Just One Week To Go!

My massive Late Bloomers Tour begins just one week from today. Here is a detailed look at my route, some of the places I'll see, and the folks I'll be playing with along the way.

If you have been hanging around these halls for the last few months, you are likely aware that I am on the verge of a sprawling tour that will take me all over the eastern half of these United States. The Late Bloomers Tour will roll out over the course of three legs running between late July and late November, and comprise a total of forty shows.

We are now just one week away from beginning of the tour. Let’s take a thorough look at where I’ll be heading on this first leg and get a sense of where things stand as I begin this Herculean endeavor.

Things kick off on Tuesday, July 28 in Lexington, KY with a backyard house concert. From there, I wind my way down to the edge of the Mississippi River for a Memphis show at B-Side Bar. With a six hour drive to Memphis, I doubt I will have much time for sightseeing, but I am hoping to at least have time for some proper barbecue. On my last visit to Memphis, I had a splendid meal at Cozy Corner.

I will make my Nashville debut on July 30 with a show at Betty’s Grill. I’ll be joined by Music City singer/songwriters Jessica Green and Graham Dawson. Playing in Nashville feels like a genuine milestone for me. I’m especially excited for this one.

The next two nights will see me performing as a part of Suburbs Fest at The Corner Lounge in Knoxville, TN. This annual convention of fans from the Rockin’ The Suburbs podcast is an absolute treat. I have had the pleasure of playing with The Stick Arounds at two previous fests in Chicago and Grand Rapids. This is a community filled with wonderful, generous folks that I am very excited to see again.

From Knoxville, I roll southeastward to Asheville for a Sunday night show at The Double Crown. JoJo Harnish and Julia Sanders will join me at this super hip bar in the West Asheville neighborhood, as we bring a little life to a Sunday night in the Carolina mountains. That Monday will offer me my first of just two days off on this run of shows.

On Tuesday night, I arrive into the triangle for a show at Stanczyks in Durham. While the school night shows are always a bit of a question in terms of attendance, this one should be a barnburner. Triangle acts Yardarm and Fox Fires will help to round out an excellent bill. I even have a bit of history with Yardarm, which is a band led by Lansing native Jason Bales. Jason, and his brother Aaron are old friends, and the duo behind the great Lansing band, Flatfoot. It’ll be wonderful to share the stage with Jason again.

A short run up the eastern seaboard will then send me up to Falls Church, Virginia just outside of DC for a show with singer/songwriter Jahnel Daliya. Then, it’s just a quick drive to Baltimore for a blistering four songwriter night at Waverly Brewing, featuring yours truly, Andrew Grimm, Brian Pagels, and Kurt Deemer.

Animated Brewing in Coatesville, PA just outside of Philly will be my home on Friday, August 7. This is another night jam packed with talent. I’ll be sharing the stage with Quarry, Real Strange, and Husband Lost At Sea. Saturday finds me making my New York City debut with a show at Freddy’s Bar in Brooklyn. Much like Nashville, this show feels momentous in some way. In all likelihood it will feel like just another gig, but if you can make it there . . .

On Sunday, I’ll be playing a benefit show in Eastchester, New York at Mickey Spillane’s before a day off on Monday where I am hoping to do a bit of exploring in Manhattan. While there is no firm plan as yet, it seems likely that a slice and a museum will probably be involved.

From the hubbub of New York I will make my way north to the relaxing Atlantic coast for a house concert in Rockport, Massachusetts hosted by my friends, Anita and Bryan Margerum. This picturesque spot on Cape Ann might the most lovely setting I find on the entire tour.

I’ll run directly westward from Rockport to the charming streets of Kingston, New York in the gorgeous Hudson River Valley for a show at the delightful Unicorn Bar. I have had the pleasure of playing in Kingston twice before with the help of friend and host, Terese Fantasia. It’s a wonderful city with a great music scene and loads of history. Kingston based singer/songwriter Keven Lareau will be joining me for the evening.

August 13 will see me roll into Copper City Brewing Company in Rome, New York, another spot I have played twice before. I arranged the gig with my pal, and fellow Rockin’ The Suburbs member, Mike Kohli, who is a terrific photographer and writer covering the upstate New York music scene. J. Schnitt and Evan Bujold, a pair of terrific performers based in the area will be joining me for the show.

Friday morning will see me piling up lots more windshield time as I roll directly west for my first visit to Buffalo, New York. While I have driven around the city before, I have never spent any time there. I’m hoping to have a bit of time to explore the city before my gig at Revolution Gallery that evening. I have a real soft spot for the rust belt, and it’s likely that Buffalo has a few lovely surprises up its collective sleeve.

My penultimate night on the road will happen at Balance Brewing Pittsburgh. Balance is a new brewery that was co-founded by my friend, Rob Houston. When Jeff and I were on tour last Fall, we made a visit to the building where Rob and his team were doing renovations and prepping to open. I fell in love with Pittsburgh on first visit more Ethan a decade ago. With each visit, I find new things to love about the city.

Sunday morning brings a six hour commute back to Michigan and into the loving arms of friends and family. If things go according to plan, I should be able to get home for a shower and a nap before I have to be at The Avenue Cafe in downtown Lansing. My dear friend, David Baldwin will be opening the show with his band, Teutonosaur.

This is the most ambitious tour I have embarked upon in almost two years. That last massive tour, a six week run out west, ended with varied results and left me exhausted. Now, as I get ready to hit the road for three full weeks, I feel as prepared and excited as I ever have before about a tour.

These dates have been set in stone for months in most cases, and several of the shows also feature local support which should help to bring people out, especially in markets that are new to me. My friend and collaborator, Barry Hummel is also running a PR campaign for the tour, working to garner press coverage and radio play to help promote the shows.

As you can see, mounting a tour like this takes a village. I am incredibly grateful to all of the folks who have lent me their time, talent, and resources to help make this tour a success. If you would like to be a part of the cause, you can snag some tour merch, grab some sale items, or make a contribution to the Matty C Tour Support System.

Here is a full list of dates and details.

July 28 - Lexington, KY - House Concert
July 29 - Memphis, TN - B-Side Bar
July 30 - Nashville, TN - Betty’s Grill
July 31 - Knoxville, TN - Corner Lounge (Suburbs Fest)
August 1 - Knoxville, TN - Corner Lounge (Suburbs Fest)
August 2 - Asheville, NC - The Double Crown
August 4 - Durham, NC - Stancyks
August 5 - Falls Church, VA - Claire & Don’s
August 6 - Baltimore, MD - Waverly Brewing
August 7 - Coatesville, PA - Animated Brewing
August 8 - Brooklyn, NY - Freddy’s Bar
August 9 - Eastchester, NY - Mickey Spillane’s
August 11 - Rockport, MA - House Concert
August 12 - Kingston, NY - Unicorn Bar
August 13 - Rome, NY - Copper City Brewing Co.
August 14 - Buffalo, NY - Revolution Gallery
August 15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Balance Brewing
August 16 - Lansing, MI - The Avenue Cafe

I’d sure love to see you out there this summer. Please grab your tickets today.

Cheers,
Matty C