Robert Earl Keen Isn’t Un-Retiring, But He Is Re-Appearing
If you thought you’d seen the last of Robert Earl Keen singing and playing on a stage, well, you were still mostly right. But some new opportunities to seen Keen live have come online recently that you should be aware of.
On September 4th, 2022 (or 5th, since it ended after midnight), Robert Earl officially took his final bow at the legendary Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, TX. And Keen was emphatic that he was not feigning his retirement for a money grab, explaining in a detailed speech that when he said final, he meant “final.”
You probably still shouldn’t expect Keen to announce a new full band tour anytime soon. Then again, you never know. These performers sure do have trouble staying gone. But those who need their Keen fix will have a few opportunities coming up.
The first opportunity is a FREE “Annual Fan Appreciation Day” to happen once again at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes on September 4th—a year to the day from Robert Earl’s retirement. If it’s anything like the 1st Fan Appreciation Day that accompanied Keen’s final(ish) performance, you can expect a lot of special guests from the world of Texas music and beyond, and lots of collaborations between them.
And yes, Keen confirms, “My band and I will close the party out.”
Keen continues, “I love my fans and I want to be proactive in showing my appreciation for them which is why I came up with Fan Appreciation Day. I want to return the love. This is one big free party with 2,000 or so of the fans who have been with me for decades. Newcomers are welcome, too.”
Since it’s a free show, attendees will be selected via a lottery drawing. You can throw your hat in the ring at liveatfloores.com.
But if you don’t live in Texas, and happen to be around the Alexandria, Virginia area, you’re also in luck. Two acoustic shows on September 20th and 21st have been announced at The Birchmere. Will more acoustic shows pop up on the calendar? We’ll just have to see.
According to The Birchmere, Robert Earl Keen is still officially retired from touring, but will do occasional acoustic spot dates. When Keen’s publicist was pressed on the matter, she said, “He’s not ‘un-retiring’ from the road but he is playing select shows when he feels like it. Doing exactly what you want, when you want sounds like retirement to me, haha.”
Either way, Robert Earl Keen fans out there should be aware: a few live performances have come up on the calendar, and more could be coming, so stay tuned.
July 17, 2023 @ 8:13 pm
I think REK has some health issues that pushed him off of full-time touring.
I saw him on his farewell tour last year. He still had the high energy in his singing that’s a requirement for his type of show, but he sat on a stool through the whole performance. In the past, he used to stand.
He definitely gave the impression that the sitting was due to a physical limitation.
If he can do some shows here and there, more power to him. I won’t hold it against him that his last tour was billed as a farewell.
The acoustic performances that he’s scheduled are probably due to the fact that he can’t really keep a full band together if he’s not touring.
July 18, 2023 @ 6:41 am
At the last show at Floores, he went through the litany of things that went wrong with the last tour. One of the problems was that he hurt his back and couldn’t stand for the duration of a show, then he had an allergic reaction to the medication he was put on to help with his back. Also a bout of Bell’s palsy, so half of his face was frozen for part of the tour. Plus Tom Van Schaik broke his elbow, the tour bus burnt down, and the bus driver’s mother died unexpectedly. Really a down note of a tour to end on.
July 18, 2023 @ 4:58 am
Good for him
July 18, 2023 @ 8:14 am
Sweet! Just entered. Can never see enough REK! Thanks for this-
July 18, 2023 @ 3:52 pm
If you win tickets, can i be your plus one?
July 18, 2023 @ 3:03 pm
Is that Western Chill box set ever going to be sold as just a vinyl, cd or mp3?
That $169.00 price tag for the whole enchilada is a too high.
July 18, 2023 @ 3:30 pm
Artists should never say they are retiring, because nine times out of ten it’s bullshit. Often they regret their decision or they need money. I think it’s great REK is going to be doing some shows, but did anyone really believe he was retiring?
July 22, 2023 @ 10:02 pm
Him being in Virginia on September 20th and 21st makes me wonder if if he’s the announced artist on the Healing Appalachia lineup. Would be awesome if so.
July 22, 2023 @ 11:17 pm
Hmmm. Does have a deep relationship with Childers.
September 1, 2023 @ 11:00 am
Great, another opportunity for him to storm off stage like a little bitch like @ KOKEFest outside of Austin in 2022.
October 26, 2023 @ 3:30 pm
Is REK going to have any shows from November 2023 to the end of time?