Corb Lund Hits Texas and the West on “Western Destinations” Tour
They call it Texas music, but for years the Texas scene has embraced many performers from beyond the Lone Star State as honorary members, including folks like BJ Barham of American Aquarium originally from North Carolina, and Chris Knight who hails from Kentucky. If you have good songs and embody the independent Texas spirit, you can still be invited into the clan no matter what dirt was under you when you were born.
A couple of Canadians can boasts this privilege, including songwriter Fred Eaglesmith, and Alberta’s rough and tumble rancher and true country cowboy singer, Corb Lund. Facilitated by his numerous appearances at The Music Fest in Steamboat Springs, CO, which caters to mostly Texas and Red Dirt musicians, Corb has cultivated a strong following with Texas music fans and artists alike, though he rarely makes it down that far south to perform personally.
However this summer will be your lucky opportunity to see Corb all over the Lone Star State as he’s set to play a dozen separate shows in Texas, as well as six shows in Washington and Oregon, and shows in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and other destinations specifically zeroing in on the American West in what is being called the “Western Destinations” tour.
“I’ve been wanting to do a tour like this for years and years, so I’m thrilled that it is finally happening,” says Corb Lund. “We’re playing a bunch of places we’ve never been before and it’s long overdue. I grew up in a rodeo and ranching family and I write songs about western life, so it makes sense for me to do a tour focused on this part of America. My band and I are really looking forward to these shows. When you come from generations of ranchers and rodeo people, you can’t help but be influenced by the West.”
The first leg of the tour started in May, but Corb will be launching the 2nd half come late July for a total of 27 shows through September 1st. It also includes select performances with the Turnpike Troubadours, Shooter Jennings, and Reckless Kelly.
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“Western Destinations” Tour Dates:
Jul 25 – Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Medicine Hat, Canada
Jul 26 – Shipping & Receiving Fort Worth, TX
Jul 27 – White Oak Music Hall Houston, TX (w/ Shooter Jennings and Turnpike Troubadours)
Jul 28 – WhiteWater Amphitheater New Braunfels, TX (w/ Shooter Jennings and Turnpike Troubadours)
Jul 29 – Coupland Dance Hall Coupland, TX
Jul 31 – Republic Brewing Company Republic, WA
Aug 1 – Republic Brewing Company Republic, WA
Aug 2 – Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA (w/ Reckless Kelly)
Aug 3 – Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA (w/ Reckless Kelly)
Aug 4 – Back Country Bash Joseph, OR, United States
Aug 5 – McMenamins Mission Theater Portland, OR
Aug 8 – The Old Saloon Emigrant, MT (w/ Turnpike Troubadours)
Aug 9 – Zoo Montana Billings, MT (w/ Turnpike Troubadours)
Aug 10 – 2018 Braun Brothers Reunion Challis, ID, United States
Aug 11 – The Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
Aug 12 – Globe Hall Denver, CO
Aug 14 – HOOT’S PUB Amarillo, TX
Aug 15 – Pecos Flavors Winery Roswell, NM
Aug 16 – The Blue Light Lubbock, TX
Aug 17 – Riversport OKC Oklahoma City, OK
Aug 18 – Smitty K’s College Station, TX
Aug 19 – The Lumberyard Roscoe, TX
Aug 25 – An Evening of Cowboy Songs and Stories Drumheller, Canada
Aug 29 – Waco Hippodrome Theater Waco, TX
Aug 30 – Scoot Inn Austin, TX
Aug 31 – Hank’s Texas Grill Mckinney, TX
Sep 1 – Red Rooster Icehouse Hawkins, TX
Nov 3 – 20th Annual Monterey Cowboy Festival Monterey, CA
July 16, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
We in Canada have known about Lund’s talent for years. I miss the days he’d play smaller venues here. Go see him if you have the chance. I might have to catch a Washington show.
July 16, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Nice to see Taber’s finest still finding new things for him to do out there. Lindi Ortega posted about working with him on some songs last week also which could be neat.
July 16, 2018 @ 7:05 pm
Yeah, excited about the Ortega/Lund duet. Trigger – or anyone – any word on what the collaboration might be a part of?
July 17, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
This would be awesome!
July 17, 2018 @ 12:00 am
Huge Corb Lund fan – will definitely catch this tour!
July 17, 2018 @ 12:02 am
I first heard about Corb (and Fred Eaglesmith as well) on a Kasey Chambers’ fan forum back in the mid 2000’s when many of Kasey’s Aussie fans were singing his praises and I’ve been a fan ever since. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Corb perform live a couple of years back at LA’s “The Mint” tiny but historic (by LA standards anyway) nightclub and it was a blast. Highly recommended!
July 17, 2018 @ 9:14 am
***Sidenote to his PR folks, need to get some new pictures that one’s gotta be from like when you’re talking about right (like 10-15 years ago)? Doubt it’s intentional & prob just was the easiest to use / not copyrighted etc but it’s funny to me how some artists image are like stuck in this time warp of the internet, which is typically far from timeless, and from one photo shoot they did on their 1st tour / album / etc.
A lot of spotify pics are like that a lot too, hank iii (who I love btw not dissing at all) is a prime example, & yes i know he prob gives zero fucks but wtf he has all sorts of cool fan art portraits etc a million cooler options but someone decided to go with his kid rock impersonation pic?? – https://i.scdn.co/image/af22b1ed38d1b21b28ef1f1610ef0a51a38a5028 not that he’s trying to top the charts or anything but just kind of odd imo…
I know image doesn’t impact music, and I really don’t care & I never judge a man by his shirt, but see through the dirt & judge him by his work ….that being said I’m also not trying to sell records or tickets to shows etc..
Interesting to me that in our current day & age (hyperconnected, second-by-second updates, etc) that bands still use the same marketing blurb & package they’ve been using, typically to the same affect, & getting the same gigs / turnouts / results for years. Oftentimes I think it’s the same strategy / information / etc that was used when print media was still relevant for getting folks to shows.
Obvs some artists are the total opposite & have used social media et al to tremedous effect, but I think this aspect of staying current & keeping fans in the loop via new methods / technologies / etc has become more & more important (yet so often overlooked, esp in this corner of the musical world) in building & more importantly retaining a fan-base.
***realtors always do the pic thing only difference is with them I’m pretty sure it is intentional….& always quite disappointing when they don’t look like their glamour shot from 20 yrs prior lol false advertising haha /rantover
July 17, 2018 @ 3:21 am
Highly recommend, but buy his older music. 5 dollar bill and Hair in my Eyes are amazing, but his latest is a drink coaster. Thanks for nothing mr Cobb.
I was in the crowd for the live track on ‘losing lately gambler’
Always a great time. I saw a preview of a new Corb song with Jaida Dreyer who is an amazing singer/songwriter, so with her and Lindi (whom I have had a mild crush on ever since I first heard her perform), this should be an epic new record. And it should mention horses.
July 17, 2018 @ 3:37 am
Its not that bad! Its a great album, its just the music would of been much better if it stuck to being straight country, a little to much Muscle Shoals for the lyrics he wrote. “S Lazy H,” “Talk Too Much,” and “Goodbye Colorado,” are songs I can listen to all day.
July 17, 2018 @ 3:46 am
S lazy h is a song that is relevant to my life at the moment but in the opposite way (the farm wasn’t divided much to the annoyance of my sisters so we avoided that situation) but even that hasn’t got a real hook. Compare it to ‘this is my prarie’. He took the roughness out and all the cool guitar licks.
You could almost call his old work bro-traditional-country. It was cowboy music for drunk parties
July 17, 2018 @ 4:59 am
One of Corb’s greatest influencers and heroes is Ian Tyson who after a successful career as a folk singer (Ian and Sylvia), had a long running TV show in Canada. Then he became a rancher in Alberta and began writing and singing Western songs. Tyson and Lund have performed many times together. Do yourself a favor and try and find the Ian Tyson album, “Cowboyography” arguably the greatest Western album ever made. Tyson also wrote “Four Strong Winds” which was once voted the quintessential Canadian song and has been recorded by hundreds of artists including Dylan, Waylon, Bobby Bare etc. He is 84 and still going strong.
July 17, 2018 @ 9:04 am
WTF is a “Corb Lund”?
haha interesting and will do thanks for heads up – lots of new (to me, at least) Canadia info as of late montana slim etc
Big fan of Corb’s music both old & new and hope they make it out to the East Coast at some point, 1st I saw him they were opening for someone maybe Lucero maybe Boland idk but ever since that show I was hooked. Still turn people onto his music regularly, and vast majority of the time feedback is very positive (This is badass how did I not know this guy exists? they make good country music in Canada? etc)
***I had one of those shirts (wtf is a corb lund) & people would always have to ask me about it (good marketing / get yr name out there ploy I guess!?)…that one & my slaid cleaves shirt that just said ‘slaid’ on it always had people trying to figure it out like it’s a vanity license plate or acronym or something haha
July 17, 2018 @ 12:26 pm
Great points! It’s also worth noting that Ian Tyson is performing at the Drumheller concert (last I checked). And Tim Hus is opening for them – I recommend to check him out. He’s excellent too!
July 17, 2018 @ 6:30 pm
Ian also wrote “Navajo Rug” which JJW recorded and got some air play.
For my money, “Summer Wages” is his finest (early days, relating to working in the old mill town of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island). It’s a cowboy song for tugboat workers. The best version has the third verse which is often left out.
July 17, 2018 @ 5:55 am
That’s a tough schedule- look at the dates and distances.
July 17, 2018 @ 7:31 am
Saw him a couple years ago in Madison, WI.. and just caught him on the first leg of this tour in Kansas City. One of my favorites and a great live act. Highly recommend catching him if you can!
July 17, 2018 @ 8:03 am
Does this mean we might be nearing some new music/new album from Corb and his band?
July 17, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
Thanks for highlighting this! I’ve been a big fan since the beginning and he’s one of my favourites. His band is top-notch and they put on a great live show! Check him out if you get the chance!
July 17, 2018 @ 3:33 pm
Damn, I love this Ian Tyson, whoever he is. Lund at first glance seems like kind of a talented, affable goofball, a good time music guy. Tyson is an institution. Thanks, Trig!
July 21, 2018 @ 12:55 am
I don’t know how he is perceived in the US (or even here in Canada, for that matter), but, in my opinion, Ian Tyson is a legend, both for his early folk work with his ex-wife Sylvia (both with Great Speckled Bird and as Ian & Sylvia) and for his country & western work (and I use that term intentionally). I don’t believe he performs much anymore due to his age and health reasons, and only locally in Alberta, but he put on a really good show when I saw him two years ago.
If you get the chance to see Corb Lund in concert, do it! He and his band are excellent, he is a good storyteller and is really good with the crowd.
July 19, 2018 @ 8:18 am
Huge Corb Lund fan…. got to see him here in Atlanta 2 years ago. sadly he probably won’t be back since it was me and probably 20 other people on the second floor of Smith’s Olde bar but it was an awesome intimate show anyway! I’ll be there the next time.