Leon Bridges is from Texas. Charley Crockett is from Texas. One’s a Grammy-winning R&B artist, the other is a Grammy-nominated blues/country/Americana artist. Clearly, these two musicians have a few things in common — and they must like each other as well because they just announced a month-long tour that includes a visit to Milwaukee’s BMO Pavilion on Aug. 26.
The show is actually the kickoff for the tour, which runs through the dying days of summer before wrapping up with two Lone Star State shows in The Woodlands and Austin, Texas.
The pair have dubbed their journey “The Crooner & The Cowboy Tour,” which will celebrate “their shared roots, longtime friendship, and the rich musical heritage of Texas.” The first set of shows, including Milwaukee, will also give a nod to Canada through the participation of opener Noeline Hofmann, a 20-year-old country artist from southern Alberta.
The co-headliners have pledged $1 from every ticket sold on the tour to Bridges’ charity, The Big Good. You can make that contribution and score a seat to the Aug. 26 show when the general sale starts at 10 a.m. next Friday, March 28, online via Ticketmaster and at the Summerfest box office. You’ll also have a few chances to win tickets before you can buy them, so tune in to 88Nine next week for those giveaways.
Artist bios
Born Todd Michael Bridges, Leon Bridges has carved a distinctive place in contemporary music with his soulful sound. Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, he quickly gained recognition for a style that harkens back to the golden era of 1960s R&B. His 2015 debut album, Coming Home, was a breakout success, establishing his reputation for heartfelt vocals and classic arrangements.
Since then, Bridges has continued to evolve on critically acclaimed albums like Good Thing, Gold-Diggers Sound and most recently Leon, which showcase his versatility and growth as an artist. He has earned multiple Grammy nominations and a win, solidifying his status as a leading figure in modern soul.
Hailed as a “must-see live performer” by Rolling Stone, Charley Crockett crafts his singular “Gulf & Western” sound — described as “very 21st century and very vintage” by NPR Music — by synthesizing country, blues, soul, Cajun, R&B and other pieces of American Roots music.
After releasing a critically acclaimed concept album in 2022, The Man From Waco, Crocket didn’t set out to make a themed follow-up record. But as he wrote freely over a two-month period winding across the United States in a tour bus, the resulting songs ended up connecting and eventually became $10 Cowboy.
