(Webster) The Blind Boys of Alabama will embark on an extensive North American concert tour this fall. Sara and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek will open many shows on the tour, and will also collaborate with the Blind Boys on select songs from their latest album, Take the High Road.
Sara Watkins and the Blind Boys first performed together last year at a series of sold-out shows by the Blind Boys at New York City's Lincoln Center, and both artists felt a musical connection that they wanted to build on. "I have been a fan of the Blind Boys of Alabama since I first heard them 15 or 20 years ago, but I'll never forget the first time I found myself on stage singing with them. I was struck by the force they have - the power in their singing is real. Sean and I are truly excited and grateful to tour and sing with them this fall," commented Sara Watkins
Released in May 2011, Take the High Road marked the band's first foray into country gospel, guided by co-producer Jamey Johnson and featuring an outstanding array of guest vocalists such as Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., Lee Ann Womack and The Oak Ridge Boys. "There wasn't one person who didn't bawl like a baby or bust their hearts open at least once," Johnson recounted to the New York Times, remarking on the intensity of the recording sessions. The album drew raves from both Nashville and beyond, with Country Weekly giving it 4 ½ stars, the Associated Press declaring "something heavenly emerged" from the project, and the New York Times gushing that the Blind Boys embrace of country music "couldn't have gone much better." After the recording sessions, the group recaptured the studio magic in live collaborations with both Jamey Johnson and Willie Nelson at their respective shows at the New Orleans JazzFest. A few days later, the Oak Ridge Boys flew to New York City to join Johnson and the Blind Boys during a number of television performances.
Tour dates include:
*appearing with Sara and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek
8/26/2011 The Melting Point Athens, GA
8/27/2011 Worship In The City Knoxville, TN
9/4/2011 Camden Backyard BBQ Camden, NJ
9/9/2011 Southside Shuffle Port Credit, ON Canada
9/10/2011 Hope College Holland, MI
9/25/2011 Ventura Hillsides Music Festival Ventura, CA
9/27/2011 Mountain Winery Saratoga, CA
*9/28/2011 The Grammy Museum: Clive Davis Theater Los Angeles, CA
*9/30/2011 Fox Theatre Visalia, CA
10/1/2011 KidCare International Annual Fundraiser Claremont, CA
10/2/2011 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival San Francisco, CA
10/6/2011 The Lincoln Theatre Raleigh, NC
10/7/2011 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
10/8/2011 McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square Charlotte, NC
10/13/2011 Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA
10/14/2011 Infinity Hall Norfolk, CT
10/15/2011 "Live From Daryl's House taping Milford, CT
10/18/2011 Rams Head On Stage Annapolis, MD
10/20/2011 Shaftman Performance Hall Roanoke, VA
10/21/2011 Strathmore North Bethesda, MD
10/22/2011 Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA
*11/3/2011 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis, MN
*11/4/2011 Stoughton Opera House Stoughton, WI
*11/5/2011 FitzGerald's Berwyn, IL
*11/6/2011 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
*11/8/2011 Old Rock House St. Louis, MO
*11/10/2011 East Arkansas Community College Forrest City, AR
*11/12/2011 The Midland Theater Kansas City, MO
*11/14/2011 The Kessler Theater Dallas, TX
*11/15/2011 Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater Austin, TX
*11/16/2011 Dosey Doe Café The Woodlands, TX
*11/18/2011 Samford University Birmingham, AL
*11/19/2011 The Saenger Theater Mobile, AL
*11/20/2011 Mississippi State University Meridian, MS
12/3/2011 39th Annual Noel Night Detroit, MI
12/10/2011 Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Scottsdale, AZ
*12/11/2011 Belly Up Solana Beach, CA
*12/13/2011 Pepperdine University Malibu, CA
12/14/2011 Lancaster Performing Arts Center Lancaster, CA
*12/15/2011 Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts Davis, CA
*12/17/2011 The Uptown Theatre Napa, CA
*12/18/2011 Grand Sierra Resort Reno, NV
12/20/2011 Benaroya Hall Seattle, WA
12/22/2011 Tower Theatre Bend, OR
