Mike & The Moonpies Ride High Praise Into 2020 Tour
Mike and the Moonpies are bar none the best country music band out there at the moment, and recently tied for 1st in Saving Country Music’s rundown of the Best Live Performers in 2019. The Austin-based honky tonk band recently announced new tour dates, and needless to say, if you know what’s good for you, you should pony up and get your butt to a show if humanly possible.
Mike and the Moonpies will be embarking on their ‘Tour’n It Up’ tour with The Vegabonds and the Quaker City Nighthawks on select dates this February—two bands that ain’t slouches live themselves. Then for all you European folks who’ve been hankering to check The Moonpies out, you’ll have your opportunity in March and April when the play 14 different dates in northern Europe, and then return in July for a festival in Spain.
In between are a bunch of appearances in Texas, as well as marquee festival shows at the Music Fest in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida. Their latest album Cheap Silver & Solid Country Gold is on the tip of people’s tongues as one of the best records in 2019, and getting lots of end-of-year list love. This may be one of those situations where your opportunity to see a band like this in smaller venues is finite, so take advantage of it while you can.
Mike and the Moonpies Tour dates:
26 Dec – Hank’s Texas Grill – Mckinney, TX
27 Dec – The Kessler Theater – Dallas, TX
28 Dec – The Old Coupland Inn & Dancehall – Coupland, TX
31 Dec – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
03 Jan – Sam’s Town Point – Austin, TX
06 Jan – Steamboat Springs, CO – Steamboat Springs, CO
14 Jan – The Olympic Venue – Boise, ID
15 Jan – Top Hat Lounge – Missoula, MT
16 Jan – Rialto Bozeman – Bozeman, MT
17 Jan – The Mint – Hailey, ID
18 Jan – The Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT
19 Jan – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
23 Jan – The High Watt – Nashville, TN
24 Jan – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
30 Jan – Mile 0 Fest Key West – Key West, FL
06 Feb – Magnolia Motor Lounge – Fort Worth, TX
08 Feb – Nacogdoches County Exposition & Civic Center – Nacogdoches, TX
10 Feb – Hoot’s Pub – Amarillo, TX w/ The Vegabonds
11 Feb – Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO w/ The Vegabonds
14 Feb – Moxi Theater – Greeley, CO w/ The Vegabonds
15 Feb – Schmiggity’s Live Music & Dance Bar – Steamboat Springs, CO w/ The Vegabonds
18 Feb – The Olympic Venue – Boise, ID w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
20 Feb – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
21 Feb – Polaris Hall – Portland, OR w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
22 Feb – Sam Bond’s Garage – Eugene, OR w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
24 Feb – Goldfield Trading Post – Sacramento, CA w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
25 Feb – Neck Of the Woods – San Francisco, CA w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
26 Feb – The Siren – Morro Bay, CA w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
27 Feb – Pappy & Harriet’s – Pioneertown, CA w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
28 Feb – The Rebel Lounge – Phoenix, AZ w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
29 Feb – The Liberty – Roswell, NM w/ Quaker City Night Hawks
06 Mar – Antone’s – Austin, TX
13 Mar – Spaugy’s ice House – Mission, TX
14 Mar – John T. Floore Country Store – Helotes, TX
21 Mar – Outlaws and Legends Music Fest – Abilene, TX
25 Mar – The Islington – London, United Kingdom
26 Mar – Der Aa-Theater – Groningen, Netherlands
27 Mar – Folk å Rock – Malmö, Sweden
28 Mar – Bryggarsalen – Stockholm, Sweden
30 Mar – Pustervik – Göteborg, Sweden
01 Apr – Krøsset – Oslo, Norway
02 Apr – Bar Moskus – Trondheim, Norway
03 Apr – Broken Dreams Auditorium – Borlänge, Sweden
04 Apr – Hotel Hulingen – Hultsfred, Sweden
07 Apr – Music Star – Norderstedt, Germany
09 Apr – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands
10 Apr – Festivalterrein Paaspop (Molenheide) – Schijndel, Netherlands
11 Apr – Het Groot Verzet – Lint, Belgium
11 Jul – HUERCASA COUNTRY FESTIVAL – Riaza, Spain
December 21, 2019 @ 12:34 pm
I didn’t know you “tied” Mike & The Moonpies and Billy Strings in your rankings! That makes more sense and me 1/2 correct.
My biggest regret this past year was missing Mike and The Moonpies when they came through Pittsburgh in March and played a tiny venue – Club Cafe. That week I blundered every decision. It was supposed to be my last (extended) weekend to party before the season started … get it out of my system (I own a small lawn maintenance company). The week leading up up to it, we were edging flowerbeds and laying mulch in snow flurries. It was unseasonably cold, especially in the morning, but we were layering and plowing through it.
That Thursday was Whitey Morgan in Morgantown, Saturday was the monthly Honky-Tonk Jukebox at the Elks Club in the North Side, Monday was Mike and the Moonpies. It all looked unbelievable on paper.
We went to Whitey Morgan and stayed in Morgantown and partied like just released inmates. However, that same night Whiskey Myers was playing in Pittsburgh. Whitey was just ok (he lost the crowd with too many covers); I heard Whiskey Myers was incredible. If I had it to do over, I’d have went to Whiskey Myers.
Licking our wounds two days later, I partied too hard at the Honky-tonk that Saturday night. When I got up Sunday, I had the worse chest cold. It was a game time decision right up to showtime, but I had to sit out Mike and the Moonpies. Even if I could drink and snort myself to respectability, I had this cough which would have been irritating to everyone around me. And I had to think about getting myself ready for work that week.
If I had to do it all over again: Whiskey Myers, no Honky-tonk, and Mike and The Moonpies. Now, I doubt Mike and The Moonpies ever get near Pittsburgh again and they are graduating from intimate venues like Club Cafe.
Getting old sucks. Just 10 years ago, we were doing back-to-back-to-back Hank III shows without a whimper.
December 21, 2019 @ 2:01 pm
Getting old does suck, but something tells me you’ve lived a full show-going life.
December 23, 2019 @ 8:42 am
I was at the Club Cafe for the Mike and the Moonpies concert. It was fantastic. There were very few people there, but the band took that in stride and gave us a great performance. I took my sister-in-law along and she developed a music-crush on the whole band. She said she just hadn’t known that music could be so much fun. She went to the Americana fest with me just to see them again— and ended up having a wonderful time during the whole festival.
December 23, 2019 @ 10:48 am
That’s awesome! I wish I could have been there!
December 21, 2019 @ 1:19 pm
Great news. Still haven’t seen them live, but hope to this go around. As an aside / heads up for others, the Arthur Hancock EP that came out a few months ago is killer. Definitely worth checking out.
December 21, 2019 @ 1:44 pm
Tickets purchased. Can’t wait. 3rd Moonpies show in 12 months. Always amazing.
December 21, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
You wanna know how hard this band works? On the 4th of July I’m almost positive if I remember correctly they played a day/late afternoon gig somewhere about 6 hours away from here then drove in for a closing slot at Fitzgeralds Annual American Music Festival @ 10:30 on a dinky stage in the sidebar. Now mind you I’d seen Sarah there the night before and during the day on the 4th drinkin whiskey, I was fuckin exhausted on top of the fact they wanted another $50 to get in. Feeling sad now I missed it. Sometimes I can be a cheap old lazy ass too. Sorry Mike.
December 21, 2019 @ 2:58 pm
What can people tell me about the Lincoln Theater in Raleigh, NC? I’m from DC, and that’s the closest they’re coming. Worth the drive?
I’ve come to these guys relatively recently. They sound to me like descendants of the very best of 70s country. Is that how others experience them? It’s a very warm sound and brings me back to good days.
December 23, 2019 @ 11:06 pm
The lincoln is a decent venue, typically all GA. Bigger than some but not huge either. Ample parking, or Raleigh is a great town to stay in otherwise. I would highly recommend going to that show, it’s American Aquarium’s shebang and BJ does a great job every year. Openers play for a long while and then AA will have you there past midnight playing, talking, signing, etc. (would imagine MATM will be part of that as well).
December 27, 2019 @ 7:44 pm
The Lincoln is a pretty decent venue. I’ve seen BlackBerry Smoke, Cody Jinks and White Morgan, and The Turnpike Troubadours there. Its standing room only, but there’s really not a bad spot in the place. The Theatre has its own parking lot , there’s a pay kiosk in the corner, don’t wanna get towed while having the time of your life you lucky joker.lol
December 21, 2019 @ 5:47 pm
Matt, go for it, we went to see them a year and a half ago in NYC, bummed theyre not coming anywhere close, but one of the best shows we’ve seen, and the new CD is, hands down, the best recording of the year, Mike is in a very creative and productive phase, hope he keeps it going.
So, Yes, go and enjoy one of the best bands out there! Nashville are you listening?? Wake the hell up and start realizing how much great music is out there! Sheesh!
December 21, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
Thanks, J. It looks like it’s an American Aquarium show, so maybe Mike is opening for AA? I’m not crazy about AA’s recorded music, but I’ve read they’re good live.
December 23, 2019 @ 11:10 pm
Missed seeing this, it’s less of an American Aquarium show and more of a festival. It lasts for a while and they usually bring the openers back onstage, etc. BJ is great live, better than the records. Smart, funny, in total control of the audience and all around good guy. Recommend.
December 21, 2019 @ 6:07 pm
We have seen these guys play several times.. Always a great show..Highly recommend if they are any where need ya- GET THERE!
December 21, 2019 @ 8:41 pm
March 14th!
December 21, 2019 @ 11:30 pm
I’m pretty pumped to be opening for them in Fort Worth on 2/6, Trigger you should come up from Austin!
December 22, 2019 @ 5:36 am
I have seen them three times and every time was great. Once was in Milwaukee in front of 23 people and they played like there were 300 there. However, I am in the minority of readers of this site in that I do not care for the latest record. Too many strings, which remind me of the Nashville Sound which was not for me. The Bakersfield sound was so much better. Maybe I have to give it a few more spins.
December 22, 2019 @ 8:50 am
https://facebook.com/events/591084831719288
December 22, 2019 @ 9:46 am
All of that, and about one date in the Deep South. Maybe next time, fellas.
December 22, 2019 @ 10:22 am
I don’t know what the combined population of the entire Deep South area is, but I would put money on it being more than the 10million or so population of Sweden, a country that is being treated to 5 dates on this tour. I can’t see the sense in Sweden getting 5 and other places getting few, or none.
December 22, 2019 @ 10:41 am
First, this is just a select group of dates. Apparently they’re going to have a big tour with Shooter Jennings they will be announcing in the future. They’re not ignoring any part of the country any more than they will ignore Europe and the West when they announce their summer and fall dates, and don’t play in those regions because they just did.
Second, no region in the world at the moment, I repeat, no region in THE WORLD at the moment, is supporting independent roots music per capita more than Sweden. Not Texas, not The South, nowhere. Artists make more money, and get treated better there than anywhere else. It is an important support base for artist like Mike and the Moonpies to develop.
December 22, 2019 @ 11:18 am
Thanks for explaining! It makes more sense doing so many Sweden dates now. I thought they might have done more than one date in United Kingdom though, particularly given that was where they recorded their latest album. It is great to hear that they are treated well in places like Sweden. I hope it goes well for them.
December 23, 2019 @ 10:39 am
“Second, no region in the world at the moment, I repeat, no region in THE WORLD at the moment, is supporting independent roots music per capita more than Sweden. Not Texas, not The South, nowhere.”
I couldn’t agree more. I’ve been begging Pat Reedy to do a West Virginia/ Pittsburgh stop. I even sent him venue information. But, he’s always flying over to Sweden and that region. Bob Wayne practically lives in Europe. You know it’s not cheap to fly over there, so they have to be making more money than here in the states. It’s amazing and embarrassing.
December 22, 2019 @ 10:17 am
I have seen them 3 times at Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City.. always a great time and unbelievable show! Highly recommend seeing them!
December 22, 2019 @ 2:12 pm
I wonder how the attendance goes in Europe in general for US country acts? I’d guess northern Europe across the board is pretty good for more traditional music.
France must just hate this kind of stuff!
December 23, 2019 @ 6:32 am
Japan is huge for traditional country music. A friend of mine went over there and played and was treated like gold. Their biggest artist is Charlie nagatani (sp) and he runs what’s called the country gold festival in October. It’s the largest outdoor venue in the world and on an active volcano.
Sweden has a festival I’ve heard that approaches almost a half million people over a few days.
Australia is pretty big for country music as they have their own charts too. Times may have changed obviously but at one point it was a loss leader to go there. Garth documented it in one of his books as he was told not to go there. He sold out 11 shows and lost money. Shipping costs were sky high.
January 6, 2020 @ 6:54 am
Traditional (country) music is booming in Europe atm. Not just Scandinavia. Stoked to see Mike And The Moonpies in Groningen!
December 26, 2019 @ 6:37 pm
I agree with the Moonpies choice, granted I haven’t heard everything out there, but I love this album as much as their previous ones. I do like the strings, and think they work well with the songs, and Zach Moulton’s pedal steel playing, I always like the sweeping sound that they both have. Lots of rock bands in the seventies used steel and string quite a bit.
The new Springsteen album Western Stars is somewhat similar in approach and is on top of my yearly list as well, the live recorded version of the album is even better than the studio version and the strings are prominent in the recording. Check out the videos or the film as well.
Its been a great year for music and I appreciate your reviews and heads ups on what to check out Trigger, hope you and everyone here has a great new year!
December 30, 2019 @ 7:59 am
I caught Mike and the Moonpies on 12/21 at a small dinner/music venue in Angleton, Tx. called The Dirty South. It was a wonderful show. Not sure if the band or the venue handles the sound but, they did a fantastic job. Dinner, drinks, dancing and great music. Perfect night.