Evan Felker & Turnpike Troubadours Make Triumphant Return at Medicine Stone
All is well in Oklahoma. Those are the reports from Saturday night’s (9-22) appearance by powerhouse Red Dirt band the Turnpike Troubadours after they took the stage at the Medicine Stone Festival in their hometown of Talequah, Oklahoma. After a series of canceled shows due to kidney stones suffered by frontman Evan Felker and an undisclosed personal issue affecting another member of the band, some fans began to get worried about the future of the formidable country music outfit. But Saving Country Music sleuths embedded in the Medicine Stone field and ample social media reports say the Turnpike Troubadours set Saturday night was strong.
“If you haven’t been to Medicine Stone, you’re missing out. This is a badass festival with the perfect amount laid back and party! Turnpike Troubadours killed it too!” said DJ Ben Ryan for Ft. Worth’s 95.9 The Ranch Saturday evening.
But the Medicine Stone appearance almost didn’t happen either. Heavy weather moved into Oklahoma on Friday when the Turnpike Troubadours were originally scheduled to headline, forcing them to move their slot to Saturday where they played right ahead of Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and right after Flatland Cavalry. Jason Boland and the Turnpike Troubadours are the primary hosts and organizers of Medicine Stone. The other Friday performances of the festival were forced inside due to the inclement weather, but no sets were canceled.
“We’re so happy to be here at the end of Medicine Stone ladies and gentlemen,” Evan Felker said during the band’s set. “We dreamed for a long time about getting to do a festival in Oklahoma, especially in a place this pretty. Really happy with how it came out. Thank y’all for surviving the rainstorm.”
Another positive sign for Turnpike fans is they just added some new shows to their calendar, including appearances at CenturyLink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana on October 26th, as well as shows in Virginia at The National in Richmond on December 12th, and in Norfork on December 13th. Their next show is at The Varsity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 27th.
See the full tour dates for the Turnpike Troubadours below.
Thu, SEP 27 – Varsity Theater – Baton Rouge, LA
Fri, SEP 28 – Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo – Rosenberg, TX
Sat, SEP 29 – John T. Floore’s Country Store – Helotes, TX
Thu, OCT 04 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC
Fri, OCT 05 – Sprint Pavilion – Charlottesville, VA
Sat, OCT 06 – The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
Fri, OCT 12 – Harvest Maroon Fest – College Station, TX
Sat, OCT 13 – The Blue Light Live Street Concert – Lubbock, TX
Thu, OCT 18 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
Fri, OCT 19 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Sat, OCT 20 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY
Sat, OCT 27 – Ziegenbock Music Fest – Corpus Christi, TX
Thu, NOV 01 – The Athenaeum Theatre – Columbus, OH
Fri, NOV 02 – St. Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI
Sat, NOV 03 – Deluxe at Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
Thu, NOV 08 – The Mill & Mine – Knoxville, TN
Fri, NOV 09 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
Sat, NOV 10 – Suck Bang Blow – Murrells Inlet, SC
Wed, NOV 14 – Monarch Music Hall – Peoria, IL
Thu, NOV 15 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Fri, NOV 16 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL
Sat, NOV 17 – The Pageant – St Louis, MO
Fri, NOV 23 – Billy Bob’s – Fort Worth, TX
Fri, NOV 30 – ACL Live at the Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
Sat, DEC 01 – ACL Live at the Moody Theatre – Austin, TX
Wed, DEC 12 – The National – Richmond, VA
Thu, DEC 13 – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA
Sat, DEC 15 – The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD
Jan 31, 2019 – Mile 0 Fest – Key West, FL
September 23, 2018 @ 9:36 am
Sounds like it’s been a Housefire
September 23, 2018 @ 11:21 am
After they burned me with two canceled shows in the Columbia, MO area, I will take a wait and see approach to future Turnpike shows. Don’t get me wrong, things happen, life hits you, etc. and I hope everyone in the band is happy/healthy and that the time away was good for everyone. That being said, canceling shows the day of or just under 24 hours before the show happens is a crappy thing to do to fans. I could care less who Felker is sleeping with these days, but sort of like an employee who promises to start showing up on time everyday after a string of no-shows or unexcused lateness, I need to see results before I plunk down anymore money for a Turnpike show.
September 23, 2018 @ 12:18 pm
I agree. Burned twice … one bad show, one cancellation. I’m suffering from Turnpike Troubadours exhaustion. There’s too many other artists more deserving of my money.
September 23, 2018 @ 11:28 am
Countdown until the nutjobs who inexplicably care more about band members’ personal lives than about the music blow up the comment section with inane remarks in 3…2…1…
September 23, 2018 @ 3:40 pm
Their music alone deserves much more critical review than it ever gets in these parts. The almost laughable drama created by the decisions made by Felker in his “personal” life (hint, it’s no longer personal and something he can expect to not be called out on when he’s marginally famous and does something stupid like leave his wife for Miranda Lambert of all people) are just a side note. But of course it sounds like you think that’s all just another day at the office for Felker. As a side note, when Childers, Eady, Boland, Simpson, etc etc make drunken tabloid fodder fools of themselves like Felker has, they also deserve to be called out. Something tells me that ain’t happening, though.
September 23, 2018 @ 8:49 pm
For the record, Saving Country Music reported on Evan Felker showing up to shows drunk in the past, which is the only reason you and others know he’s had issues. I’ve also reported on Justin Townes Earle and others. That said, there is absolutely NO indication that the canceled shows were due to anything but kidney stones suffered by Felker, and a personal issue with another member of the band. Everything else has been nothing more than wild-eyed conjecture, and I for one am glad to have not bought into stupid theories, because once the truth comes out, there might be quite a few who come across as incredible assholes.
September 23, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
Being a fan of music is an emotional investment that can be affected when an artist shows colors that contradict the spirit of their music. Technology has changed the way we look at artists. If we had as much access to country artists’ personal lives in the early days as we do in the modern age, I’m pretty sure we would have quite a few more negative thoughts about the legends who started everything. Waylon would be known as a greedy asshole. Imagine how much Willie would be villified by the #MeToo movement.
September 23, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Now that I think about it, the music industry in general has gotten relatively light treatment from #MeToo. I have a feeling that will change.
September 24, 2018 @ 4:37 am
It’s just a matter of time.
September 23, 2018 @ 11:52 am
Awsomen l love turnpike troubadours really good music you sould go check them out. I am a big fan of thers.
September 23, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
I’m flying from WA to TX to see their two shows on 28th and 29th and bought tickets a few months ago so this is great news for me cause I’ve been freaking out about it!
September 23, 2018 @ 1:29 pm
Awesome. They are making & following their own rules now!!
September 23, 2018 @ 5:03 pm
Glad to see them back, but I’m a bit disappointed that they aren’t even trying to make up their cancelled dates.
September 23, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
By the way, all comments of a strictly gossipy or personal nature have been, and will continue to be deleted from this comments section. So don’t even try. Either discuss the topic at hand, or take your weak shit back to TMZ.
September 23, 2018 @ 10:12 pm
Triggered much? You never censor “specilative” or “gossipy” comments when it comes to the other pop “country” artists you don’t like and write columns about. Why is Turnpike different and why does their post get this special “warning” ?
September 23, 2018 @ 10:21 pm
Because it’s my fucking website and I’ll do whatever the fuck I want to do with it.
September 23, 2018 @ 11:04 pm
CountryRoads, you’re Shefani stan trolling is obvious and incessantly tiresome.
September 23, 2018 @ 11:42 pm
Nice try. I am a long time commenter on this site. What, specifically, do you disagree with when it comes to my comments?
September 24, 2018 @ 6:25 am
Nah. More like a Sturgill stan who thinks TT, among others (Isbell, Stapleton) are overrated and are not deserving of the praise they get.
September 23, 2018 @ 11:15 pm
You have your JNCO jeans down around your ankles on this one Trigg. Such bias. Why not just fess up to it?
September 24, 2018 @ 7:23 am
Yes, I’m bias because I won’t let commenters call Miranda Lambert a whore on an article that has nothing to do with her.
September 24, 2018 @ 7:11 am
I don’t reply to alot of things but Trig, I loved your reply there. That is all.
September 24, 2018 @ 4:48 pm
Should it not be part of free speech to call out inappropriate behavior to make these people accountable to their bad decisions and hope they won’t do them again? Kind of like when you reported Evan’s drinking I’m sure you were trying to catch his attention to his very inappropriate behavior of coming to concerts drunk and in no condition to entertain his fans and give them what they paid for.
Mostly, this reply if it ever comes out is here to say unlike what was implied before that their “union” (aka adul….. to some) is ok as you’re hoping good music can come out of it is also NOT appropriate in any decent responsible adult world.so yes partly this is also calling you out Trigger that your bias is also not appropriate. If this ever gets out,then that partially absolves you because you are admitting you are also not perfect and hopefully being a “journalist “ you will allow all aspects to be aired out in the future. Now didn’t use any word rhyming with door.
September 24, 2018 @ 5:10 pm
If you think asking folks to respect my comments section is “censorship,” go try leaving a comment over on Rolling Stone. Administrating a comments section is not an act of journalism. It’s a privilege and extreme rarity readers are even extended the right to comment on an article these days. But the only way this privilege can be maintained is if people respect it. I’m not a governmental entity, and if Stans hadn’t exploited this comments section in the past, perhaps I wouldn’t have to delete or edit the comments of anybody.
How emotionally wrapped up must you be in the affairs of others that you would be incited for not being able to leave a comment on an article? Go to your social media feeds and bitch all you want.
September 24, 2018 @ 1:22 pm
Thank you! I love this site and check it daily. I always like reading the comments section too because there are good discussions that happen there and I have found out about other great artists from comments. However, I’ve become very hesitant to enter the comment section of a TT article due to people’s nastiness and hatred. Keep it up Trigger.
September 28, 2018 @ 10:22 am
Yep. Love you bud!
September 24, 2018 @ 5:30 am
I support Trig on this 100%. I come to this site to learn about good music. Not about who sleeps with whom or which artists’ stan-pack can spew the most hateraid at their heroine’s enemy. Keep it focused folks.
September 24, 2018 @ 7:20 am
Maybe, if that is happening, amoung other reasons, it has something to with the fact that their MUSIC is good and some people (like me) care more about that, and are rooting for them. Slight favoritism? Maybe. This isn’t their Wikipedia page, some editorial might bleed in….
September 23, 2018 @ 11:00 pm
Hopefully they come to Australia at some point, we have a serious lack of actual country music here and the people that do come are questionable at best. I tried to contact Luke Bryan and tell him to stay away but he didn’t respond and came anyway…
oh well fingers crossed for turnpike soon.
September 24, 2018 @ 12:00 am
Say it’s four o’clock in the afternoon and you have a show to do at eight. Suddenly, kidneymotherfucking stones. Let’s see your Superfuckingman ass climb the stage at 8 PM. It’s a sorry-ass “fan”who would take exception to that.
September 24, 2018 @ 5:59 am
Great news! I have introduced a few people to Turnpike who have become fans. I was hoping to catch the only show within 5 hours of me but it’s on a Thursday and my PTO is already planned for later in the year.
September 24, 2018 @ 9:28 am
Had their Baton Rouge date circled on my calendar for months, ecstatic that they’ve resumed touring just in time to make it. The fact that they have “tabloid drama” at all is just a sign that they’re getting big enough to make it into the public eye. If you’re letting an artist’s personal affairs get in the way of what you listen to, you’re doing music wrong.
September 28, 2018 @ 11:26 pm
Did Sturgill, for example, have “tabloid drama” follow him to his rise to being in the public eye (in a much, much larger way than Turnpike)? I think not. TT is getting tabloid attention because of Felker’s low class and dumb decisions. Plain and simple.
September 24, 2018 @ 9:42 am
Glad to see they got themselves sorted out. Adding more shows is a good sign too.
September 24, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
I’m looking forward to them rocking my face off in Atlanta in 2 weeks!
September 25, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
Medicine Stone is a quite fitting name considering Felker’s recent troubles. Hopefully the worst is behind him now and they can get back to business as usual.
September 28, 2018 @ 4:41 pm
We were also supposed to go to one of the recent cancelled shows, and were really disappointed ( especially when we got charged for our hotel room). However, we caught the Baton Rouge show last night and it was awesome— as far as we could tell, fully back to their usual form. Completely worth it!
November 27, 2018 @ 11:25 am
Believe u me,A kidney stone is a very painful experience(for a woman) ,I can’t imagine.t he torture it would be for a man. And when one decides to cause u problems,wheather it be passing the stone or Havin to have surgery,I PROMISE U , U HAVE NO WARNING SIGNS! SO PEOPLE HAVE SOME COMPASSION,. IT COULD OF BEEN U!!