Willi Carlisle Announces Triumphant Headlining Tour

Folks have been raving over the whimsical folk country songwriting found on Willi Carlisle’s recent album Peculiar, Missouri, and appropriately so. There’s a reason it was named one of Saving Country Music’s Most Essential Albums in 2022, along with his song “Tulsa’s Last Magician” being nominated for Song of the Year.
Despite all of those accolades and many more—and not to diminish any of Willi’s studio work whatsoever—folks who’ve seen him perform live will attest that in the flesh is where the magic of Willi Carlisle really shines. His knack for storytelling, showmanship, and holding an audience in his hands whether it’s a silly tale or a seriously sentimental tear-jerkier is second to none.
This is why you should pay close attention to Willi’s recently announced tour dates. These will be many of his first big dates as a headliner, and after having found a higher level of attention through the new album. He’s also been finding a new following from opening shows recently for Sierra Ferrell, American Aquarium, and others.
“From my first days of playing nursing homes and coffee shops, singing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ to children and old folks, to headlining these honky-tonks and venues, we’ve been building a community of folksongs for just about a decade,” says Carlisle. “If you don’t know, these shows are full of good-will, sing-alongs, tear-jerkers, and some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. If your version of ‘outlaw shit’ is having a couple drinks with your new friends and raising your voices together, I think these shows will be just rough-and-tumble enough for ya. I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
Speaking of Outlaws, Willie Carlisle is also nominated for the Ameripolitan Awards Best Outlaw Male for 2023. He will be performing at the Ameripolitan weekender right before the upcoming tour commences. Willi’s definitely one of those artists you want to see in smaller venues for cheaper tickets while you can.
Willi Carlisle Spring 2023 Tour Dates:
2.21 COLUMBIA, MO – ROSE MUSIC HALL
2.22 ST. LOUIS, MO – OFF BROADWAY
2.23 NEWPORT, KY – THE SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL – SANCTUARY
2.24 INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DUKE’S INDY
2.25 COLUMBUS, OH – RUMBA CAFE
2.27 CLEVELAND, OH – BEACHLAND BALLROOM & TAVERN
2.28 PITTSBURGH, PA – CLUB CAFE
3.1 ROCHESTER, NY – WATER STREET MUSIC HALL
3.2 MANCHESTER, VT – BILLSVILLE HOUSE CONCERT
3.4 NORTHAMPTON, MA – BACK PORCH MUSIC FESTIVAL
3.7 EXETER, NH – THE WOOD BARN
3.8 BROOKLYN, NY – SKINNY DENNIS
3.9 PHILADELPHIA, PA – MILKBOY
3.10 BALTIMORE, MD – THE 8X10
3.11 MORGANTOWN, WV – 123 PLEASANT STREET
3.12 DURHAM, NC – THE PINHOOK
3.13 ASHEVILLE, NC – THE GREY EAGLE
3.15 CHATTANOOGA, TN – CHERRY STREET TAVERN
3.16 KNOXVILLE, TN – BARLEY’S TAP ROOM
3.17 LEXINGTON, KY – THE BURL
3.18 NASHVILLE, TN – THE BASEMENT
3.21 CHICAGO, IL – SLEEPING VILLAGE
3.22 MILWAUKEE, WI – SHANK HALL
3.23 WISCONSIN DELLS, WI – SHOWBOAT SALOON
3.24 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – 7TH ST ENTRY
3.25 DES MOINES, IA – XBK
3.26 DAVENPORT, IA – THE RACCOON MOTEL
3.28 OMAHA, NE – REVERB LOUNGE
4.7 TULSA, OK – PHILBROOK MUSEUM
4.8 LITTLE ROCK, AR STICKYZ ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHICKEN SHACK
4.9 MEMPHIS, TN – CROSSTOWN ARTS
4.11 OXFORD, MS – PROUD LARRY’S
4.12 BIRMINGHAM, AL – SATURN
4.13 ATHENS, GA w/ Sierra Ferrell -GEORGIA THEATRE
4.14 ATLANTA, GA w/ Sierra Ferrell – VARIETY PLAYHOUSE
4.16 KANSAS CITY, MO – KNUCKLEHEADS
4.19 FORT COLLINS, CO – THE COAST
4.21 SALT LAKE CITY, UT w/ Sierra Ferrell – THE DEPOT
4.22 DENVER, CO – GLOBE HALL
4.23 TRINIDAD, CO – TRINIDAD LOUNGE
4.24 SANTA FE, NM w/ Sierra Ferrell – LENSIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
4.26 FORT WORTH, TX – THE POST
4.27 AUSTIN, TX – PARAMOUNT
4.28 SAN ANTONIO, TX – PAPER TIGER
4.29 HOUSTON, TX – MUCKY DUCK
January 31, 2023 @ 7:31 pm
He’s playing in Brooklyn the same night as Joshua Ray Walker/ the Vandoliers. What’re we thinking?
January 31, 2023 @ 7:51 pm
Buy two tickets and run back and forth between the venues every fifteen minutes or so.
January 31, 2023 @ 10:37 pm
JRW live CANNOT be denied. Seriously. “We’re on the road to nowhere, every stop could be our home…” I fucking cried when he sang “Voices”.
February 1, 2023 @ 7:29 am
Looks like he added a 10:30 performance in Brooklyn. The first one is sold out already.
February 1, 2023 @ 7:44 am
Guess it’ll be a long and late night!
February 2, 2023 @ 7:02 am
Hell yeah, brother.
January 31, 2023 @ 8:05 pm
Kicking off his tour in my hometown, very cool. Peculiar MO was definitely in my top 3 albums last year
January 31, 2023 @ 8:07 pm
no Fargo?..that sucks. he killed it the last time he was here
February 1, 2023 @ 4:40 am
Peculiar, Missouri is my favorite album of 2022. Check my top 15: https://www.altcountry.nl/blog/2022/12/favorieten-2022-john-gjaltema/
The readers of this Dutch site also chose it as one of the best records of the year: https://www.altcountry.nl/blog/2022/12/de-15-van-2022/
Hopefully he’ll head to the Netherlands as well after this tour.
February 1, 2023 @ 6:08 am
No disrespect Coat, but I saw Willi love last night at the baseement and there wasn’t a dry eye during half of his set. I’m just saying putting any artist up in a crying contest against Willi is a tall order.
February 1, 2023 @ 6:25 am
In Minneapolis he is playing with Willy Tea Taylor, cant wait!
February 1, 2023 @ 7:06 am
Not sure if it is the entire tour, but it looks like Willy Tea Taylor is opening the Pittsburgh show. That makes it tougher to miss for me.
February 1, 2023 @ 2:42 pm
Saw him at the Basement East in Nashville last night and my god was he brilliant. No disrespect to the other amazing singer-songwriters on stage with him, Danny Kiranos (Amigo the Devil) and Stephanie Lambring, but Willi knocked it out of the park. One of his songs, I think it’s called ‘Where the Money Grows on Trees’, about a corrupt cop taking a cut of the marijuana trade in Arkansas, I predict is going to be a showstopper when he plays it on tour.
February 2, 2023 @ 7:01 am
May have to make the trip to check out.