Kenny Chesney is returning to the road in 2023 and he’s set to visit 21 cities that helped launched his career.
Kicking off on March 25 in State College, PA, the I Go Back 2023 Tour finds the eight-time Entertainer of the Year going back to where he started in an effort to honor his fans – No Shoes Nation – in the best way he knows how.
The tour comes after a record-breaking year for Chesney, who played 21 NFL stadiums this past summer.
“When a year is as hot and alive as 2022 was,” Chesney explains, “you don’t want to try to recapture that magic. Or maybe it’s me. I still have the sounds of diesel engines and No Shoes Nation in my head – and that made me ask, ‘What else could I do? What would be something that would put me every bit as much in the music and give No Shoes Nation another reason to believe? How can we reach those people who might not come to stadium shows, who live a little off the obvious path, but who love this music every bit as much…”
“And that’s when it hit me: ‘I Go Back.’ That song is about holding all those things that shaped you very close, recognizing how special they are – and keeping them alive any way you can. So, I decided that rather than just go repeat what we did, I wanted to take this band and these songs to a lot of the cities we played on our way up! Let’s call the tour I Go Back – and do just that.”
Chesney, who has earned the nickname of “King of Summer” due to his annual summer treks, took a trip down memory lane when planning the tour.
“I remember coming up, the craziness of so many of those dates,” Chesney shares. “Markets where people were using chain-cutters to get onto the lawn because we were so sold out in the Carolinas… and that’s a kind of energy that should never be left behind. For all those fans – based on how good last year felt – I want to bring what was coming off that stage to you, where you are, so we can all have that kind of experience together!”
While he will be playing smaller venues throughout the tour, the superstar promises to bring the same stadium intensity to the stage each and every night.
“These songs time stamp people’s lives,” Chesney says. “They put people in their lives, but they also serve as the touchstone for memories in the making. For people to come out and either live these songs again, or hear them for the first time? Who knows what will happen? But I know whether it’s ‘American Kids,’ ‘Get Along’ or ‘You And Tequila,’ every single person knows exactly what we’re singing about and singing along to together.”
I Go Back 2023 is Presented by Blue Chair Bay Rum. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets in select markets before the general public beginning Wednesday, November 23 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, December 1 at 10 p.m. local time.
Kelsea Ballerini will serve as direct support on the I Go Back Tour.
Chesney recently wrapped his record-breaking Here And Now Tour, which sold over 1.2 million tickets, marking his highest-grossing tour ever with $135 million, according to Pollstar.
The East Tennessee native’s success on his Here And Now Tour placed him at No. 7 on Pollstar’s third quarter recap of ticket revenue. The tour included a 26-song set list and featured support from Old Dominion, Dan + Shay, and Carly Pearce.
Earlier this year, Chesney released a collaboration with Old Dominion called “Beer With My Friends.” The artists brought the tune to life in a music video that feature footage from the Here And Now Tour as well as clips from Old Dominion’s summer pop-up concerts. Footage from backstage and scenes from their tour bus hangs are also interspersed throughout the clip.
“I tried to tell friends how magical it was up on that stage, how good the vibe was out there,” Chesney previously explained. “Not since we started doing those early Keg shows have I had that much fun doing a pop-up – maybe because Old Dominion was doing all the work! But it was just free, easy and I think everyone remembered who they were before the world got so heavy. Or maybe it’s just that music really does melt all the stress of the week away…”
The longtime collaborators were also sure to include No Shoes Nation throughout the music video with clips of their parking lot tailgate parties.
“No Shoes Nation is just an extension of my soul,” Chesney added. ”When I was looking at all the footage, laughing to myself, I knew I needed to share some of this with everyone who came out all summer. So what better way to do that?”
Kenny Chesney I Go Back Tour
March 25 – State College, PA – Bryce Jordan Center
March 30 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
April 1 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
April 6 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
April 8 – Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
April 12 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at the BJCC
April 14 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place Amphitheater
April 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Tortuga*
April 25 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
April 27 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 29 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
May 4 – Moline, IL – Vibrant Arena at The Mark
May 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
May 9 – Grand Forks, ND – The Alerus Center
May 11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center
May 13 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena
May 18 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
May 20 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center
May 25 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
May 27 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf
July 22 – Des Moines, IA – Hy-Vee Indy Race*
*previously announced
