If you’re looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend and you’re within a reasonable driving distance of Manchester, Kentucky, taking in the Manchester Music Fest August 29th to 31st may not be a bad idea at all. Now in its second year, the festival features a lineup that is capped off by the Turnpike Troubadours.
The boys from Tahlequah, Oklahoma known as the Turnpike Troubadours traveled down to Houston on Saturday (3-2) to take advantage of their first ever berth on the biggest stage in Texas—the star-shaped one in the center of the NRG Stadium as part of the annual Rodeo Houston production.
Yes, there was yet even more drama with a Turnpike Troubadours performance, and another show that was almost cancelled. But this time it was in no way the band’s fault. In fact they were the ones that insisted the show go on, and pushed through the issues to offer attendees a full performance, and give fans a happy ending.
Not that daily updates upon the doings of the Turnpike Troubadours are necessary, but with the recent “touch and go” nature of their tour schedule, and the band’s timid efforts at communication, many fans and ticket holders for upcoming shows have a vested interest in staying up-to-date with just how they’re doing.
The Turnpike Troubadours have weathered whatever the latest drama was that had the band cancelling numerous live appearances recently due to “unforeseen circumstances,” and they will be hitting the road to perform all currently scheduled dates, at least for now.
It will never be the easiest festival to get to for anyone. It’s certainly not the cheapest when it comes to ticket prices, accommodations, or incidentals. But what’s for certain after the second year of Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida, is that this is Texas and Red Dirt’s premier musical event each year.
The Turnpike Troubadours are not done yet. This was the news coming out of Mile 0 Fest last weekend in Key West, Florida, where the Oklahoma-based Red Dirt country band was scheduled to play, but cancelled the appearance last minute along with multiple other shows.
How people feel about the Turnpike Troubadours at the moment depends a lot on who you speak to, and if they’ve been personally caught up in some of the recent cancellations. But when it comes to their fellow artists in the Texas/Red Dirt scene assembled at this week at Mile 0 Fest, it’s love, concern, and respect.
Texas music legend Charlie Robison will be making a rare public appearance since retiring from music in September of 2018 as part of a special tribute being put together at this week’s Mile 0 Fest in Key West, Florida. Mile 0 Fest also addresses the Turnpike Troubadours cancellation.
The woes for the Turnpike Troubadours and their fans continue after the band announced Saturday evening (1-26) that they will not be attending the 2019 installment of Mile 0 Fest where they were scheduled to headline on Thursday night, January 31st. This is on top of other cancellations announced Friday afternoon.
The Turnpike Troubadours canceled a show in Chicago, IL at the House of Blues on Thursday evening (1-24), citing travel delays. The show was officially canceled at roughly 7:50 p.m. local time after many attendees had already arrived at the venue.
It’s one incredible testament to the vitality of the Texas music scene that a young troupe of musicians from Lubbock playing short-run tours in between college semesters can do so well for themselves that they’re headlining festivals and receiving millions of plays on their songs, and all without a legitimate record label.
Though the venue isn’t as large, the Rodeo Houston Hideout Stage is the place where up-and-coming talent and future rodeo headliner hopefuls can cut their teeth. It’s also where rodeo attendees can get the opportunity to discover some of Texas’s and country music’s best budding talent.
The release of the Rodeo Houston main stage lineup is always a highly-anticipated event in Texas and beyond, and this year Oklahoma’s Turnpike Troubadours have earned an opportunity to play on arguably the biggest stage in Texas, and native Texan Kacey Musgraves has been selected to open the rodeo in 2019.
Here we are with a nice, tidy little bow wrapped around 2018, with the barrage of end-of-year lists finally published and in the past, the confetti from New Year’s celebrations all swept up, and the promise of an exciting new year of country music on the way. But how good or bad really was country music in 2018?
Naming the best live performances of a given year is not the same exercise as naming the best songs, albums, or artists, because it is specifically dependent on the experiences of the individual making the list. But it’s still an important exercise.
The Turnpike Troubadours never started out to be some huge band. The best never do. This wasn’t a business venture for these boys. This was a bunch of corn fed Oklahomans from Tahlequah getting together to pick a few tunes for fun, eventually inviting their friends and family over to listen, then venturing out to play a few bars.
After last-minute cancellations this weekend at the Centurlink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana, and appearance in Corpus Christi, Texas at the Concrete Street Amphitheater, the Turnpike Troubadours have announced they’re putting their current tour on hold as one of the members of the band deal with personal issues.
The day after the Turnpike Troubadours canceled an appearance at the Centurlink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana with Stoney LaRue last minute for undisclosed reasons, the Oklahoma-based band has now canceled a scheduled appearance in Corpus Christi, Texas at the Concrete Street Amphitheater for October 27th.
A concert scheduled to occur at the Centurylink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana Friday evening (10-26) featuring the Turnpike Troubadours and Stoney LaRue was canceled unexpectedly at the last minute for undisclosed reasons.
All is well in Oklahoma. Those are the reports from Saturday night’s (9-22) appearance by powerhouse Red Dirt band the Turnpike Troubadours after they took the stage at the Medicine Stone Festival in their hometown of Talequah, Oklahoma. After a series of canceled shows due to kidney stones….
The Turnpike Troubadours have canceled yet another round of shows affecting performances in late August and up to their appearance at the Medicine Stone Festival on September 21st, which is still on. Their show Thursday night (8-30) at the Beaumont Event and Concert Hall in Wayne, Nebraska was canceled Thursday afternoon.
Oklahoma’s Turnpike Troubadours were forced to cancel their appearance Sunday night (8-26) at the Fayetteville Roots Festival after frontman Evan Felker was deemed too ill to perform. The cancellation comes after the band canceled their final appearances on the Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town “Bandwagon Tour.”
The Turnpike Troubadours will not be appearing on the final few dates of the current “Bandwagon Tour” opening for Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert as previously scheduled. The Oklahoma-based band was originally scheduled to appear as openers on 10 of the dates during the tour, but have canceled their final appearances.