Curtis Hilbun/AFF-USA

Robert Earl Keen Announces 8th Annual Holiday Tour

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | August 2, 2019

Robert Earl Keen will once again hit the road this holiday season for his eighth annual Christmas tour.

REK at Ryman 2018; photo by Whitley Whiskers

This year’s 15-stop holiday extravaganza, which is dubbed REK’s Countdown to Christmas Tour: Lunar Tunes & Looney Times, will pay homage to the space race and all things celestial in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

“This show will turn on the ‘psyche-delactic’ jukebox and light up the tree of tranquility!” says Robert Earl. “The countdown begins now!”

The tour will kick off on Dec. 2 in Greenville, S.C., and make additional stops in New York, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville and more. The festive set is sure to include REK’s classic, “Merry Christmas From the Family,” and many more out-of-this-world tunes.

Shinyribs will serve as support. Tickets go on sale on Aug. 9 at 10 a.m.

Editor’s Note: I attended REK’s holiday tour in 2016, 2017 and 2018 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium—and they were stellar shows.

Robert Earl Keen’s Countdown to Christmas Tour

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Blogs

Ty Herndon has just signed a three-album deal with Club44 Records, and the Grammy-nominated country singer launched his new creative partnership with a reimagined duet version of his 1995 breakout hit, “What Mattered Most,” featuring LeAnn Rimes. The single is the first offering from Herndon’s upcoming album, Thirty, which will pay tribute to his distinguished…

Ty Herndon Signs With New Label, Releases Duet With LeAnn Rimes

On Thursday (June 12), Kane Brown released his infectious new country anthem, "2 Pair." The track was produced by Jordan Schmidt, with Brown saying of his new song: “’2 Pair’ is an anthem for the summer. I wanted to give my fans a song they can blast at full volume and sing along to all…

Kane Brown Shares Catchy New Song, “2 Pair”

On Thursday (June 12), Kane Brown released his infectious new country anthem, “2 Pair.” The track was produced by Jordan Schmidt, with Brown saying of his new song: “’2 Pair’ is an anthem for the summer. I wanted to give my fans a song they can blast at full volume and sing along to all…

On Thursday (June 12), Post Malone shared a raw and soulful rendition of his country-tinged track, “Ain’t How it Ends,” as part of The Littlest Honky Tonk series. The stripped-down, unplugged performance was filmed in a cozy trailer-turned-stage outside of a stadium stop on his Big Ass Stadium Tour, with Posty providing an unexpected intimate…

Post Malone Plays Stripped Down Version Of “Ain’t How It Ends” In ‘The Littlest Honky Tonk’

On Monday (June 16), Hardy announced the cancellation of all the upcoming European shows on his 2025 Jim Bob World Tour just days before it was set to commence. The country star writes: "It wasn't an easy decision, but one I had to make for my band, crew and my family. Please know that I…

Hardy Cancels Entire European Leg Of His 2025 Tour

On Monday (June 16), Hardy announced the cancellation of all the upcoming European shows on his 2025 Jim Bob World Tour just days before it was set to commence. The country star writes: “It wasn’t an easy decision, but one I had to make for my band, crew and my family. Please know that I…

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” premieres at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the Grammy-winning pop star’s second chart-topper and her fourth Top 10 hit of her career, while becoming her first single to debut atop the chart. Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” spent one week at No. 1 in June 2024, after debuting at No.…