Keith Urban

Keith Urban

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Keith Urban Announces 'Graffiti U' Album, Tour With Kelsea Ballerini

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The GRAMMY winner announced a new album is on the way, as well as a 59-date tour
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 18, 2018 - 12:25 pm

On Jan. 17, Keith Urban made the hearts on his loyal fanbase sing when he announced the title of his upcoming album, Grafitti U, complete with a one-two punch of a tour announcement.

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The GRAMMY winner announced the news during a pop-up show in Nashville, Tenn., at Exit/In, where fans were in on the reveal. Fans were asked in advance to take a photo of themselves holding a white cardboard square, which Urban's team then Photoshopped to reflect each stop on his tour.

Starting in St. Louis on June 15, the Graffiti U tour will travel through 59 venues in North America, including Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Denver, Cincinnati, and Charlotte, N.C. Fellow country star Kelsea Ballerini is scheduled to open most of the dates.

As far as the album is concerned, it's still in progress.

"It's very much air-traffic control mode," Urban told Billboard. "I'm listening to mixes, giving my notes and getting a revised mix. It's a lot of back and forward on all kinds of things right now."

And that artistically driven title? It comes from Urban's feelings about the process of making music.

"[The title has] more of an artistic expression connotation, a purer artistic expression, which is really what record-making is for me," he said. "It's going in and starting with a blank canvas in the studio that's just white. It's like, 'OK, what are we going to paint on this today? What are we gonna do? What colors are we gonna use?' I love that unknowingness and that real free expression of artistry."

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Cam

Cam

Photo: Steve Jennings/WireImage.com

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Cam Joins North American Leg Of Sam Smith's 2018 Tour

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The GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter is set to open for the soulful troubadour during the North American leg of his tour
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jun 7, 2018 - 3:16 pm

It might seem like the pairing of country singer/songwriter Cam and the more pop-forward Sam Smith is counterintuitive, but don't be fooled. GRAMMY winner Smith enlisted Cam's songwriting sensibilities for the track "Palace" off his 2017 album The Thrill Of It All. Accordingly, Smith has drafted Cam to join him on tour in support of the album.

The Sam and Cam show will hit arenas near you as the tour makes its way around North America starting June 18 in Toronto. Cam will stay onboard for all 22 dates, including stops in Detriot, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New Orleans, and Dallas before wrapping up July 27 in Mexico City.

Smith piloted a test run with Cam earlier this year during his four-night set at the O2 in London. The album version of "Palace," which Smith and Cam co-wrote with Tyler Johnson, also features Cam on backing vocals and guitar.

"I could not be more excited to go on the road with Sam," Cam said in a statement. "He is one of the greatest singers of our generation. To be associated with his show — that voice, those songs, that heart — it's a tremendous compliment, and I can't wait to share my music with his audience every night."

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Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt

Photo: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

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Bonnie Raitt Cancels Tour With James Taylor For Health Reasons

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The GRAMMY winner has announced she will not appear on the first leg of the joint tour that was scheduled to start in May
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
May 1, 2018 - 10:39 am

Those looking forward to seeing Bonnie Raitt on tour with James Taylor starting this May will have to wait. On April 30, the GRAMMY winner announced she is cancelling her appearances in the first leg of the joint tour for health reasons. The tour with Taylor was scheduled to begin May 8 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Though no specific medical condition was cited for the cancellation, a Facebook post announcing the news shared that the decision came following Raitt's annual physical. The doctor determined she needed surgery in the near future and "the prognosis is good and a full recovery is expected."

So not to worry. The 68-year-old singer/songwriter expects to be in full health come the second leg of the planned tour in July, which includes dates in Buffalo, N.Y., and Lenox, Mass., before the duo head to Europe.

"I'm deeply sorry to have to disappoint my fans, James and colleagues with these cancellations," Raitt said. "I was so looking forward to our tour, but I’m very grateful that the doctors feel this can be taken care of with surgery. I'm feeling strong and am in great hands with my wonderful team. I fully expect to return for the second leg of the U.S. tour in June followed by our European tour in July."

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Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

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Keith Urban Performance Added To SXSW 2018 Lineup

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Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater to host the country superstar's March 16 set
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Mar 9, 2018 - 4:06 pm

March 16 just became a bigger Urban day in Austin, Texas as country music star Keith Urban has been confirmed to perform at SXSW 2018 that night at Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater.

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In addition to having something to sing about headlining his 8:00 p.m. set with appearances by Devon Gilfillian, Larkin Poe, and Lauren Ruth Ward, Urban will have something to say too. His speaking engagement was announced last year and his topic will be "Creation and Connection" at 12:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center. Urban knows a thing or two about the topic, considering his four GRAMMY wins have all come in the category Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Urban's upcoming Graffiti U album is expected later this year and he has announced his tour with Kelsea Ballerini will run June through November. First on our updated list of must-see music festivals because it's the earliest in the year, SXSW Music is sure to kick off an amazing summer of festivals, and we'll be there.

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Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum

Photo: Jeff Schear/Getty Images

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Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker To Helm North American Tour

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The two country acts will team up for a 30-date North American tour this summer
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jan 19, 2018 - 12:19 pm

Get ready for the Summer Plays On Tour, a joint venture between GRAMMY winners Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker.

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The pair of country acts will make a 30-date trek around North America starting on July 19 in Toronto. They will tour cities, including Hartford, Conn., Seattle, Phoenix, San Diego, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Philadelphia. They will be joined by special guest singer/songwriter Russell Dickerson.

"Darius is one of our closest friends, and so we just feel really excited to get to share this tour and those memories on and off stage with him," Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley said in a statement, according to Billboard.

"Reuniting this summer and heading back out on the road with my friends Lady Antebellum feels like a home away from home," added Rucker.

Tickets for Summer Plays On Tour go on sale Jan. 26.

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