Jamey Johnson Announces Early 2018 Tour
It may be difficult to impossible to get Jamey Johnson to commit to the idea of recording and releasing new music these days as salivating fans wait for any word on when a record of fresh material might be coming from the 2-time CMA Song of the Year winner, but that has not stopped Johnson from being one of the most tireless acts out there on the road helping to keep true country music alive.
New music to support or not, you shouldn’t be surprised to see Jamey Johnson rolling through your town, and with a country band only eclipsed in size by Lyle Lovett’s large band. Folks who’ve been seeing him for years may wish a little more new music could make it into the mix, but that hasn’t stopped Johnson from being like a human jukebox, delivering one classic country song and his own hits to the delight of many.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do until I am standing there doing it,” Johnson says since he never works from a set list. “That is a freedom I have enjoyed ever since I began doing this, the ability to try something new.”
Jamey Johnson has just announced a tour spanning the southern, eastern, and middle portions of the United States into July, starting in Florida on February 22nd at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on February 22nd. Along the way he will make big stops at Gruene Hall in Texas, the Georgia Theatre in Athens, and appearances at Merlefest, the Crawfish Music Festival in Biloxi, and the Dam Music Festival in El Dorado, Kansas.
See the full list of dates below.
Feb. 22 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL
Feb. 23 – The Ranch – Ft. Myers, FL
Feb. 24 – Abacoa Town Center Amphitheatre – Jupiter, FL
Feb. 25 – Cocoa Riverfront Park – Cocoa, FL
March 10 – Oil Palace – Tyler, TX
March 22 – Dusty Armadillo – Rootstown, OH
March 23 – Boondocks – Springfield, IL
March 24 – 8 Seconds Saloon – Indianapolis, IN
April 12 – Jefferson Theatre – Beaumont, TX
April 13 – Gruene Hall – New Braunfels, TX
April 14 – Galveston Co. Fairgrounds – Hitchcock, TX
April 18 – Macon City Auditorium – Macon, GA
April 19 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
April 20 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
April 21 – Crawfish Music Festival – Biloxi, MS
April 26 – The Tarheel – Jacksonville, NC
April 27 – MerleFest – Wilkesboro, NC
April 28 – Fredericks Outdoor – Decatur, AL
May 5 – Farm Bach 2018 – Gaston, SC
May 19 – JD Legends – Franklin, OH
June 23 – Renfro Valley – Mt. Vernon, KY
June 29 – The Shed – Maryville, TN
July 7 – A.B.A.T.E. of IA Freedom Rally – Algona, IA
July 20 – McGrath Amphitheatre – Cedar Rapids, IA
July 21 – Rollie’s – Sauk Rapids, MN
July 22 – Mayo Civic Center – Rochester, MN
July 27 – Sumtur Amphitheatre – Papillion, NE
July 28 – Dam Music Festival – El Dorado, KS
July 29 – Hoyt Herman Place – Des Moines, IA
James
February 14, 2018 @ 9:56 am
Yeeehaw!
Sam
February 14, 2018 @ 10:02 am
Can we find a band that remembers Michigan exists?? :’(
Jacob W.
February 14, 2018 @ 10:48 am
Whitey morgan
Sam
February 14, 2018 @ 10:56 am
Trust me I didn’t forget about MI guy from Flint 😎
But it’d be nice for some Texas country artists to make it North of the Indiana border *cough*JamIe Lin Wilson *cough* Turnpike Troubadours *cough*
Aggc
February 14, 2018 @ 6:25 pm
Frankie Ballard.
Sam
February 14, 2018 @ 6:27 pm
Frankie Ballard ranks with kid rock and ICP. Yes, they hail from the mitten, but I choose not to acknowledge their existence.
Sam
February 14, 2018 @ 6:31 pm
No amount of faygo pop and coney dogs will make me listen to bad music
Aggc
February 15, 2018 @ 7:18 am
He has some good material. Not all but some.
Wyatt
February 17, 2018 @ 5:06 pm
Or Wisconsin 😒
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 14, 2018 @ 10:11 am
I’m bored with Jamey. Him not releasing an album makes him seem like a moody drama queen.
Ultimately, he’s going to be remembered for “That Lonesome Song”, and that’s all.
DJ
February 14, 2018 @ 11:22 am
“I don’t know what I’m going to do until I am standing there doing it,” Johnson says since he never works from a set list. “That is a freedom I have enjoyed ever since I began doing this, the ability to try something new.”
Zues
February 19, 2018 @ 11:26 pm
Jamie who? Oh, that guy that had a couple of decent songs from the Bush II administration? He was pretty good. Can’t wait to hear Jimmie’s new album.
Whiskey_Pete
February 14, 2018 @ 10:19 am
Any new content or does his head still hurt from that slip and fall?
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 10:57 am
A night chalk full of covers and tributes and if you’re lucky maybe one of Jamey’s songs (that’s if he still remembers his lyrics).
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 14, 2018 @ 11:05 am
Ain’t that the truth.
jtrpdx
February 14, 2018 @ 11:02 am
Let’s hope there aren’t any metal detectors!
Warthog
February 14, 2018 @ 11:46 am
I’d rather Jamey Johnson never get inspired to record another album than to force himself to record a mediocre one every couple years or so.
Doug
February 18, 2018 @ 9:46 am
I agree with this, Warthog, but it’s hard not to wish for more great songs from an artist who once produced such a burst of them. You figure a guy with that much talent (and soul) wouldn’t have stopped creating so abruptly. As it is it seems like this is one of the most severe cases of writer’s block in history (J.D. Salinger comes to mind). UNLESS, he’s secretly building up a reservoir of great material that’s he’ll unveil when he’s good and ready — we can always hope!
Stringbuzz
February 14, 2018 @ 11:57 am
I’d see him if he was coming my way and tix were reasonable.
With that being said, I have no expectations for him anymore.
Would I like new material, of course. However, he can do what he wants and if he is making a living at it so be it.
Maybe someday, I ignore him when he comes around.
Mo Crawford
February 14, 2018 @ 12:16 pm
“ability to try something new” here’s a cover lol
Ulysses McCaskill
February 14, 2018 @ 12:20 pm
Jamey needs to get back to being “right there between Jennings and Jones”.
Wild Billy
February 14, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
About 10 years ago, Jamey Johnson carried a very dim torch for country music at a time when it wasn’t exactly commercially cool to release his type of music… I would argue he “held down the fort” until the world was ready for Stapleton , Sturgill and the like. I my mind, he has earned the right to release new music (or not) at his own pace. Further, if he wants to spend eternity warbling through his current catalog and mixing in a few George Jones covers, I will be there to see it every time.
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 3:14 pm
The last two times I’ve seen Johnson, he played none of his songs (and none of George Jones’). But he covered The Band, The Grateful Dead, BB King, Jerry Reed, Little Feat, Tom Petty (3 songs), Don Williams (3 songs), Bob Dylan and the Band, Marvin Gaye, Waylon Jennings, Woody Guthrie, The Judds, Merle Haggard, The Carter Family, Hank Cochran, Mississippi Shieks … That’s just off the top of my head.
SteelCountry
February 14, 2018 @ 6:01 pm
None? Man, that’s a shame. I’m all for some covers from almost everybody you named, but a whole concert without a single one of his own songs? What’s the point? I’m a huge JJ fan and don’t want to talk bad about him, but that’s pretty slack.
Truth5
February 14, 2018 @ 6:36 pm
I’ve seen him a shit ton and to say he didn’t play 1 original, I flat out do not believe that.
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 6:59 pm
https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/jamey-johnson-2bd708f2.html
Check out this site that publishes artist’s set lists.
Check out Farm Aid 2017
Check out Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2016
Check out Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, Independence MO April 11, 2016
Check out Peabody Opera House, St. Louis MO April 9, 2016
These are shows Johnson didn’t perform one of his songs.
There are hundreds of examples were he performed one- three of his songs in a set with 14-15 covers.
truth5
February 15, 2018 @ 2:37 pm
First of all, the set list site could have input from anyone. There is no “set list data integrity” from some random person who enters what songs were played. Also Farm Aid is not a Jamey Johnson show. A Jamey Johnson concert is going to give you 2 to 2.5 hours of country music, anywhere from 20-25 songs, and originals/covers is going to be roughly 50/50 (give or take). I enjoy the covers, especially when those covers are country (I enjoyed his Jones, Vern, Hag, and Whitley heavy sets from 09-14). He’s gotten away from that some with covers I’m not as crazy about. Nonetheless, now that Daryle is gone, who else plays that style of traditional country and pays tribute to the legends almost more than they care to even promote their own music? The answer is no one. As far as a national touring act, Jamey is all we got left in that regard.
Here is an example (if you are going off of set list.fm) and more in line with the 30 shows I’ve been to personally.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jamey-johnson/2017/marquee-theatre-tempe-az-2be65cc6.html
hoptowntiger94
February 15, 2018 @ 2:54 pm
The two Missouri shows where proper shows and they setlist is correct because I was there.
There hasn’t been a 50/50 ratio in originals to covers in 5 years.
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 7:05 pm
Also, No George Jones covers since about 2010.
What’s strange is there were shows in 09 and 10 where he did only covers. I thought he just started doing this recently.
Truth5
February 16, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
Again wrong…. there absolutely has been 50/50 ratio of covers to originals in the last 5 years… 12 songs he has written in this set alone…11 songs he recorded. Stop posting fake news.
According to your site..
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jamey-johnson/2017/crystal-ballroom-portland-or-63e7a2bf.html
hoptowntiger94
February 16, 2018 @ 12:30 pm
You Win! You found a show he played within the last 5 years where 1/2 of the music wasn’t covers!
Anyone who drops a “fake news” bomb isn’t worth debating. It’s the equivalent of “I know you are but what am I.”
Doug
February 18, 2018 @ 9:48 am
I saw him in LA about a year ago and the show was almost all Jamey’s own stuff with a couple of covers.
Truth5
February 18, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
He stopped loving her today, white lightnin, whos gonna fill their shoes, walk through this world with me, Tennessee whiskey, still doing time
Bob
February 14, 2018 @ 2:56 pm
Not one WV concert 😞. Uncool Jamey
Truth5
February 14, 2018 @ 4:39 pm
Support him people….. he’s one of the last few we have left carrying on that tradition with some form of vocal ability. Now that Daryles gone, jamey is one of slim few we have left. I don’t give a damn if he plays all covers, but want more of his vern and Jones covers, and less of some of the others.
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 6:17 pm
When has he ever covered George Jones?!
Truth5
February 14, 2018 @ 6:34 pm
Lmao!!!! Are you high? I’ve seen him 30 times in concert, and he’s covered Jones at 27 of those 30. Some nights especially those first tours after that lonesome song, 4-5 Jones covers a night. He hasn’t done as much Jones in recent shows and he needs to get back to more. He played George’s 80th birthday at the Opry and his tribute show at Bridgestone and I was at both. But to say he’s never covered Jones would be like saying I’ve never drank a beer.
hoptowntiger94
February 14, 2018 @ 6:40 pm
I was just curious because you were the second person to mention his Jones covers. I’ve seen him 6 times since 2009 and never heard him cover Jones
Doug
February 18, 2018 @ 9:49 am
What George Jones songs does he do? Just curious.
Mark
February 15, 2018 @ 4:37 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa5NwJQvlvQ
George Jones, Blackberry Smoke, Jamie Johson yesterdays wine.
Cameron
February 14, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
I see no reason to support him. He has good original music but has decided to define his career as being a karaoke queen. Also he has every fucking excuse in the world as to why he can’t write new music. Personally I look forward to the day when SCM ignores Jamey Johnson. There is too much good out there to dwell on such a miserable bastard.
StraitUpTexan
February 24, 2018 @ 7:21 pm
Miserable bastard? Really now? How so?
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 14, 2018 @ 5:32 pm
I’m done with him until he gets his crap together.
Sue
February 14, 2018 @ 6:51 pm
PLEASE GO UOSTATE JAMEY!! WHOLE LOT OF FANS UP HERE!!!!!!
Jim
February 14, 2018 @ 6:58 pm
I have been a JJ fan since day one. I’ll admit that I’m disappointed that he won’t write or record anymore, but I’ll still go see him every time he comes around. I don’t hear new material, but I hear him cover new songs every time I see him. He’s earned the ability to do what he wants and I respect that.
kenny yate
February 14, 2018 @ 8:49 pm
The man is awesome! I bet he would bitch slap the whiners putting him down.you know he is well respected by musicians. He does his own thing. He is always true,and from his heart.I’m sure Jamey the marine can do some pretty good ass kicking.plus he truly believes in his 2nd amendment rights.I love his Charter and his songs.they are timeless.I drove 8 hours to see him one time. He is the best of the best. Songwriter and preformer.
Sam Cody
February 14, 2018 @ 10:25 pm
Either go see him, or don’t…but he don’t owe y’all shit.
hoptowntiger94
February 15, 2018 @ 11:09 am
A refund if he doesn’t perform any of his songs and doesn’t promote the show as “cover only.”
Gina
February 14, 2018 @ 10:39 pm
I’d love to see him at Gruene Hall. Even if he only does covers, it’s bound to be a great show.
Chris
February 14, 2018 @ 11:29 pm
Any night of Jamey doing covers is 10 times better than anything you’ll get on country radio.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 17, 2018 @ 6:04 pm
I wouldn’t pay for either one, so who cares?
Ulysses McCaskill
February 19, 2018 @ 12:47 am
Chris cares obviously, and I care. So who cares if you don’t care. I don’t care that you don’t care, and I bet most others that care don’t care that you don’t care either. But I’m rambling now…
Missy
February 14, 2018 @ 11:42 pm
Just saw show at Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood FL. Amazing!! Loved it!! Loved his original stuff, loved the covers! Can’t leave out the incredible musicians backing him up. Please come back soon!!
Huntermc6
February 15, 2018 @ 4:46 am
Hope he expands this tour. So far country isn’t represented well up in Maine this summer.
Wesley Gray
February 17, 2018 @ 1:19 pm
Looks like he’s playing EVERYWHERE BUT OKLAHOMA! …i’ll have to go see him somewhere down in Texas.
StraitUpTexan
February 24, 2018 @ 7:24 pm
Why are y’all dogging Jamey? Geez either enjoy his singing or don’t, just quit your bitching about what he does or doesn’t do!!