You won’t be seeing Chris Stapleton doing a shoey anytime soon… or ever for that matter.
Playing shows “down under” often comes with an odd request from the rabid fans that live in Australia. For some strange reason, Aussies love to see the artist that’s up on stage throw back a beer… that’s been poured into a boot. It’s affectionally called a “shoey” (I’m also reading that the art of chugging from a boot could be called a “Das Boot”), and most country artists oblige when they’re asked to partake in the ritual.
Chris Stapleton is not one of those artists.
The list of country stars that have thrown the boot back on trips to Australia include Ernest, Zach Bryan, Megan Moroney, Lainey Wilson and most recently, Riley Green. It’s a simple-yet-unhygienic task that most power through for the sake of the fans. However, the “White Horse” singer is not so sure about the custom of the shoey.
And that creates a real predicament, because Stapleton is currently touring in Australia. While speaking with news.com.au, Stapleton was asked about drinking beer from a boot, and whether or not he would participate while touring throughout the land down under:
“I’ve heard about this. I asked somebody before I went on for the first night, ‘Is there anything that I should be prepared for?’ And then they’re like, ‘Yes, a shoey. They’ll want you to drink beer out of a shoe’. And I said I will graciously decline to do that.”
What Chris Stapleton probably doesn’t know is that declining a shoey means he’s going against rich tradition.
The Australian custom actually has some pretty significant history behind it. While the concert shoey really seemed to take off around 2010, drinking out of a boot actually has origins that trace back to… Germany. Ever been to an Oktoberfest event and seen a glass shaped like a boot? That can actually be connected to a German Army ritual, where World War I soldiers would drink out of a boot as a form of hazing.
And to be honest, I don’t blame Chris Stapleton for not wanting to drink out of a boot. You’re telling me it started out as a hazing ritual, and now its transformed into something that’s celebratory? I’d have a hard time hyping myself up to drink out of a boot that’s never been worn, let alone one that’s been worn-in.
The good news? Chris Stapleton apparently hasn’t been asked to a do a shoey while he’s been in Australia… so far. During the interview, he kind of figured that talking about it – and the topic being spread online – might not favor him in the long run:
“But no one has asked me to do that yet and maybe this interview will make someone want to do that. I don’t know. But I’m probably going to decline that request. I mean is there some kind of penalty if I don’t do it? Are they going to throw things at me?”
Can’t wait to see the concert “Chris Stapleton sours crowd by denying shoey” video go viral on TikTok…
Chris Stapleton Tour Dates
February 25—Melbourne, Australia—Rod Laver Arena* (SOLD OUT)
February 26—Melbourne, Australia—Rod Laver Arena* (SOLD OUT)
February 28—Brisbane, Australia—Brisbane Entertainment Centre* (SOLD OUT)
March 1—Brisbane, Australia—Brisbane Entertainment Centre* (SOLD OUT)
March 4—Sydney, Australia—Qudos Bank Arena* (SOLD OUT)
March 5—Sydney, Australia—Qudos Bank Arena* (SOLD OUT)
March 7—Auckland, New Zealand—Spark Arena* (SOLD OUT)
March 8—Auckland, New Zealand—Spark Arena* (SOLD OUT)
June 4—Greenville, SC—Bon Secours Wellness Arena† (SOLD OUT)
June 6—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena†
June 7—Charlottesville, VA—John Paul Jones Arena‡
June 12—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena+ (SOLD OUT)
June 13—Grand Rapids, MI—Van Andel Arena+
June 18—Greensboro, NC—First Horizon Coliseum^
June 20—Albany, NY—MVP Arena^
June 27—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre#
June 28—Tinley Park, IL—Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre#
July 11—St. Louis, MO—Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre‡
July 12—Milwaukee, WI—Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival
July 23—Belmont Park, NY—UBS Arena~
July 25—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden~
July 26—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden~
August 1—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center** (SOLD OUT)
August 2—Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center**
August 8—Phoenix, AZ—Desert Diamond Arena‡‡ (SOLD OUT)
August 9—Phoenix, AZ—Desert Diamond Arena‡‡
August 15—Salt Lake City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre* (SOLD OUT)
August 16—Salt Lake City, UT—Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre*
August 22—Denver, CO—Ball Arena** (SOLD OUT)
August 23—Denver, CO—Ball Arena**
October 10—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live
October 11—Hollywood, FL—Hard Rock Live
*with special guest Marcus King
†with special guest Nikki Lane
‡with special guest Brittney Spencer
+with special guest Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs
^with special guest Maggie Rose
#with special guest The War & Treaty
~with special guest Grace Potter
**with special guest Allen Stone
‡‡with special guest Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
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