Uncle Kracker Hits Your Hometown on Upcoming Nationwide Tour

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -01/11/12)- Top Dog/Atlantic recording artist Uncle Kracker has announced details of his upcoming U.S. tour. Dubbed the "Hometown Tour," the dates get underway Thursday, March 1st at Macomb, Illinois' Forum Live and then continue through April with more dates still to be announced (see itinerary below). Support throughout the tour will come from Southern Ground recording artist Sonia Leigh and Uncle Kracker's Top Dog/Atlantic/Warner Nashville labelmate Ty Stone. Tickets for select shows go on sale to the public starting Friday, January 13. Presale tickets for members of Uncle Kracker's online fan communities begin on Wednesday, January 11 at 3pm Local Venue Time. For details and ticket information, please visit www.unclekracker.com.

Uncle Kracker's "Hometown Tour" heralds the recent release of his new single, "My Hometown," which is available now at all leading digital retailers. Produced by Keith Stegall (known for his work with such country superstars as Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, and George Jones), "My Hometown" is the first single from his as-yet-untitled forthcoming album. Uncle Kracker is putting the final touches on the new release with more details to come shortly.

"My Hometown" marks the Detroit-based singer/songwriter's first new music since 2010's "HAPPY HOUR -- THE SOUTH RIVER ROAD SESSIONS." That six song collection was recorded in Nashville by Stegall and Grammy award winning producer Rob Cavallo (Kid Rock), featuring reinterpretations of tracks originally found on 2009's hugely popular "HAPPY HOUR." Among the highlights on "HAPPY HOUR" is the 2x RIAA platinum certified smash hit, "Smile," which proved a Top 5 country radio blockbuster as well as one of 2010's best-selling country singles.

An unabashed road warrior, Uncle Kracker spent most of 2011 on the road with country superstar Kenny Chesney, hitting stadiums and arenas in nearly every major U.S. market, as well his own headline shows and benefit concerts supporting The Uncle Kracker Music Education Foundation. In addition to his upcoming 2012 tour, Uncle Kracker has also scheduled an array of other shows, including headline concerts, festival appearances, and a five day stint aboard Kid Rock's already sold out "3rd Annual Chillin' The Most Cruise." For up-to-the-minute information, please visit www.unclekracker.com/tour-dates.

Initially known for his role as DJ in Kid Rock's legendary Twisted Brown Trucker band, Uncle Kracker made a stunning solo debut with 2001's "DOUBLE WIDE." Fueled by the #1 smash, "Follow Me," the album exploded onto the Billboard 200's top 10 on its way to 2x-platinum certification from the RIAA.

"NO STRANGER TO SHAME" followed in 2002, highlighted by the top 10 Hot AC hit, "In A Little While," as well as Uncle Kracker's biggest solo single to date, a cover of Dobie Gray's classic "Drift Away." The track reached the top 10 on Billboard's "Hot 100" while also setting the record for most weeks at #1 on the AC chart, remaining atop the format's ranking for a remarkable 28 straight weeks.

2004's "SEVENTY TWO AND SUNNY" saw Uncle Kracker emphasizing his melodic songwriting and a unique stylistic synthesis of pop, rock, country, soul, blues, and even doo-wop. That same year also saw Uncle Kracker topping Billboard's "Hot Country Songs" chart for five consecutive weeks with "When The Sun Goes Down," his RIAA gold certified collaboration with country superstar Kenny Chesney. In 2008, he revisited to the Country charts having co-written Kid Rock's Top 3 smash "All Summer Long."

Uncle Kracker returned with the 2009 release of "HAPPY HOUR," which features the multi-format smash, "Smile." In addition to its Country radio success, the album's version of "Smile" peaked at #2 on the Hot AC chart, while its companion video was a top 5 success on Great American Country's Top 20 Country Countdown and a fixture on the VH1 Top 20 Countdown.

In addition to his countless live appearances, Uncle Kracker has made a number of high-profile TV performances, including NBC's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, CBS' The Early Show Saturday Edition, and ABC's Live! With Regis and Kelly (as part of a special Las Vegas edition). Recent highlights include Fox's first annual American Country Awards celebration, as well as a joint performance with Kid Rock on the ABC special, CMA Music Fest: Country's Night To Rock.

Known to his parents as Matt Shafer, Uncle Kracker has also maintained his role as one of Kid Rock's closest friends and collaborators. Together, they've co-written such blockbuster hits as "Bawitdaba," "Cowboy," "Forever," "Only God Knows Why," and 2008's #1 classic, "All Summer Long."

For further news and information, please visit www.unclekracker.com.

(TOUR ITINERARY BELOW)

 

                   UNCLE KRACKER
                HOMETOWN TOUR 2012
     w/Special Guests Sonia Leigh and Ty Stone

MARCH
1     Macomb, IL           Forum Live
2     Minneapolis, MN      Toby Keith's
3     Lincoln, NE          Uncle Ron's
8     Columbus, OH         Bluestone
9     Indianapolis, IN     8 Seconds
10    Rootstown, OH        Dusty Armadillo
14    Washington,DC        9:30 Club
15    Foxboro, MA          Toby Keith's
16    Niagara Falls, NY    Rapids Theatre
17    Mt. Laurel, NJ       Prospectors
22    Flint, MI            Machine Shop
23    Grand Rapids, MI     Intersection
24    Chicago, IL          Joe's
25    Kansas City, MO      Beaumont Club
29    San Miguel,CA        The Ranch
30    Reno, NV             Knitting Factory

APRIL
4     Davis, CA            The Davis Graduate
5     Boise, ID            Knitting Factory
6     Portland, OR         Aladdin Theatre
7     Seattle, WA          Showbox at the Market
12    Salt Lake City, UT   Westerner
13    Cheyenne, WY         Outlook Saloon
14    Denver, CO           Toby Keith's
17    Flagstaff, AZ        Museum Club
19    Mesa, AZ             Toby Keith's
20    Bakersfield, CA      Crystal Palace

For Additional Dates, Please See www.unclekracker.com/tour-dates