How have they never headlined the Ryman?
When it comes to ’90s country, there aren’t many artists higher on my personal favorites list than Shenandoah.
The band behind hits like “Two Dozen Roses” and “The Church on Cumberland Road” was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama back in 1984 by lead singer (and one of the greatest country vocalists of all time) Marty Raybon, along with drummer and background vocalist Mike McGuire. While they started as a house band, they quickly landed a deal with Columbia Records and released their debut self-titled album in 1987.
It was their sophomore album, The Road Not Taken, that made the band a household name with hits like “Sunday In the South” and “Two Dozen Roses,” which along with “The Church on Cumberland Road” became Shenandoah’s first three consecutive #1 hits.
Over the next decade, the band was a staple of country radio and became one of the foremost bands of the ’90s with hits like “Ghost In This House,” “The Moon Over Georgia,” “I Want To Be Loved Like That,” and one of my personal favorites, “Janie Baker’s Love Slave.”
After taking some time off from the band starting in the late ’90s, Raybon once again became the lead singer of Shenandoah in 2014, and since then the band’s continued to take their hits on the road while also dropping new music in their signature ’90s country style.
But throughout their legendary career, they’ve never headlined the most historic building in country music: Ryman Auditorium.
That’s about to change though, because Shenandoah just announced that they’ll be making their headlining debut at the Ryman on October 28 as part of their massive 40th anniversary celebration tour.
Lead singer Marty Raybon expressed his excitement at finally getting the opportunity to headline the Mother Church of Country Music after all these years:
“To celebrate 40 years of Shenandoah by finally headlining the Ryman Auditorium is something we’re very proud of. It’s going to be a wonderful night of music, memories and surprises, and we can’t wait to share it with our fans.”
The band also promised surprise guest appearances from “some of country music’s biggest names,” so it’s definitely going to be a show that country fans don’t want to miss – although the opportunity to see Shenandoah in such a historic venue should be more than enough reason to put this one on your list.
Shenandoah’s one of those bands that seems underappreciated for a group with so many massive hits in their catalog. They’re undoubtedly one of my favorite acts of the ’90s, and if you’ve seen them lately, you know that Marty Raybon’s still got the pipes that he had 40 years ago when they were first getting started in 1984.
I always like to remind people to go see your favorite artists while you still have the chance, because they’re not going to be touring forever. And it seems like the Ryman is the perfect place to see such a legendary group. There’s zero chance I would miss this one.
Shenandoah 40th Anniversary Tour Dates:
Aug 1 – Gethsemane, KY – The Amp
Aug 5 – Wausau, WI – Wisconsin Valley Fair
Aug 8 – Detroit Lakes, MN – WE Fest
Aug 9 – Hastings, MI – Rock the Country
Aug 14 – North Lawrence, OH – Neon Nights
Aug 18 – Lewisburg, WV – West Virginia State Fair
Aug 21 – Fairbury, IL – Fairbury Fair
Aug 22 – Chippewa Falls, WI – Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds
Aug 24 – Centre Hall, PA – Grange Fair
Aug 28 – Ocala, FL – Rock the Country
Sept 11 – Hamburg, NY – Rock the Country
Sept 17 – Philadelphia, MS – Ellis Theater
Sept 19 – Morehead, KY – Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival
Oct 3 – Marshall, TX – Bear Creek Smokehouse
Oct 9 – Nashville, TN – TBD
Oct 16 – Rockdale, TX – Rockdale Fair
Oct 17 – Angleton, TX – Brazoria County Fair
Nov 14 – Lufkin, TX – Temple Theater
Nov 21 – Kingman, KS – Kingman Historic Theatre
Dec 4 – Tulsa, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
Dec 5 – Thackerville, OK – WinStar World Casino & Resort
