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Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: the Naked Garden Tour

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Lukas Nelson & POTR

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

Lukas Nelson is the son of Willie Nelson. Lukas has a unique voice that is all his own, but you can hear his Dad in his voice. His guitar playing is amazing; similar to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Lukas' music style is Blues / Rock.

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Interview: Lukas Nelson talks new album ‘Sticks and Stones’, UK tour and working with Lainey Wilson

Since the release of their debut album ‘Promise of the Real' back in 2010, Lukas Nelson and his band Promise of the Real have been wowing audiences on both sides of the pond with their incredible live shows and experimental sound blending country and classic rock. They've played to packed shows all over the UK – including a set at the legendary Glastonbury festival in 2019 – as well as appearing as Bradley Cooper's band in the 2018 remake of ‘A Star Is Born' (which Lukas also wrote and produced the music for), and now they're heading back over here later this month for the first time in four years.

Ahead of the band's latest trip to the UK, I spoke to Lukas about what to expect from the shows, the band's new album ‘Sticks and Stones' (due for release next month), current single ‘Alcohallelujah', working with Lainey Wilson on ‘More Than Friends' and more. You can win tickets to see Lukas and POTR on any UK show of your choice AND a meet & greet with him via a competition we are running now till Thursday 8th June.

We last spoke two years ago before the release of ‘A Few Stars Apart' – what's been going on for you since then?

Well, so after ‘A Few Stars Apart' came out, we went on the road, which was the first time we'd been on the road since the pandemic had ended, effectively, at least in the sense that we could get back out. And I was playing a lot of those songs live, and I realised that people wanted to dance and have fun and just forget about all of that. So I had written all these reflective songs during the pandemic, which were appropriate for the time, but getting out and playing, I ended up having to play a lot of my older stuff, and only throw one or two of those songs in there, because I felt like the audience really just wanted to have a good time, you know, connect again to people and be close to people and have that human connection and dance. So I wrote an album while I was on the road, all geared towards creating that live experience. And having the sing alongs and having the sort of the jubilance of human connection and being out and having a good time. And having fun. So I wrote a record, it's the most fun record I've ever written. And it's called ‘Sticks and Stones', and it comes out July 14.

Your current single is ‘Alcohallelujah'. Can you tell us a bit more about that song and how it came about?

Yeah, so ‘Alcohallelujah'. You know, it's a cautionary tale. But it's also a fun song. I mean, if you listen to the lyrics, it's a little more of a warning, I suppose, about where you can go. When I wrote it, I wrote it about… so the whole album goes, sort of autobiographically, if you will. It starts off in my defiant sort of party days, and then it sort of ends off in my clarity and groundedness. And so it sort of shows the trajectory of where I've been until now. I don't think you've had a chance to listen to the album yet in its entirety?

No, not yet…

So it's just a bunch of fun songs, but it really starts off in a party mood, and then sort of gets more in a psychedelic groove. And ends in a sort of a clear headed, driven, but still fun. And so ‘Alcohallelujah' is the second song on the album, I think, or the third. And it's sort of really rooted in that time in my life, when I was just exercising abandon, if you will. [chuckles]

With the structure of the album that you've mentioned, was that something you consciously wanted to do going into this record? Or did it evolve that way as you were putting it together?

It definitely evolved. I mean, I just was writing for the purpose of having a great live show. And I was writing all these songs that came to me, and lyrically, I didn't change anything, but rhythmically, I was geared towards, “okay, I want it to be an upbeat song with these lyrics, I want it to be something that I can get people singing along to and singing on the chorus”. And so, you know, that part of it was what I was most focused on when it was coming to the lyrics or to the melody in the beat. But as far as the lyrics go, I was just writing what came to me as I always do, and it just evolved into this sort of autobiographical thing, you know?

I also wanted to ask about ‘More Than Friends' which is your duet with Lainey Wilson that's on this album. Can you tell us more about that and how it was working with her on it?

Oh, well, first of all, I'm really proud of that collaboration. I'm a huge fan of hers. She's a real talent and deserves everything she's getting. I mean, not only is she talented, she's very kind and the salt of the earth and a good human being and I'm proud to call her a friend. And so, you know, I got lucky because I called her right before she blew up. And I said, “I got this song, and I'd love to have you on it”. And then she was gracious enough to be on it. And I think, well, it's doing really well on Texas radio right now. I think it's climbing the charts up into the top 20. And it'll probably get up pretty high as far as that goes. But But yeah, I mean, we're playing that one. I mean, I'd love to play it with her. I think I get a chance to play with her soon live. But she's so busy. We've both been busy. So we haven't been able to connect. But that'll be a good moment when we get to see her.

Was there anything you learned from the process of making this particular record compared to your previous ones?

Well, I really learned, I think, what my favourite process is, when making an album. I learned first of all, I learned to trust my instincts as a producer. You know, I've produced a lot of music. With ‘A Star Is Born', we did that soundtrack. And that was great. That was obviously well received. And so I know I've got the right instincts, production wise. And so does the rest of my band, really, they're all great ears for music. And so we collaborate really well. And we did this on our own. And I think we realised that it came out as successfully as it would if we had hired somebody else. So really, I'm happy to know that we've got good instincts with that. And that we can actually do a lot of our work in house, which gives us a little more freedom.

You're coming over to the UK on tour later this month. What can people expect from those shows?

Well, I mean, we're gonna be playing a lot of these new songs live. And I think since 6'Alcohallelujah' is out that you guys may get the debut of ‘Alcohallelujah' live, which will be great. That's gonna be a fun time. For sure. I'm really looking forward to it. I mean, I think last time I came there, we had a great show at Shepherds Bush Empire – it was a sold out show and the crowd was amazing. It was really great. And so you know, I'm looking forward to going back. I really liked the the crowds out there, it was a good time.

Is there anywhere you're particularly looking forward to playing whilst you're here?

Well we're playing in Oxford, we're playing all over. I think we're going to be in England, or mostly the UK. We're going to be in England, and then we're in Ireland and Scotland. And then afterwards, I'm going to I'm going to pop down to France for a little bit just for a friend of mine who has a wedding down there. But you know, we'll have a couple of weeks there in that area. And you know, unfortunately we couldn't get to more places logistically because funny enough, everybody's out right now and all the tour buses are booked. So we couldn't get ourselves a tour bus for cheap enough. Sorry, there were no buses available, I would have paid for it [laughs]. But there were none available 'cause everybody's playing out there. And country music is really big out there now and you know, it's a big scene, so we couldn't get ourselves effectively around Europe. Otherwise, we would have gone up, you know, to different countries in Europe and gone all around, but we'll get out there again. You know, we like going out there. Oh, yeah.

You've also got a show at Black Deer Festival whilst you're here. Do you feel like it's different playing a festival compared to your own shows?

You know, I love festivals because you get a lot of new fans, people that aren't necessarily there to hear you but that would would and wouldn't otherwise be exposed to you. If people come and they listen and and you know they're there, so they come for the whole weekend and they happen to see you. And then you know, that's always nice, you get to capture new hearts. But then when you're playing your own show, those people are dedicated and come for you and know all your words to your songs and everything and that's always a good time to so it's, you know, there's there's good things about both.

I know you recently played at the Hollywood Bowl for your dad's [country music legend Willie Nelson] 90th birthday show. How was that?

Oh, that was great. That was one of the most amazing things I've ever been a part of, to be honest. I mean, everybody there celebrating Dad. And it was really run smoothly, which was quite incredible. I mean, there were about 35 artists on a bill and they kept it smooth, and it ran under three hours and everything, you know. I mean, so many amazing moments. And everybody there to celebrate Dad, it was a really special evening.

And then lastly, what is the rest of this year looking like?

Yeah, well, the album comes out July 14, and we're gonna be out on the road, supporting that, you know, we're going to be out quite a bit. So we're looking forward to just kind of putting the pedal to the metal and going out and bringing this music out to as many people as possible. Because I gotta say, I've done a lot of records. This is the most fun I've ever had. This is I think the most well rounded album I've made. Every song on this album I love. And I'm not saying that I don't on the other albums, but I just I think I've finally finally found a balance and what works. I'll just say this. It's just the most fun I've ever had on an album and the most fun I've ever had playing an album live too. So it's not often you get that combo, and it's good.

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real's new album, ‘Sticks and Stones', will be released on 14 July 2023 via 6 Ace Records/Thirty Tigers. Their latest single, ‘Alcohallelujah', is out now.

See Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real live in the UK and Ireland this June:

13 June – O2 Academy, Oxford 14 June – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton 15 June – O2 Kentish Town Forum, London 16 June – Black Deer Festival, Tunbridge Wells 17 June – SWX, Bristol 19 June – O2 Academy 2, Manchester 20 June – City Halls & Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow 22 June – Ulster Hall, Belfast 23 June – The Academy, Dublin

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Lukas Nelson And His Band POTR Begin UK And Ireland Headline Tour Tonight In Oxford

Following a week of performances at cma fest in nashville, including the grand old opry, ryman auditorium, and appearances with marty stuart and lainey wilson. lukas nelson and his band potr will commence their uk and ireland headline tour tonight, june 13, at oxford’s o2 academy 2. nelson’s new album, ‘sticks and stones’, will be released on july 14..

The concert will be the first of nine headline shows for the Grammy and BAFTA award winner, and comes with a main stage appearance at Black Deer Festival this weekend, where he will perform alongside other such luminaries as Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.

Nelson is preparing for the release of his new album, ‘ Sticks and Stones ‘, which is set for release on July 14 via 6ACE Records/Thirty Tigers.

Nelson has already released two tracks from the album: lead single, ‘ More Than Friends ‘, featuring CMA and ACM Award-winning artist, Lainey Wilson, and ‘ Alcohallelujah ‘, which was described by Rolling Stone as a “bright, rollicking country-rock anthem”.

The tour follows a packed week in Nashville during CMA Fest, during which he appeared with Wilson for multiple performances of their duet, including on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage, and joined Marty Stuart at the iconic Ryman Auditorium for the 20th anniversary of his annual Late Night Jam.

Lukas Nelson also recently wrapped up a spring headline tour with numerous sold-out shows, including a performance at The Hollywood Bowl as part of “Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, A Star-Studded Concert Celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday” last month. After the UK and Ireland tour he will return to the USA to perform at Madison Square Garden with Tedeschi Trucks Band, among other dates.

While only limited tickets remain for all headline dates, there’s still a chance to catch Lukas Nelson + POTR on tour. Dates and venues below:

13th June – Oxford, O2 Academy 2

14th June – Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall

15th June – London, O2 Kentish Town Forum

17th June – Bristol, SWX

18th June – Kent, Black Deer Festival

19th June – Manchester, O2 Academy 2

20th June – Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket

22nd June – Belfast, Ulster Hall

23rd June – Dublin, Academy

Find out more about Lukas Nelson and his music online on his official website , Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube , and TikTok .

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Lukas Nelson tour dates 2024

Lukas Nelson is currently touring across 1 country and has 6 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, after that they'll be at Snowmass Town Park in Snowmass Village.

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Recent tour reviews

Wow. This gets my "favorite concert" vote. The entire band was on fire and really won the crowd. They trended from old fashion singer/song writer, up to fairly heavy rock.

One complaint; the encore was too loud and became shrill; the rest as very well mixed.

"Icarus" was hoppin', "Wrong House" was phrased just right. "Just Outside of Austin" and "Smile" were pure magic; 100x the album versions.

Lukas+potr NEED another live album, (please).

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WOW....where do I start????

What an amazing show!

BY FAR the best concert I've seen in a while.

We have seen him with his daddy at The King Center in Melbourne Fla. Then last year in Ashville NC at The Orange Peel. Now I am currently waiting with much anticipation for tickets to go on sale at 10 CST for his show on May 7th at The Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola Fla. You close your eyes and listen; he sounds just like his daddy. But he also has his own voice that is AMAZING!! Not to mention how flipping CUTE he is and SO EASY to watch!!!!!!!!! LOL

Love you Lukas

Thanks for entertaining us

Can't wait till the 7th of May.

That is also the day my Daddy went home to the Lord 8 yrs. ago. Set me down on a cloud

Renee' Allgeo

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Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real

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Past Events

Here are the most recent UK tour dates we had listed for Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real. Were you there?

• Thu 22 Jun Belfast, Ulster Hall Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Tue 20 Jun Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Mon 19 Jun Manchester Academy Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Sat 17 Jun SWX Bristol Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Fri 16 Jun → Sun 18 Jun Tunbridge Wells, Eridge Deer Park Estate Black Deer Festival 2023 Nathaniel Rateliff, Midlake, Lucinda Williams, Far From Saints, Kurt Vile…
• Thu 15 Jun London, O2 Forum Kentish Town Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Wed 14 Jun Wolverhampton, The Wulfrun at The Halls Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Tue 13 Jun O2 Academy Oxford Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Mon 22 Mar Online / Streaming Events We're Texas Post Malone, Charlie Sexton, Don Henley, Gary Clark Jr, Kacey Musgraves…

November 2020

• Thu 19 Nov Online / Streaming Events Venture Into Cures Eddie Vedder, Judd Apatow, Jon Batiste, Alessia Cara, Bradley Cooper…
• Sat 4 Jul Online / Streaming Events Willie Nelson's Fourth Of July Concert Asleep At The Wheel, Charley Crockett, Peterson Brothers, Shakey Graves, Vincent Neil Emerson…
• Fri 26 Jun Dublin, The Academy Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Thu 25 Jun Belfast, The Limelight Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Wed 24 Jun Glasgow, Old Fruitmarket Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Mon 22 Jun London, O2 Forum Kentish Town Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Sat 20 Jun Manchester Academy Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Fri 19 Jun → Sun 21 Jun Tunbridge Wells, Eridge Deer Park Estate Black Deer Festival 2020 Wilco, The Waterboys, Saving Grace, The Dead South, Imelda May…
• Fri 19 Jun SWX Bristol Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Sat 25 Apr Online / Streaming Events Kokua Festival 2020 Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, G. Love & Special Sauce, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real…
• Wed 22 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Sat 18 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson - #Quarantunes Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Thu 16 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson - #Quarantunes Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Tue 14 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson - #Quarantunes Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Sat 11 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson - #Quarantunes Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Thu 9 Apr Online / Streaming Events Lukas Nelson - #Quarantunes Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Thu 27 Jun London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, The Wandering Hearts
• Wed 26 Jun → Sun 30 Jun Glastonbury, Worthy Farm Glastonbury Festival 2019 Stormzy, George Ezra, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Bastille, Sheryl Crow…
• Fri 13 Jul → Sun 15 Jul Great Tew Park Cornbury Music Festival UB40, Zucchero, Jimmy Cliff, Stereo MCs, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real…
• Wed 11 Jul O2 Academy Bristol The White Buffalo, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
• Tue 10 Jul London, The Garage Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, The Americans
• Sat 10 Mar London, indigo at The O2 Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, DJ Hish
• Fri 9 Mar → Sun 11 Mar Glasgow, The OVO Hydro C2C Country To Country 2018 Little Big Town, Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Midland (1), Faith Hill…
• Fri 9 Mar Glasgow, SWG3 Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real

October 2017

• Wed 18 Oct London, Orange Yard Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real

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• Last updated: 9 Nov 2017, 0:40:25
• Published: 9 Nov 2017, 0:40:25
• Written by: Sean Kayden
• Photography by: David Esquivel
• Categories: Tour Update Setlist.fm Exclusives Tagged: Lukas Nelson Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

"I’ll have the whole song sometimes in my head before I put it on paper as a performance that I visualize when writing it."

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Country Music On Tour

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ABOUT LUKAS NELSON

GRAMMY and BAFTA Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Lukas Nelson has established himself as one of music’s most respected voices. Throughout his esteemed career, Nelson has released eight studio albums including his latest, 2023’s Sticks and Stones . Since its release, the album spent 18 weeks in the top 10 of the Americana Albums chart and earned Nelson two #1 singles: “Sticks and Stones,” which reached #1 on the Alt Country chart and “More Than Friends,” feat. Lainey Wilson , which topped the Americana Singles chart. Additionally, “More Than Friends” is also nominated for Collaborative Video of the Year at the 2024 CMT Music Awards. Released to widespread critical acclaim, The Wall Street Journal praises, “[Nelson] makes the genre his own…This is a fresh and welcome addition to what he’s offered so far,” while The Tennessean declared, “thoughtful, timeless Southern-style rock featuring anything from introspective lyricism to virtuoso-style musicianship.”

Since his debut over a decade ago, the Texas and Hawaii-based artist has performed countless sold-out headline dates and festivals, demonstrating the electric energy of his live shows. Nelson will continue to tour through this year including several shows with Whiskey Myers this spring as well as stops at major festivals such as MerleFest, DelFest, Wildlands Festival and Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival.

In addition to his own projects, Nelson also co-produced the music for 2018’s lauded film, A Star Is Born , in addition to appearing in the movie and went on to win a BAFTA Award for Best Original Music and a GRAMMY Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media .

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Lukas Nelson: "I always think about finding the space and playing just what needs to be played"

The country-rocker and Neil Young collaborator goes deep on his new Gibson signature model, pedalboard minimalism and how meditation helps him play great solos

Lukas Nelson grew up on a tour bus, alongside his brother Micah, their mother Annie D'Angelo and their father, country icon Willie Nelson. By his 10th birthday, Lukas had spent more time up-close with great guitarists than most of us will manage in our entire lifetimes. 

He was soon performing with his family and in 2008 started touring in his own band, Lukas Nelson And The Promise Of The Real. In 2015, Lukas and band started collaborating with another icon, Neil Young, having caught his ear at annual Farm Aid performances. 

He was also a key figure in Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, penning a significant chunk of the soundtrack and collaborating with Lady Gaga.

Nelson is a busy guy then, but he likes to keep it simple where he can. A quintessential feel-based player, he’s totally led by his ear and capable of extracting gut-twisting tones from a stripped-down guitar and amp setup. 

It makes sense then that Gibson has teamed-up with Nelson to release a new signature model based on the ultimate minimalist’s tool, the Les Paul Junior .

We spoke to Nelson about the making of his new signature ’56 Les Paul Junior, his minimalist Magnatone rig and how meditation can help the solos flow...

You have a new Gibson signature model on the way, based on your ’56 Les Paul Junior. How did you come by the original?

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"I was working at a studio called TRI Studios in San Rafael, California. It's Bob Weir's studios, where he usually works. We were doing some music there and a buddy of mine who is an amp connoisseur, a collector and also a guitar technician for years, for Neil Young - his name's Larry Cragg. 

"He's a collector of vintage instruments and amplifiers, I called him asking him if I could rent some Magnatone amps to use with Bob. He said, 'Sure' and he also brought by this guitar that his friend was selling and it was this Les Paul Junior, a 1956. It was kind of like in Harry Potter, where you use the wand and it speaks to you and all of a sudden it's yours, you know? 

"That's kind of how it felt. I just immediately fell in love with the guitar and I understood it could help me provide a distinct voice for my live show, instrumentally."

So what spoke to you about that Les Paul Junior? What is it you are looking for in an instrument like that?

The guitar was very light, which I hadn't been used to because I had a 'Fat' Strat up until then

"Well, it could be as simple as the way it feels. I remember just running my hands down the neck and playing the strings. It felt like it fit my hand really well. The guitar was very light, which I hadn't been used to because I had a 'Fat' Strat up until then, so it was pretty heavy. 

"It just physically felt good, then when I played it with the P-90 it had this sort of feel where I could get really gritty and intense with it and play it hard and it would break-up just the way I wanted. 

"Then, if I played it clean, it would go back to being really light and pretty sounding. It had this range of tone in the same way that a weighted grand piano might have, so it felt very expressive as an instrument."

Is this a totally faithful recreation? Did you make any concessions to playability, production costs etc?

"Yes, we made some tweaks. I'm not very technical, unfortunately - that's just me! But the bridge is set up like my original setup, the way I like, so it's angled in a certain way that creates a little more distance from the top than the bottom. 

"I’ve got some notes here… the specs. I remember the Satin Vintage Sunburst gloss was created so that it wouldn't be super-shiny, it would be the same as it was back then, which is different from the regular model. 

"The bridge pickup is an Alnico III P-90 dog ear and the controls, the gold speed knobs for the volume and tone controls are hand-wired with orange drop capacitors. The gold was only on the '56 version, back then, so that's not on the normal [Jr] reissue. So there we go, I got the real good shit there for ya!"

The press release says the Alnico III dog-ear P-90 has been custom-voiced as per your preference. What did that process actually entail?

The model that's out right now is basically the exact sound, or as close as I could get it without [factoring in] the specific wear and tear and the life that mine has lived

"I actually played a few iterations of the guitar itself, because I wanted it to sound as close to mine as possible. It's funny, because the one that I played first, was actually a little high-end-y. 

"I may have used that one, interestingly, in the little Gibson video I did when they were at my ranch and that may have been an old iteration, so the tone may be a little bit more rounded and full now. I remember thinking, 'It seems a little thinner than what I like.' So I asked them to adjust the bridge, and I kept playing my guitar and their guitar and kept A/B-ing every iteration and every update until they got it right. 

"The model that's out right now is basically the exact sound, or as close as I could get it without [factoring in] the specific wear and tear and the life that mine has lived, doing 250 shows a year for the last eight years. So it's pretty close."

You toured with Blackberry Smoke and we know Charlie Starr, who's another great player, also has a '56 Les Paul Junior that he adores. Did you compare them both while on tour?

"Oh yeah, he loves my guitar and I love his! We went to a great museum together when we were on the road and had some fun together. He's probably my favorite guitar player out there, or one of them and he's a great guy. He's more of a gear guy than I am, though! 

"I've always sort of been taught… well, my dad's had the same guitar for 60 years! It's got a hole in it, this Martin [nylon-string called] Trigger. It's like his thing, so I always felt more like I need to figure out how to get my fingers working than I have to figure out what gear I'm using. In the same way a golfer would say you've got to get the fundamentals of your swing down before you figure out what driver you use.

"I am actually now trying to get more educated on what everything means. I never learned to read music, either – I've been a feel-based guy for a long time, so it takes me a minute before I can understand what all the other stuff means."

What’s in your rig at present? Do you like to keep it simple on that front, too?

I know that when I play my guitar, it's going to really speak and have it's own voice as well - and I won't have to keep pressing pedals and stuff to make it sound different

"Yeah, the less I have to think about the better. I don't have a lot of pedals. For players like me who think it's all about feel, you want your foundation solid enough that you don't have to think about it. You want a guitar that will respond to how you play and the amp's got to be as completely warm and expressive as the instrument itself. 

"I think Magnatones, out of all the amps I've tried over the years, just have a thing about them that makes me feel comfortable and like I don't need too much over the top of it. I’ve done tours with literally no pedals at all, not even a tuner. 

"[Usually] I just stick the guitar cable into the guitar, then I have a 1x12 Magnatone Twilighter and a 2x12 [Stereo Twilighter] together and I combo them. I crank up the little one so I get distortion and I crank the other one up to get a little more body and I can have any sound I want without having to change anything. 

"It's nice because if we're jamming I really don't have to think about anything other than making my lyrics come across. I know that when I play my guitar, it's going to really speak and have its own voice as well - and I won't have to keep pressing pedals and stuff to make it sound different - that takes me out of the moment."

How would you describe your approach to playing? 

"Like I said, it's a feel-based approach. I started with the Strat and moved on to the Les Paul Junior quite a bit later, but I kind of learned by the old blues guys and Hendrix and Stevie Ray and Clapton. 

"After that I moved on to JJ Cale and BB King and Neil [Young] and those guys, who are so expressive, but have this 'less is more' approach. When I'm playing live, I always think about finding the space and playing just what needs to be played, but I can always do better, you know?"

You’ve toured with Neil Young for many years and seen more incredible players up close than most of us. What have you learned about developing your finger tone?

"I think it's just absorbing a lot of music, listening to a lot of music and then playing live and connecting with your bandmates - and listening to their feedback about what really speaks to them, too. 

If it works well, it serves the emotion of the song and if it doesn't work - it doesn't!

"Because you can sort of feel great playing, and while it does feel good to just play fast and play a lot of notes, but your friends - if they're good friends - might just say, 'Ah, it was all right...' Or that it was really great, but bouncing it off of an audience is really important and it also just comes with practice. 

"The feedback's really important. The main thing is that you just have to live life - and practice! The biggest mistake you could make is not to practice."

Chris Shiflett's podcast has hailed your excellent long solos and painted you as a bit of a ‘keeper of the flame’, in that sense. How can you tell what works well in a solo?

“If it works well, it serves the emotion of the song and if it doesn't work - it doesn't!"

So is it always pure spontaneity? Or do you like to work out solos beforehand? 

"Sometimes. There's a solo I wrote for a [cover] version of San Francisco [on 2016 album Something Real]. It's a good one, if you want to listen to it, where Neil Young is singing under the solo in that song. It's from a record we did in San Francisco a while back and I just spent a good hour beforehand playing it over and then doing a double-[track] on it, so it's more of a George Harrison solo, where it's like parts, but I'm still trying to let it flow as it's happening."

How do you get yourself into a good place to tap into that sense of flow when soloing?

I think if you can then lose yourself in the music and just get lost and absorbed in the song itself, you can close your eyes and think of a melody and play that on the guitar

"A lot of the time, my meditations help. It's really getting to a place that is quiet enough [mentally] to allow that stuff to come in. That's really what helps the most. 

"You want the [musical] thoughts to come in, but you want them to be clear, so if you've got a lot of other thoughts swimming around your head the whole time, they're not necessarily going to be as clear, so that's how meditation helps me. It just calms the mind a little bit, so inspiration can come through more clearly. 

"You get to a point, through practice, where can think of a note and play that note. I think if you can then lose yourself in the music and just get lost and absorbed in the song itself, you can close your eyes and think of a melody and play that on the guitar.”

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Matt is Features Editor for GuitarWorld.com. Before that he spent 10 years as a freelance music journalist, interviewing artists for the likes of Total Guitar , Guitarist , Guitar World , MusicRadar , NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound . In 2020, he launched  CreativeMoney.co.uk , which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

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Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Confirm Fall Tour Dates 

Lisa Konicki

Updated: 

Grammy Award-winning artist Lukas Nelson and his long-standing band, Promise of the Real (POTR), are set to embark on an expansive headline tour this upcoming fall.

Videos by American Songwriter

The added dates will find Nelson and POTR making stops at renowned venues such as Austin’s ACL Live at the Moody Theatre, Fort Worth’s Tannahill’s Tavern, San Antonio’s The Espee, Fort Lauderdale’s Parker Theatre, Atlanta’s Buckhead Theatre, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, Washington DC’s iconic 9:30 Club, and Philadelphia’s vibrant Brooklyn Bowl, among many other cities. The additional dates begin on October 13 in Austin, Texas, and wrap on November 16 in Philadelphia.

Tickets for the newly announced shows are slated to go on sale Friday, August 25, at 10:00 AM local time. More information about ticketing can be found on Lukas Nelson’s official website HERE .

In addition, Nelson is unveiling the official music video for “All For Winds,” a featured track from his new album titled Sticks and Stones . The video is a labor of love created by Nelson’s own brother, Micah Nelson, which pays tribute to the beauty and nature of Maui, where Nelson spends much of his time.

Sticks and Stones was self-produced by Nelson and the members of Promise of the Real. CHeck out the video below.

LUKAS NELSON & POTR CONFIRMED TOUR DATES

September 15—Pryor, OK—Born & Raised Festival 

September 16—Kansas City, MO—Knuckleheads

September 17—Kansas City, MO—Knuckleheads

September 18—Columbia, MO—The Blue Note

September 20—St. Louis, MO—Delmar Hall

September 21—Bloomington, IL—The Castle Theatre

September 24—North Adams, MA—FreshGrass

September 27—Boston, MA—TD Garden*

September 29—New York, NY—Madison Square Garden*

October 6-8—Gretna, LA—Gretna Heritage Festival

October 13—Austin, TX—ACL Live at the Moody Theatre

October 14—Midland, TX—The Tailgate

October 15—San Antonio, TX—The Espee

October 18—Abilene, TX—The Paramount Theatre

October 19—Fort Worth, TX—Tannahill’s Tavern

October 20—Katy, TX—Mo’s Place

October 24—Little Rock, AR—The Hall

October 25—Memphis, TN—Minglewood Hall

October 26—Oxford, MS—The Lyric

October 28—Atlanta, GA—Buckhead Theatre

October 29—Ponte Vedra, FL—Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

October 30—St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Landing

November 1—Fort Lauderdale, FL—Parker Theatre

November 2—Fort Myers, FL—The Ranch

November 4—Sanford, FL—Tuffy’s

November 7—Birmingham, AL—Iron City

November 8—Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium

November 9—Asheville, NC—Orange Peel

November 11—Raleigh, NC—The Ritz

November 12—Washington, DC—9:30 Club

November 14—Charlottesville, VA—Jefferson Theatre

November 15—Asbury Park, NJ—Stone Pony

November 16—Philadelphia, PA—Brooklyn Bowl

Be part of the magic! Purchase your Lukas Nelson tour tickets today for an unforgettable night of music.

*supporting Tedeschi Trucks Band

Photo by Shervin Lainez / Sacks & Co

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Lukas Nelson & POTR Announce Fall Tour Dates

If you haven’t seen Lukas Nelson & POTR live in concert yet… you’re sorely missin’ out.

They just announced a fall tour starting this October in Austin, Texas, which runs through November in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I’ve been to quite a few of their concerts, and they’re truly one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen, so if they’ll be anywhere near you on this run, don’t miss you chance to go.

They also have more dates coming for the second half of the run, so stay tuned for that.

Lukas & POTR put out their Sticks & Stones album in July, so I’m sure they’ll be playing quite a few of those new tunes out on the road, which will be a thrill because it was definitely geared a lot for a really fun live show performance and experience:

“Excited to announce our Fall Tour… Part one! Tickets go on sale THIS Friday, 8/25, at 10AM local time. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon! Hope to see you out there.”

Tickets for all shows go on sale this Friday, August 25th at 10AM local time:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lukas Nelson + POTR (@lukasnelsonofficial)

Lukas Nelson & POTR fall 2023 tour dates:

Oct 13, Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater – Austin, TX Oct 14, The Tailgate – Midland, TX Oct 15, The Espee Pavilion at St. Paul Square – San Antonio, TX Oct 18, Paramount Theatre – Abilene, TX Oct 19, Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall – Fort Worth, TX Oct 20, Mo’s Place – Katy, TX Oct 24, The Hall – Little Rock, AR Oct 25, Minglewood Hall – Memphis, TN Oct 26, The Lyric Oxford – Oxford, MS Oct 28, Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA Oct 30, Jannus Live – St Petersburg, FL Nov 1, Lillian S. Wells Hall at The Parker – Ft Lauderdale, FL Nov 4, Tuffy’s Music Box – Sanford, FL Nov 5, The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon – Fort Myers, FL Nov 8, Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN Nov 9, The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC Nov 11, The Ritz – Raleigh, NC Nov 12, 9:30 Club – Washington, DC Nov 14, Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA Nov 15, The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ Nov 16, Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA

Lukas Nelson & POTR Showcase Their Unique Sound And Masterful Songwriting On New Album, ‘Sticks & Stones’

Lukas Nelson   & POTR have done it again.

Their eighth studio album Sticks & Stones is out everywhere, and it’s full of impeccable songwriting courtesy of Lukas, super tight production, and a lot of fun, upbeat songs that are a pretty stark contrast to their 2021 release A Few Stars Apart .

They previously put out the lead single with Lainey Wilson called “More Than Friends,”   which just recently went #1 on the Americana charts and is easily one of my favorite singles released so far this year, in addition to the  title track and “Alcohallelujah.”

And actually, the entire album was solely written and produced by Lukas, who is of course the son of legendary singer-songwriter Willie Nelson, and he says it’s a departure from the heaviness and introspective nature of their album A Few Stars Apart :

“This album is about celebrating the human connection, joy and excitement.

We went from quiet and introspective on ‘A Few Stars Apart’ to something big and fun to really showcase the band’s talent and performance.

You can listen to the album ‘Sticks and Stones’ from start to finish and get the songs to dance to and then the quiet, poignant songs. To me, this album is the perfect setlist.”

I’ve been a fan of these guys for quite a while now, and when I tell you that simply do not miss, I mean that wholeheartedly.

Every single track on the album is solid, and I can only imagine how fun they will be to hear at a live show, and if you’ve never seen Lukas & POTR in concert before, I highly recommend it. They’re one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen.

There are introspective moments, too, like “Lying,” which is a gorgeous acoustic moment on the record that Lukas says captured it exactly the way he wrote it:

“I wrote it feeling exactly what I’m singing about.

I was sitting there on the foot of my bed, writing the song with my acoustic guitar, and I just couldn’t beat that version of it on the demo.”

And songs like “Every Time I Drink” and the aforementioned “More Than Friends” bring a really fun layer to the record which is super dynamic and strong. Listening to it from top to bottom is a really great experience, which in my opinion, is the way it should be.

I can’t say enough good things about Sticks & Stones , honestly… it’s unique, interesting, very well-done, and gets better and better with every listen.

I don’t think there’s much more you can ask for when one of your favorite artists drops a new album, and if you’ve never listened to their music before or aren’t super familiar with the band, this is a great place to start.

I still think the duet with Lainey might be my favorite song on the tracklist, but I’ve listed some of my other favorites below.

Turn it up…

“The View”

“Lying”

“Every Time I Drink”

“Overpass”

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Nathaniel Rateliff on hanging around with Robert Plant, getting high with Willie Nelson, and the struggles behind the new Night Sweats album

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats might not be party animals any more, but there's no shortage of energy when it comes to their music

Berlin is widely regarded as the party capital of Europe, but don’t expect to find Nathaniel Rateliff in any of its dens of hedonism partying until the sun rises. 

“I don’t party much these days,” says the man who named his soul-powered backing band the Night Sweats, who’s in the city to kick off a six-week European tour. “I’m nearly forty-six, that stuff is too much nowadays.” 

The US bandleader might have dialled down the decadence, but musically he and the Night Sweats remain as passionate as ever – their fourth album, South Of Here , crackles with grit and emotion.

What kind of record did you want to make with South Of Here ?  

I feel like the last record [2021’s The Future ], I was trying to work out what the Night Sweats were supposed to sound like, what we were doing, whether they were relevant musically or not. And I realised it’s not for me to try and keep up with trends, so the best thing I can do is just write something that felt important to me. As the songs came together, there was definitely a narrative thread appearing. 

What was the thread? 

I’ve been trying to figure out where I’m at in my life, and in order to do that it’s good to look back at where you come from. Growing up in poverty [in Hermann, Missouri], your view of the world is pretty narrow and there don’t seem to be many possibilities. But when I moved west to Denver with Joseph [Pope, Night Sweats bassist], I started thinking that I wanted things to happen, and things did happen. So some of these songs symbolise that journey. Some of those things that seem impossible aren’t. 

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There’s darkness on this album – the song David & Goliath addresses your mental health struggles – but there’s joy and hope too. 

I want these songs to be hopeful. I mean, I made plenty of dour [solo] records early in my career [laughs]. But you’ve got to have something that feels uplifting and gets people listening. I want to be able to talk about the things I’m struggling with in the hope it gives other people the encouragement to talk about it.

Robert Plant is a fan of yours. Have you met him?  

Yeah, several times. He’s a gem of a human being to share space with - really intelligent, really quick and witty. The times we’ve hung out, we just shoot the shit. I never really ask him about Led Zeppelin , but one time we were in New Orleans and, without asking, he’s like: “The parties we used to have in New Orleans were amazing.” I’m like: “I bet they were!’ 

You know Willie Nelson, too. He’s an Olympic-level weed smoker. Have you got stoned on his tour bus with him?  

Oh yeah, the first time I met him. I’m friends with his son Lukas, and when we did Farm Aid for the first time, Lukas takes me on the bus to meet him. Willie asks me how I’m doing, we started talking about the weather, and then he’s like: ‘You want to smoke a joint?” “Well, normally not at ten a.m., but yeah, I do.” I had to do a press conference straight after. I was so high. 

As a kid, what would you have thought about hanging out with people like that? 

My mind would have been blown. The way I grew up, there was just no possibility of it happening. I feel blessed to be where I’m at. 

South Of Here is out now via Stax Records.

Dave Everley has been writing about and occasionally humming along to music since the early 90s. During that time, he has been Deputy Editor on Kerrang! and Classic Rock , Associate Editor on Q magazine and staff writer/tea boy on Raw , not necessarily in that order. He has written for Metal Hammer, Louder, Prog, the Observer, Select, Mojo , the Evening Standard and the totally legendary Ultrakill . He is still waiting for Billy Gibbons to send him a bottle of hot sauce he was promised several years ago.

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