Mary Chapin Carpenter, Brandy Clark Announce Joint Tour

Some might be surprised to hear it, but anyone who’s seen Mary Chapin Carpenter perform recently will attest that she’s great live, and hasn’t slipped an inch from her commercial heyday in the ’90s.
She might be regarded just as much as a folk artist these days as a country one. But back in the day when country was all about Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and Brooks & Dunn, Carpenter was keeping up with the guys by minting radio hits, selling millions of records, and allegedly turning down passes from Dwight Yoakam. She brings that same spark and fire, along with rousing renditions of her classic hits and more contemporary songs to the stage.
Meanwhile Brandy Clark is one of the most critically-acclaimed performers and songwriters from the mainstream world, who also has found a whole mess of fans in the Americana and independent country realm as well. She’s performed Grammy-winning songs, written CMA Awards winners, and even has a Tony nomination for her recent musical Shucked, inspired by Hee-Haw.
Both of these talented women will be hitting the road together in 2025 and packing out theaters on a joint tour. They didn’t give it a snazzy name, so just allow me to coin it the “Kickass Ladies of Country Tour,” and don’t kick yourself for missing it if it happens to be rolling through your town.
Pre-sale tickets went live Tuesday (2-11) (Code: MCC25). Full tickets go on sale this Friday, February 14th at 10AM Local Time. Tickets are available at marychapincarpenter.com/tour.
Brandy Clark / Mary Chapin Carpenter Tour Dates:
June 9 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall
June 10 – Seattle, WA – Benaroya Hall
June 11 – Eugene, OR – Hult Center
June 13 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre
June 14 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
June 16 – Santa Barbara, CA – Lobero Theatre
June 19 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys
June 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Wilshire Ebell Theatre
June 21 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Theatre
June 22 – Scottsdale, AZ – Scottsdale Performing Arts Center
June 25 – Denver, CO – Botanic Gardens
June 26 – Colorado Springs, CO – Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center
June 27 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion
June 28 – Fort Collins, CO – Venue TBA
August 1 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
August 2 – Laconia, NH – Colonial Theatre
August 3 – Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts
August 6 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
August 7 – Grand Rapids, MI – Venue TBA
August 8 – Chautauqua, NY – Chautauqua Amphitheater
August 9 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Bardavon
August 10 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music
August 12 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
August 13 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
August 14 – Kennett Square, PA – Venue TBA
August 15 – Richmond, VA – The National
August 16 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
September 25 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre
September 26 – Rutland, VT – Paramount Theatre
September 27 – New York, NY – Town Hall
September 28 – Princeton, NJ – McCarter Theatre
September 30 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
October 1 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
October 2 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 3 – Chattanooga, TN – Walker Theatre
October 4 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theater
October 5 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
October 7 – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater
October 8 – Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan Theater
October 9 – Evanston, IL – Cahn Auditorium
October 10 – Madison, WI – The Orpheum
October 11 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
February 11, 2025 @ 7:51 pm
What a great pairing! But unfortunately they are not coming close to me, so I won’t get to see them.
February 12, 2025 @ 3:14 am
would love them to tour europe.
February 13, 2025 @ 2:01 am
Mary Chapin Carpenter is playing in the UK next month, with folk singers Julie Fowlis and Karine Polwart. They are doing some shows for their joint album, “Looking For The Thread”. – It’ll definitely be a folk show, and there aren’t many tickets left.
02 March – Manchester – Aviva Studios
03 March – Birmingham – Town Hall
05 March – London – London Palladium
06 March – Sunderland – The Fire Station
07 March – Edinburgh – Festival Theatre
08 March – Edinburgh – Festival Theatre
February 12, 2025 @ 6:18 am
I know I mentioned this at least once before, but the first time I saw Mary Chapin Carpenter was in what I think was early ’92 at the old Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. It was her and her buddy Shawn Colvin sharing the stage. She previewed I Feel Lucky for us, and the two music stars named were Lyle Lovett and Chris Isaak. Then, when Come On Come On came out, ishe replaced Chris Isaak with Dwight Yoakam. I thought, well, I guess they made her replace Chris Isaak with a country star. At that time, I thought Chris Isaak was way cooler than Dwight Yoakam. Hadn’t been able to get into Dwight yet. Several years later, I started seeing the light and he is my absolute favorite country music artist. And as Ray Wylie might say, I think he’s cooler-n-hell.
February 12, 2025 @ 8:27 am
The first time I attended a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert, it was the Stones in the Road tour in 1996. The Mavericks were her opening act. Still one of my all-time favorite shows. It was at the the AJ Palumbo Center on at the campus of Duquesne University and She broke the 11 pm curfew : “I know tomorrow is Easter Sunday and I totally understand if some of you need to leave. But the rest of us sinners are going to rock on.”
February 14, 2025 @ 6:29 am
I would see her again in ’96 or ’97 in the early days of the current Birchmere (just a few blocks down Mt. Vernon Ave from the old place). Those were both great shows. The fact that it was a hometown crowd helped. I remember she brought dog on stage on one point (the encore, maybe). And she told a story about what I think was a fairly recent experience at the GRAMMYS where she got “mowed down” by Mariah Carey’s security detail. “And I’m still pissed,” she said.
Stones in the Road was a great album and the last one of hers that I’ve gotten into. The next one (A Place in the World) didn’t do much for me. Thought it was a but lackluster. I think that might have been the last one that got any attention from the mainstream country world. From what I heard from some subsequent releases, they seemed more like adult contemporary folk music and I wasn’t really getting into albums like that as much anymore. Haven’t given them much of a chance.
February 13, 2025 @ 4:02 am
@jack–The names are sort of interchangeable.
Like Mel Tillis when he did “Coca-Cola Cowboy” would change a name in”You got a Eastwood smile and a Robert Redford hair” to the name of somoeoe else who happened to be on the stage or nearby.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbX6-528IrQ
At the CMA’s Mary Chapin ran into a Dwight Yoakum “impersonator.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgWzIl57bow
February 13, 2025 @ 12:07 pm
Yeah, it didn’t ruin for me.
I was to soon get into Lyle Lovett when I got his new album Joshua Judges Ruth in a CD club deal and then quickly visited his back catalog. But it took me several more years to get it with respect to Dwight.
Thanks for the video link. I know that impersonator! Another stylish gentleman.
February 12, 2025 @ 7:59 am
I absolutely love Mary Chapin carpenter but had held off on seeing her because I had been worried about whether she was still worth it at this point. This article alone is enough to make me change my mind.
She’s the same age as my mom and she was my mom’s favorite when I was a child. So her music always felt like my mom talking to me. Will have to see her.
February 12, 2025 @ 8:40 am
I saw her a year or two ago at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. It blew my mind and everyone else’s. Having not seen her in many years, I honestly just didn’t know what to expect. She was high energy, engaged, great band, and great song selection of old and new stuff. I don’t want to be hyperbolic about it, but it was one of my favorite sets from someone who you may not assume is still out there kicking ass on stage. If you love her music, you will love her live.
February 12, 2025 @ 8:59 am
I will definitely see her at the Charlotte show then. Thanks!
February 12, 2025 @ 9:40 am
They’re gonna be in two places near me: NYC and Princeton. If I get tickets, it’ll probably be to the Princeton show.
February 12, 2025 @ 9:41 am
Disappointed Atlanta or anywhere in GA is not on the tour.
February 12, 2025 @ 10:38 am
Plenty of New England dates. No surprise, as she’s always drawn well in the Northeast, especially in college towns like Northampton.
I saw her at the legendary Toad’s Place in New Haven (speaking of college towns) back in the ’90s. Amazing show, and she was joined by Connecticut’s own Big Al Anderson (ex-NRBQ, current Nashville resident and songwriter) for a couple of songs.
February 12, 2025 @ 2:53 pm
If you get a chance, see her at the Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield, Maine. It is way out there in the woods of Maine, and more expensive, but it is worth it- it has great food, is a beautiful, very intimate venue, and you’ll be glad you went. Oh and bring a map, you just may lose your wifi out there!!
February 12, 2025 @ 4:07 pm
Glad MCSquare and Brandy are teaming up for a tour,but Dwight Yoakam,while a great act,is,well,UGLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 12, 2025 @ 4:19 pm
Chapin is one of those artists who found success in country, but was really a completely singular artist. During Covid, I loved for her performances from home. She’s always reinterpreting her songs, even using different tunings on older stuff. I am definitely going to try to see her live.
February 12, 2025 @ 7:14 pm
DAMN it’s happening AGAIN, first with Dwight Yoakum and now with MCC, they’re playing practically (no, actually) walking distance from my house (2 miles) on nights I can’t go or won’t be around. GRRR the gods hate me. Well maybe I can catch her later that week she’ll only be 50 miles away. Really great to hear she’s still out there playing, I really liked her style of country back in the 90’s.
February 13, 2025 @ 8:12 pm
“Come On, Come On”… one of my all time favorite albums.
Even back then, if you listened to her whole albums outside of just her radio hits, she felt like just as much of a AAA (Adult Album Alternative) or “Lilith Fair” artist who happened to do some songs that fit with mainstream country radio. How many Nashville stars were using Shawn Colvin (still a few years away from her moment in the mainstream with “Sunny Came Home”) and the Indigo Girls as backup vocalists? The all-star performance of her song “The Hard Way” in that “Women of Country” special on CBS in 1993, that brought generations of icons from Patsy Montana to Pam Tillis together, was a stirring moment, even if I didn’t really appreciate the history of country music much as a pre-teen.
Then came Shania Twain, and it seemed female country artists had to sell sex to get airplay. Mary-Chapin didn’t, and her chart success evaporated. But she never really played by Nashville’s rules 100% anyway.
Incidentally, I saw Brandy Clark as Lionel Richie’s opening act a few years ago. She puts on a good show and she’s unapologetically country. I recommend her highly.