If you’ve been searching for a nostalgia fueled show this summer, search no more. Hootie & The Blowfish will be taking over The Grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair with the help of Barenaked Ladies on Thursday, August 22nd.
With the rich, bluesy vocals of Darius Rucker and gleeful harmonies of guitarist Mark Bryan, bassist Dean Felber and drummer Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Hootie & the Blowfish has sold more than 25 million records worldwide to date after the group’s infectious melodies hit the airwaves in 1994 with hits such as “Hold My Hand,” “Let Her Cry” and “Only Wanna Be With You.” The quartet met at the University of South Carolina, where gigs at local bars built a major buzz with a blend of pop, folk, blues, soul and rock. Atlantic Records, impressed by their regional draw, signed them and released Cracked Rear View in 1994. An appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman” sent sales skyrocketing, eventually landing at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. The band went on to win two GRAMMY® Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a Billboard Music Award, and multiple People’s Choice Awards. Cracked Rear View remains the fifth most-certified studio album in music business history. The band remained a top draw nationwide and released five more albums for Atlantic. Hootie & the Blowfish took a break from full-time touring in 2007, reuniting annually for a variety of philanthropic events while also pursuing solo projects. 2019 will mark the band’s first full-time touring year in more than a decade as it embarks on the Group Therapy Tour in support of forthcoming new music.
As mentioned, Barenaked Ladies will be kicking the night off. Formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, alt-rock group Barenaked Ladies debuted its first album Gordon in 1992, featuring the hits “If I Had $1,000,000” and “Brian Wilson.” Known for high-energy live performances, the band – with an impressive cult following – showcases its free-style rapping and comedic banter throughout its show. Nominated for two GRAMMY® Awards, Barenaked Ladies has sold more than 15 million records and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in March 2018. The group’s most recent and 15th studio album, Fake Nudes, features the single “Lookin’ Up.
Tickets are still available HERE!
Remaining Tour Dates:
August 8 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
August 9 – Canandaigua, NY @ Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center: CMAC
August 10 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
August 16 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
August 17 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
August 18 – Des Moines, IA @ Iowa State Fair
August 22 – St. Paul, MN @ Minnesota State Fair
August 23 – East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
August 24 – Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August 29 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Budweiser Stage
August 30 – Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Stadium
August 31 – Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre
September 5 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
September 6 – Birmingham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
September 7 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
September 12 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
September 13 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
