonna be there Trig?
January 12, 2023 @ 10:58 am
I am hoping to make it to Red Rocks at some point this year, preferably at a point when I’m already traveling through Colorado. Not sure if it will be for Greensky/Sierra, but that wouldn’t be a bad one to catch.
January 12, 2023 @ 11:04 am
Hope you can make it out here at some point! Another great one will be Billy Strings on 5/11 and 5/12! I made it to both his Red Rocks shows last year but only got tickets for 5/11 this year. The ticketing process and second hand sales are pissing me off too much. I refuse to pay $250 plus taxes/surcharges after we put in the work to go through the lotto and presale, tried the regular sale, etc. We always have at least 4 or 5 people trying to get the max of 4 tickets each, and usually only one or two people get them per day. This time, none of us were successful for 5/12. In the event we do end up with a bunch of extra tickets, we always resell at cost because we’re not dickheads. I’m so tired of AXS.
January 12, 2023 @ 6:48 pm
Sierra Ferrell made her Red Rocks debut in September, opening for Shakey Graves. Here’s a performance of “In Dreams” from that show: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2E-NAg4nH8A&feature=shares
January 12, 2023 @ 12:11 pm
I’ve seen BJ / American Aquarium so many times that I often skip him now when he comes to town in lieu of seeing someone else in concert I haven’t seen. But, his takedown of some idiot, “backyard rooster,” on Adeem the Artist’s Twitter feed the other day was so glorious, he might have earned a ticket from me.
I don’t ever recall so many concerts this early in the year. I’m having to make difficult decisions usually reserved for the fall.
January 12, 2023 @ 2:35 pm
Takedown?
It was lame. Barham’s takes on everything from Turnpike to Eric Church are awful and lack critical thinking.
The dude is a hack.
January 12, 2023 @ 2:51 pm
Would you mind shedding some light on his Turnpike and Eric Church takes? I haven’t heard about these before and am genuinely curious.
January 12, 2023 @ 3:02 pm
Not sure what CountryKnight might be referring to specifically, but BJ was one of the few folks who defended Eric Church for cancelling his show to attend a Tarheels basketball game. Granted, they’re both from North Carolina, so there may have been a kismet there.
As for Turnpike, BJ was kind of the guy who spilled the beans about how their cancellations and hiatus was due to Evan Felker’s drinking, but at that point, you had to be pretty dense to not figure that out yourself.
January 12, 2023 @ 9:08 pm
The Turnpike reference is to when he trashed fans for being rightly upset about the sudden cancellations and the lack of truthfulness from the band.
January 13, 2023 @ 2:09 pm
Yeah all us Carolina boys were the only ones standing by Church on that one. We get it Chief. The whole state stood still for that one.
January 12, 2023 @ 3:01 pm
I thought it was great and I’m not a fan of Adeem the Artist. I honestly don’t get any of it, but it’s none of my business. When small-minded idiots are going on Adeem the Artists Twitter page to ignorantly bash him instead of tending to their own business, I think it’s great to see other artists (who I do like) rush to his aid.
I’m learning at this stage in my life, it takes nothing to keep on scrolling and tend to my own business and in the end no one really cares about my opinion (so I’ll keep it to my damn self).
January 12, 2023 @ 4:00 pm
“I’m learning at this stage in my life, it takes nothing to keep on scrolling and tend to my own business and in the end no one really cares about my opinion (so I’ll keep it to my damn self).”
: D does it sound really stupid, and girly, to say – yeah, we care.
January 13, 2023 @ 9:52 am
I’ll still give my opinions if it’s constructive and positive in nature. I’ve come to realize no one has ever asked me “who aren’t you listening to?” or “who shouldn’t I be listening to?” or “what were your top ten worst albums of the year?” It’s always the opposite. Being overly critical and negative takes far more energy and overshadows the good in life and music.
That’s where I am in life.
January 13, 2023 @ 10:10 am
Ok – So Hop,
Have you listened to Myron Elkins?
Look at the article Trig put up today.
Holy freaking moly
January 13, 2023 @ 8:30 am
No-one who can afford sleeve tattoos is a “hack.” Sure he paid for his ‘street cred’ and being a whiny liberal automatically makes one a philosopher poet, but no really he’s the real deal….lol
January 13, 2023 @ 8:32 am
seriously though you think BJ saying “all hat no cattle” in response to someone’s chicken coop profile photo on Twitter is a clever comeback???
January 13, 2023 @ 9:45 am
And the comment before about the “bro with the pronoun in the profile.”
January 12, 2023 @ 12:56 pm
I am a huge AA fan, but damn BJ solo acoustic? I saw him on the great 48 tour and that is probably one of my top 5 shows of all time. He is the best storyteller in music. I am tempted to fly out to one of these shows but holding out hope for something closer out west.
January 12, 2023 @ 1:15 pm
I’ve seen AA 7 or 8 times but have always missed seeing him solo unfortunately… not coming close to me this time 🙁
January 12, 2023 @ 3:44 pm
AA my favorite band for the past few of years and BJ my favorite song writer during the sane time. I will make the 90 mile trip to Chicago.
January 12, 2023 @ 8:07 pm
Matsfan, resist eating at the restaurant adjacent to Schubas (it’s good, but a little expensive), and grab dinner a little further east on Belmont.
January 13, 2023 @ 6:45 am
Glendel,
many thanks!
January 13, 2023 @ 7:24 am
You are in for a treat if you haven’t been. Schubas is a great tiny venue.
January 16, 2023 @ 11:30 am
got an email today that American Aquarium is added to the now full Thursday lineup of Windy City Smokeout (July 13th), so you can make that 90 mile drive twice in 3 1/2 months, Matsfan.
January 13, 2023 @ 5:32 am
BJ Barham, solo. I won’t go see him in Houston, I don’t like going to the Heights – but if he’d play Main Street Crossing, in Tomball, I’d stand in line just to hear this which has become a favorite of mine, to hear and play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHdFP7KKlu4
January 13, 2023 @ 11:31 am
Heights Theater has arguably the best sound in central Houston though… Guess he draws a bigger crowd than that of McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. Dosey Doe is another favorite and I’ve heard good things about Main Street Crossing.
January 13, 2023 @ 8:36 am
Would be So Cool to see BJ at one of these smaller venues.
In the meantime, Caylee Hammack is HILARIOUS in Ashley McBryde’s, Brenda Put Your Bra On, from the ticker tape thingy, above.
Lots of language, but have been laughing and shaking my head at the antics of Ashley, Caylee, and Pillbox Patti, since last night.
Now am understanding why LOTS of people were rooting for Lindeville to be Album of The Year.