American Aquarium Sure Can Pick Some Tour Openers
Live music is back folks, so don’t be the loser sitting on your couch watching Law & Order reruns and turning in early when your favorite band comes rolling through town, especially if it’s American Aquarium, and especially with the openers they’re bringing out with them on this upcoming tour.
It’s only a gaggle of dates at the moment up the gut of the country (more coming). But if you want to know who some of the best songwriters in independent roots are at the moment, just check out who American Aquarium has booked to help them open. It’s like a who’s who of the hottest songwriters at the moment.
Gabe Lee – Considered by many as a serious contender for one of the best songwriters in all of country music right now, his more acoustic 2019 album Farmland, and 2020’s more electric album Honky Tonk Hell have been the talk of independent country circles, and have most anyone who’s given him a listen singing his praises. Gabe Lee was nominated for the Saving Country Music Song of the Year in both 2019 (“Eveline”), and in 2020 (“Emmylou”). What he can do with just an acoustic guitar can blow away most full bands.
Emily Scott Robinson – Speaking of Saving Country Music Song of the Year, she was nominated for it in 2020 (“The Time For Flowers”), and won the damn thing in 2019 with “The Dress” off of her latest album Traveling Mercies. Those who know, they know this songbird from North Carolina (just like American Aquarium) is one of the best putting pen to paper at the moment. Don’t put off any opportunity to see her live. New record in the works from her, BTW.
Morgan Wade – No, Wade hasn’t won or been nominated for any big awards anywhere just yet, but that’s only because she just released her debut record Reckless in March. Nonetheless, Wade already comes with lots of positive praise, and similar to Gabe Lee and Emily Scott Robinson, can define the very top of the songwriting craft when she gets it right. She’s the name most anyone in independent roots would tell you to look out for.
…and I guess ol’ American Aquarium and frontman BJ Barham aren’t too bad either. Good on them for digging a little deeper and giving a hand up to the songwriters who are helping to set the pace at this moment in independent roots music.
Also, AA is saying, “If you live in Mississippi, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and Pennsylvania…we’ve got some cool announcements coming your way,” so don’t start crying if you don’t see a date in your town just yet.
Tour Dates:
6/23 – Memphis, TN – Lafayette’s Music Room*
6/24 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic*
6/25 – Little Rock, AR – Rev Room*
6/27 – Houston, TX – Heights Theater^
6/29 – Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theater^
6/30 – Austin, TX – ACL Live Moody Theater^
7/1 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler^
7/3 – Muleshoe, TX – Mule Days Festival
7/14 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall^
7/15 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads^
7/16 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom+
7/17 – Altus, OK – Orange Peel Festival
7/18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Jones Assembly+
8/13 – Challis, ID – Braun Brothers Reunion
* = Gabe Lee
^ = Morgan Wade
+ = Emily Scott Robinson
JF
April 28, 2021 @ 7:57 am
He does a hell of a job of supporting other artists. And has great taste. I became a Jaime Wyatt fan after seeing her open for AA. Also a Katie Pruitt fan based on BJ’s recommendation.
jb
April 28, 2021 @ 8:11 am
Thankfully this isn’t a new thing. Joshua Ray Walker – your current song of the year recipient – opened for American Aquarium the last time I saw them perform in 2019.
jb
April 28, 2021 @ 8:20 am
Oh. And American Aquarium will be at Jackson, MS on June 26 with Gabe Lee opening.
I just bought my ticket.
AdamAmericana
April 28, 2021 @ 10:50 am
Likewise.
Ben
April 28, 2021 @ 8:34 am
Thanks Trig! Just bought a couple tickets.
SnarkyAnarky
April 28, 2021 @ 9:00 am
before the world shut down, Morgan Wade was going to open for them – was looking forward to seeing both in Oxford. Nevertheless excited they’re coming to Memphis now, Gabe Lee has been on my list to check out but never got around to it.. seems like a good time to bump him up the list
DJ
April 28, 2021 @ 4:19 pm
“Me and Mine” (lamentations) is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard-
kross
April 29, 2021 @ 5:20 am
Morgan Wades prison tattoos scare me
RD
April 29, 2021 @ 4:40 pm
It is unsettling. It is a shame to see an attractive girl destroy her body. Never smiling and excessive female tattoos seem to go hand-in-hand.
Cool Lester Smooth
May 1, 2021 @ 12:22 pm
Man; I was jealous at this lineup on their US tour…but is seems like Gabe will be coming to Europe!!!
So fucking pumped.
whiskeyreb
May 7, 2021 @ 9:59 am
For the rest of my life, I’ll remember that AA was the first show I went to coming out of Rona.
I never thought a concert in the pouring rain at a drive-in-theatre would be so important to me, but after this year, I was thankful AA pushed to get back on the road as soon as possible.