Alan Jackson Taps Cool Openers for Upcoming 2020 Tour
If you needed any more confirmation of just how cool Alan Jackson is, for the second year in a row he’s chosen the openers for his upcoming tour not out of the mostly paltry class of up-and-coming major label talent looking for attention. Instead, he’s turned to Lower Broadway in Nashville, and the stage of his own AJ’s Good Time Bar where on a nightly basis you can see the newer and lesser-known acts in Nashville that actually sound country and uphold the standards of quality songwriting in their music.
Last year Alan Jackson tapped James Carothers, Jay Bragg, and Amanda Daughtry to fill the opening slots on his arena tour. This year it will be Cory Farley, duo Carolina Pine, and Saving Country Music Song of the Year nominees The Steel Blossoms. Canadian country artist and Columbia Nashville signee Tenille Townes will also open all dates.
Sara Zebley and Hayley Prosser of The Steel Blossoms are two former elementary school teachers who met in Pennsylvania while playing in separate projects. Immediately noticing a musical kinship between each other, the Steel Blossoms were formed, eventually relocating to Nashville and spending ample time developing their songs and sound on the road and house concerts. Evoking the timeless sorcery of two-part harmonies, and penning songs that put this gift to good use, they’ve been haunting lower Broadway for a while now, and will now get to test their music in front of arena crowds.
From a small town in Iowa where he was raised on a large beef farm, Cory Farley was first drawn to country music from hearing the old classic tunes playing on his grandfather’s radio. He started his career while living in Phoenix and attending school, and moved to Nashville in 2010 to pursue country music full time. Since then he’s become a staple of lower Broadway, playing AJ’s Good Time Bar and The Second Fiddle on a nightly basis with his band.
Carolina Pine is a classic country duo that includes Kennedy Fitzsimmons from North Carolina, and Illinois native Woody James. They moved to Nashville separately, eventually crossing paths while playing a gig together and decided to form a duo. They cite their influences as George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Daryle Singletary, Allison Krauss, and Merle Haggard. They released a couple of singles in 2019, and hope to release an album soon.
Alan Jackson Tour Dates & Openers:
(Note: The Alan Jackson camp says more dates are on the way. Also, two dates in August have been added with TBA venues, with the two previously-announced August concerts being pushed later.)
All dates also opened by Tenille Townes.
- Friday, Jan. 10: Cincinnati, OH (Heritage Bank Center) – The Steel Blossoms
- Saturday, Jan. 11: Columbia, SC (Colonial Life Arena) – The Steel Blossoms
- Friday, Feb. 14: Atlanta, GA (State Farm Arena) – Carolina Pine
- Saturday, Feb. 15: New Orleans, LA (Smoothie King Center) – Carolina Pine
- Friday, Feb. 21: El Paso, TX (UTEP Don Haskins Center) – Cory Farley
- Saturday, Feb. 22: Fort Worth, TX (Dickies Arena) – Cory Farley
- Thursday, March 26: Tulsa, OK (BOK Center) – Cory Farley
- Friday, March 27: Springfield, MO (JQH Arena) – Cory Farley
- Saturday, April 25: Glendale, AZ (Gila River Arena) – Carolina Pine
- Sunday, April 26: Indio, CA (Stagecoach Festival)
- Thursday, July 9: Ft. Loramie, OH (Country Concert)
- Friday, Aug. 7: Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena)
- Friday, Aug. 14: TBA – The Steel Blossoms
- Saturday, Aug. 15: TBA – The Steel Blossoms
- Friday, Aug. 28: Detroit, MI (Little Caesars Arena) – Carolina Pine
- Saturday, Aug. 29 Green Bay, WI (Resch Center) – Carolina Pine
- Friday, Sept. 11: Des Moines, IA (Wells Fargo Arena) – Cory Farley
- Saturday, Sept. 12: Milwaukee, WI (Fiserv Forum) – Cory Farley
- Friday, Oct. 2: Salt Lake City, UT (Vivint Smart Home Arena) – The Steel Blossoms
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Denver, CO (Pepsi Center) – The Steel Blossoms
December 29, 2019 @ 10:16 am
If that 14th or 15th is Pittsburgh (or near me), I’ll go. I haven’t seen Jackson in concert since 2004.
December 29, 2019 @ 10:33 am
I live two hours south of Pittsburgh… Fingers crossed!!!
December 30, 2019 @ 10:00 am
He played in Pittsburgh in March 2018, so I’d be surprised if he’d be playing there again. As expected, it was great show.
December 29, 2019 @ 10:46 am
One by one……major labels watch what they used to control disappear from their grasp.
December 29, 2019 @ 11:09 am
Awesome – Alan Jackson rocks and we all know how much passion he has for country music.
December 29, 2019 @ 11:12 am
Is this an up to date tour schedule? Aug 14 was announced for. Cleveland, OH back in November. Haven’t heard of anything changing 😳
December 29, 2019 @ 11:29 am
Yes, apparently they moved the two previously-announced August dates forward, and are adding two more dates in mid August with stops TBA. This is the most up-to-date schedule.
December 29, 2019 @ 1:19 pm
I don’t get anything out of Tenille Towns’ recorded material, but live she is impeccable. Hopefully she can line up with the right producer for future releases. Her voice needs to breathe.
December 29, 2019 @ 3:22 pm
unfortunately her label and its handling of tenille has undermined the authenticity which , along with her songwriting , makes her so special , so unique and so NEEDED in today’s mainstream ‘country’ music climate . as a fan from the get-go i was soooo disappointed at how messy the label versions of her material turned out : loud , trend-chasing , beat-driven and mostly non-descript . listen to the stripped-down original versions of her songs and be amazed at the power in her performances and lyrics .
December 29, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
They overcompress her voice which places the focus on the raspiness of it, and makes it sound more pronounced than it actually is when you hear her sing. Hell, she can sing the hell out of Let Him Fly by Patty Griffin (I worked a Dierks show last winter and heard her play it during soundcheck. I hope she actually performs it live once in awhile). If her voice was as raspy as it sounds recorded, she couldn’t even attempt to sing that song.
December 29, 2019 @ 4:16 pm
I want so much to see Alan Jackson in Columbia
December 29, 2019 @ 6:19 pm
So thankful that the Steel Blossoms have been given this opportunity. They are such special young women who are so hard working. I can’t wait to see them in Cincinnati
December 30, 2019 @ 11:07 am
Great Alan is taking Tenille Townes out. First time I saw or heard of her was when she was out with Miranda, infact she was out with Miranda a couple tours. Fans will love her. She is on her way to becoming a Big Country Music Star. She will be a plus out on Alan’s tour, sure he knows it. She calls Miranda one of her mentors, now she will have Alan to add to her list!
December 30, 2019 @ 5:04 pm
tenille is such a huge breath of fresh air in these stale , generic mainstream times . she is not only one of the best writers to come down the line but she has a unique and arresting vocal style and something to say with it .
i’m happy that she’s opened for the two majorly gifted headliners mentioned and not stuck on a f****** lady antebelum or big little town tour where THAT fanbase would not appreciate her songs OR her style .
now if she can just get her label to layoff her style and let her be who she is . how often have we seen these labels totally screw up when it comes to producing an artist who already has it all together ?
December 30, 2019 @ 6:29 pm
Good for Corey Farley. I was lucky enough to be in Second Fiddle on Broadway when he was playing on a Saturday night last year and he was amazing. Couldn’t have happened to a better performer.
December 30, 2019 @ 6:33 pm
*One ommission Trigger, last year a young singer named Francelle was also part of the group of artists from A.J.’s selected to open on the tour.
December 30, 2019 @ 7:49 pm
AJ is the man! I grew up in Newnan and am proud of him and the great music he sings. Have seen him 7-8 times – last year in Charlotte. His show in ATL in 2 weeks will be awesome!😀
December 31, 2019 @ 8:02 am
We were scheduled to see Alsn Jsckson in NH but the show was cancelled. Sure would love to see him come here. We just love him
Any input as to if he will add New Hampshire to his tour schedule.
December 31, 2019 @ 9:44 am
Have not heard anything specifically about a rescheduled New Hampshire show, but the Alan Jackson camp is saying more shows on this tour will be announced.
December 31, 2019 @ 11:54 am
I am so proud of my nephew, Cory Farley. I am excited for you and this opportunity to open for one of the all time legends!!