TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO”
WITH SPECIAL TOUR FEATURING MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES
On the 50th anniversary of their groundbreaking album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Byrds co-founders, Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman will perform the album in its entirety and tell the stories that brought the album to life. This morning, New York City, Nashville, Boston, and Roanoake have been added to this tour (full dates below, with more to be announced soon). For tickets and more details, see venue information below. Two shows in Los Angeles, as well as shows in Albany, Saratoga, and Akron have been previously announced and are on sale now.
Along with cuts from Sweetheart of the Rodeo McGuinn and Hillman also sing some other favorites from their long recording careers. The pair will be joined on stage for the tour by country legends Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Stuart himself plays the famous 1954 Fender Telecaster originally owned by legendary country-rock pioneer Clarence White, a performer on Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
McGuinn, Hillman, and Stuart have also recorded an exclusive one-hour “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” 50th anniversary radio special for SiriusXM Outlaw Country (channel 60) that will premiere on Friday, July 13 at 8 pm ET. Listen to excerpts from the wide-ranging conversation where the trio discuss the infamous night the Byrds performed at the Grand Ole Opry in 1968, and the addition of Gram Parsons to the band’s lineup.
Sweetheart of the Rodeo is widely considered to be one of the most influential country rock albums of all time, and credited with giving rise to the genre. In 2003, the album was ranked #117 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums.
“On March 9, 1968, Roger McGuinn and I along with many fantastic musicians began recording the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album at Columbia Studios in Nashville,” says Chris Hillman. ”It was truly a pivotal moment in our lives taking a turn toward the music we always felt a strong kinship with. We are honored that it has left a strong, long lasting impression on country and rock music. To celebrate this special time with Roger, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives is such a blessing on this, the 50th anniversary of Sweetheart of the Rodeo.”
Roger McGuinn adds: “Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Sweetheart of the Rodeowith a group of my favorite musicians is an honor. I can’t wait to be on stage with Chris Hillman, Marty Stuart and those Fabulous Superlatives! We’re all looking forward to taking the fans through the back pages of the recording. The concert will include songs that led up to that ground breaking trip to Nashville and all the songs from the album.”
Marty Stuart said about the influence the album had on him: “The Bryds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo recording stands as a milestone in American music. I bought my first copy of the record in 1972. Upon my first listen, I was mesmerized at the effect of the combined power Country music, Rock & Roll, Bluegrass, Gospel and Folk music had on me. From that day forward, I considered Sweetheart of the Rodeo a blueprint as to how I should live my musical life. It is truly an honor for me and the Superlatives to get to go out and play music from Sweetheart with Roger and Chris. We love and greatly admire both of them and I have to believe this is a show not to be missed.”
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo Tour Dates
(click through each date for tickets)
July 24 /// Los Angeles, CA ///Ace Hotel [Sold Out]
July 25 /// Los Angeles, CA ///Ace Hotel
July 29 /// Saratoga, CA /// Mountain Winery
Sep 17 /// Albany, NY /// Hart Theater @ The Egg
Sep 18 /// Albany, NY /// Hart Theater @ The Egg [Sold Out]
Sep 20 /// Hopewell, VA /// Beacon Theatre [Sold Out]
Sep 24 /// New York, NY /// Town Hall
Sep 26 /// Boston, MA /// The Emerson Colonial Theatre
Oct 3 /// Akron, OH /// Akron Civic
Oct 8 /// Nashville, TN /// The Ryman Auditorium
Oct 10 /// Roanoke, VA /// The Jefferson Center
More dates to be announced soon.