Rucker announces tour

Friday, March 1, 2013 – Darius Rucker is hitting the road in May in support of his upcoming "True Believers" album release this spring.

The tour starts May 9 in Florida, hitting 20 cities before winding up in Michigan on June 30.

"This is going to be an exciting summer," predicts Rucker. "I've got an album I can't wait for y'all to hear, and I'm hitting the road with a great group of artists. We're gonna have a good time."

Joining Rucker on select dates will be Rodney Atkins, Justin Moore and Jana Kramer.

Rucker will be offering two pairs of tickets to each tour date through an auction on www.DariusRucker.com with proceeds benefiting both the Country Music Association's "Keep The Music Playing" initiative and the Academy of Country Music's "Lifting Lives" program. "Keep the Music Playing" supports music in our schools and has funded music labs and more than 4,000 instruments in 80 Nashville Metro schools. ACM "Lifting Lives" is dedicated to improving lives through the power of music - its beneficiaries include the Holston Home in East Tenn. where Atkins was adopted as a child, Pattinson's Academy in Rucker's hometown of Charleston, S.C., and ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp, students of which accompanied Rucker in a very special ACM Awards performance of a song written and recorded by the campers, "Music from the Heart."

Tour dates are:

May 9 - Estero, Fla. | Germain Arena*

May 10 - Pensacola, Fla. | Pensacola Civic Center*

May 17 - Savannah, Ga. | Savannah Civic Center*

May 18 - Alpharetta, Ga. | Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park*

May 19 - Knoxville, Tenn. | Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum**

May 24 - Little Rock, Ark. | Riverfront Park**

May 30 - Greensboro, N.C. | Greensboro Coliseum Complex*

May 31 - Simpsonville, S.C. | Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park*

June 1 - Virginia Beach, Va. | Patriotic Festival*

June 6 - Morrison, Colo. | Red Rocks Amphitheatre**

June 9 - Grand Prairie, Texas | Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie**

June 13 - N. Lawrence, Ohio | Clay's Park Amphitheater**

June 14 - Buffalo, N.Y. | Coca Cola Field+

June 15 - Baltimore, Md. | Pier Six Pavilion**

June 20 - West Long Branch, N.J. | The MAC at Monmouth University**

June 21 - Bangor, Maine | Waterfront Park**

June 22 - Gilford, N.H. | Meadowbrook-US Cellular Pavilion**

June 27 - Toledo, Ohio | Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre**

June 28 - Highland Park, Ill. | Ravinia Festival**

June 29 - Normal, Ill. | The Corn Crib**

June 30 - Clarkston, Mich. | DTE Energy Music Theatre**

* denotes Justin Moore and Jana Kramer

** denotes Rodney Atkins and Jana Kramer

+ denotes Sheryl Crow, Rodney Atkins, Gloriana and Jana Kramer

More news for Darius Rucker

CD reviews for Darius Rucker

Charleston, SC 1966

It's a nifty trick to sell more than 20 million records over the course of 20 years, and follow it all with a CMA for New Artist of the Year. But Darius Rucker's career has defied convention more than once. There was a time in the '90s that Rucker's rich baritone, fronting Hootie and the Blowfish, was inescapable on mainstream radio. And with 2008's "Learn to Live", his country debut, he caught lightning in a bottle again: a number 1 record and 4 hit singles. »»»

Learn to Live

Darius Rucker is making the plunge into country after years spent leading Hootie & the Blowfish. Unlike some others who enter the country field late in their music life, Rucker attempts at times to keep a country sound. That is particularly true on "All I Want," although the tonker would have been best handled by someone like Dwight Yoakam since Rucker comes off as more of a dabbler than a dyed in the wool traditionalist. Rucker's voice is his strong suit. He always has had a very »»»

Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»

Concert Review: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King – Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people. As in 10 people.... »»»

Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left – Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»

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