Shooter Jennings Is Stepping Away from Touring
The writing has been on the wall for a while, but over the weekend Shooter Jennings made it official: he’s stepping away from touring as a solo performer indefinitely to focus more on the production side of music where his career has been focused more and more over the last few years.
“During the last three years I have had the great opportunity to begin a second chapter in my musical life as a full-time music producer,” Shooter said in a statement. “This has brought a creative joy to my life that I’ve strived to reach since I was a young man and I really never knew was out there waiting for me. Working with other artists in collaboration to bring their visions to fruition has given me a whole other level of creative satisfaction.”
Shooter was scheduled to tour Europe in 2020 before the pandemic hit, and has been postponing the tour ever since. As part of his announcement, he told his fans he will be canceling the tour entirely, and aside from making an appearance on March 20th at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee as part of the Bluegrass Underground series, he’s pausing making public appearances indefinitely.
“We’ll make it a special retrospective show that covers all of the music we’ve put out there to date. So you can say it’ll be a really special event!” Shooter says. “I’ll also be doing some touring with Brandi Carlile this year and possibly some of the other artists I’ve been working with, so hopefully I’ll see you guys out on the road for those special engagements … This doesn’t mean I won’t ever tour again as ‘Shooter’ but it means I’m taking an indefinite break to focus on the other projects I’ve become so invested in.”
One of those investments was signing on with the Concord Label Group as a staff producer in December of 2020. Shooter has produced albums from Brandi Carlile, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, American Aquarium, Hellbound Glory, Jaime Wyatt, Tanya Tucker, and more over the last few years, and has been nominated and won Grammy Awards for some of the efforts.
“I hate to disappoint anyone with this news. I have loved seeing your faces at every show we’ve played, but at this moment it is time for me to remain home and continue to create the best records I can alongside some of the best artists in the world,” Shooter says.
Jennings also says he intends to focus on his Electric Rodeo show on SiriusXM and other endeavors. He will also be releasing a rock album via a collaborative project with Yelawolf called Sometimes Y on March 11th.
March 8, 2022 @ 10:53 am
Jason Boland and the Stragglers is one of the best red dirt bands out there.
March 9, 2022 @ 2:22 pm
What’s a red dirt band? I’ve never heard the term & my dad worked in the music industry for over 60 years. 🤷♀️
Good point people are making about the gas prices affecting live shows as a whole. I think that would also carry over to theatre, sports or anywhere the public has to drive for entertainment.
March 10, 2022 @ 5:20 pm
Oklahoma and Texas based county music. I believe, but may be wrong
March 8, 2022 @ 11:42 am
Love his Sirius show and some of his productions, but his recorded music is so all over the place style-wise, I’m not sure what we’ll be missing if he’s no longer touring.
March 8, 2022 @ 11:52 am
Just a general comment: With the continued recent increases in fuel costs, I wouldn’t be surprised if more artists/bands decide to curtail their touring plans. The buses employed by many country and bluegrass bands use diesel – which is already higher priced than regular gasoline. Money from live shows is usually a primary source of income for many (read: most) artists but the increased cost will definitely affect the bottom line and may affect the touring schedule.
March 8, 2022 @ 11:55 am
I haven’t though of that, but you may be right. Everyone’s budgets are tight, so that could effect how many go out to the shows as well.
March 8, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Gas prices are definitely going to affect artists and touring in very significant ways here, and they will also weigh on the decisions of many fans who now may not choose to go to that festival three hours away, or take a trip to that destination festival due to how expensive it will be. It’s going to be brutal right as everyone is ramping up post Covid.
March 8, 2022 @ 2:10 pm
Yeah, and coming out of the Covid restrictions on touring, this may be the straw that breaks several camel’s backs. Be interesting to see what alternatives, if any, some touring artists come up with. It just may never be the same folks.
The light at the nd of teh Covid tunnel keeps getting dimmer with the current state of affairs via inccreasing costs.
March 9, 2022 @ 4:01 pm
Shooter i have been writing lyrics since the FREE Bird crashed .I’m not out to charge nothing. If you want them it is quite a stack. I Don’t sing but you are welcome to all my writing. Love you and totally respect you. Mike Thurman da Bluwolf.
March 8, 2022 @ 3:52 pm
I understand Shooter wanting to follow in the footsteps of his dad. But you know, perhaps producing is more where he’s supposed to be instead of singing. Plus, you get to be home for supper more often.
March 10, 2022 @ 7:01 am
Not for nothin’… but if you’re working in a recording studio and “making it home to supper more often”… your studio is losing money!
March 8, 2022 @ 6:33 pm
Good for shooter..Doesn’t hurt to slow down every once in a while.
March 8, 2022 @ 7:48 pm
Well, I just hope he keeps recording new music, looking forward to new rock album as I loved black ribbons.
March 9, 2022 @ 7:41 am
“Black Ribbons” is an amazing album. When I heard the first song, I was kinda mad that he was going away from country, but after hearing the album, I understood it and it is still my favorite by Shooter.
June 11, 2022 @ 6:03 pm
God I love that album . .
March 8, 2022 @ 11:30 pm
I’m more a fan of him bringing real country music to us than of his own singing. as a producer he is so great and I have been impressed at the albums which he produced. I think he’s making the right choice and I look forward too the great music he brings to us in the future.
March 9, 2022 @ 6:27 am
I sure hope the album he produced for Julie Roberts sees the light of day…and soon! She’s a fantastic singer, and I’m eager to see what she and Shooter created together. The album has been announced as “coming soon” for a number of years now with no explanation of why the release has been delayed (this was even pre pandemic). Meanwhile, a number of Shooter’s other production projects have been distributed and acclaimed, as mentioned here. Julie’s recording is being mentioned again as coming in 2022. I’ll keep my fingers crossed…
March 9, 2022 @ 9:18 am
His work with The White Buffalo is amazing
March 10, 2022 @ 8:36 am
Hope he continues to back Hellbound Glory and hope Neon Leon never stops.
March 10, 2022 @ 10:32 am
This is great news for live music and horrible news for recorded music.
March 12, 2022 @ 9:16 am
He produced The Mastersons last album “No Time For Love Songs” and it is just stunning to listen to . Such a talented group of people.
March 13, 2022 @ 1:58 pm
My Son Peter Sinclair did a show in Conroe Tx had to cram his band in a van and trailer as filling his tour bus costs +~ $800 to fill
Not looking good for tours
March 13, 2022 @ 2:11 pm
I’ve seen Shooter on tour more than any other artist I’ve seen. It was the Possum, but I saw a few more Shooter shows over the years since George passed. They are also two of the best to their fans as far as always doing meet and greets and signing stuff even if it’s just brought on the bus. I had them both sign the back of Shooter’s “4th of July” single back in the day. When I first sent it on the bus for George to sign it they brought it back out and said that George wouldn’t sign it because it wasn’t his album. I explained that he had a guest spot on it singing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and they took it back on for the next round of him signing. It came back off signed. When I took it to Shooter to have him sign it as well he drew an arrow to George’s signature that said “The Man” It’s one of my most prized possessions to this day! I hope Shooter decides to go back on the road at some point and keeps on recording great music. Glad to hear he’s enjoying producing. He does an amazing job at that too!