Darius Rucker Announces Starting Fires Tour

Darius Rucker is “starting fires.”

The superstar singer will spend the summer of 2023 on the road on his headlining Starting Fires Tour, which hits two countries over the course of 21 dates. The tour kicks off on June 15 in Roanoke, Virginia, and crisscrosses the U.S. visiting Washington, D.C.; Jacksonville, Florida; Los Angeles and San Diego, California, and other major cities. Rucker will make a stop in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on August 3 and host a two-night stay in Durant, Oklahoma, on September 8 and 9 before bringing the tour to a close in Nashville at Ascend Amphitheater on October 14.

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors join as the supporting act, with Drew Green opening on select dates. Tickets go on sale Friday (March 17). “Let’s do it!!” Rucker cheered on Instagram announcing the tour. “Looking forward to being back on the road with @drewholcombmusic and @drewgreen this year.” 

Rucker is in the process of working on his new album, Carolyn’s Boy, which includes his previous two singles “Same Beer Different Problems” and “Ol’ Church Hymn” featuring Chapel Hart. The album is named in honor of his mother, Carolyn, who was a nurse at the Medical University of South Carolina when he was growing up. She passed away in 1992 when Rucker was 26.

“I wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success,” Rucker shared in a 2022 interview with TODAY. “She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”

Rucker will reunite with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates for the second annual HootieFest: The Big Splash in Mexico in April, which also features performances by Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and more. Rucker will also resume his Riverfront Revival Music Festival in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, in October 2023.

Starting Fires Tour Dates

June 15            Roanoke, Va.  ||  Elmwood Park Amphitheatre *
June 22            Washington, D.C.  ||  The Anthem
June 24            Canandaigua, N.Y.  ||  Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
July 13            Dubuque, Iowa  ||  Q Casino – Back Waters Stage *
July 20            Jacksonville, Fla.  ||  Daily’s Place
July 21            Wilmington, N.C.  ||  Live Oak Bank Pavilion
July 22            Alpharetta, Ga.  ||  Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 3             Niagara Falls, Ontario  ||  Fallsview Casino
Aug. 4             Bridgeport, Conn.  ||  Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Aug. 5             Farmingville, N.Y.  ||  Catholic Health Amphitheater at Bald Hill ^
Aug. 10           Sterling Heights, Mich.  ||  Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
Aug. 11           Milwaukee, Wis.  ||  BMO Pavilion
Aug. 12           Maryland Heights, Mo.  ||  Saint Louis Music Park
Aug. 18           Irvine, Calif.  ||  FivePoint Amphitheatre
Aug. 19           Stateline, Nev.  ||  Lake Tahoe Harveys Outdoor Arena
Aug. 23           Los Angeles, Calif.  ||  The Greek Theatre
Aug. 25           San Diego, Calif.  ||  Gallagher Square at Petco Park
Aug. 26           Highland, Calif.  ||  Yaamava’ Resort & Casino ^#
Sept. 8             Durant, Okla.  ||  Choctaw Casino & Resort – Grand Theater #
Sept. 9             Durant, Okla.  ||  Choctaw Casino & Resort – Grand Theater #
Oct. 14            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater

* denotes Drew Green as support / # denotes no support (all other dates feature Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors)

Click here for more information about Hootie and the Blowfish Tour!

Photo Credit: Jason Kempin for Getty Images