Country and Southern rock fans across Baldwin County have a big night circled on their calendars: Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show is set to take the stage at The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m.
Stapleton, a Kentucky native who spent years writing songs for other artists before stepping into the spotlight himself, broke through with his 2015 debut album, “Traveller.” The record’s blend of gritty Southern rock and traditional country songwriting made him an instant favorite among fans looking for something rootsier than mainstream Nashville radio, and it helped kick off a broader resurgence of outlaw and alt-country sounds across the genre. His cover of the David Allan Coe classic “Tennessee Whiskey” became a slow-burning hit that introduced his soulful, powerhouse voice to a much wider audience and remains one of the most recognizable country covers of the last decade.
Since then, Stapleton has continued to expand his reach beyond traditional country audiences. He has picked up multiple Grammy and Country Music Association awards, and his recent collaboration with Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran on the song “Blow” has introduced him to pop and R&B listeners who might not otherwise tune into a country radio station. That crossover appeal, paired with his reputation as one of the genre’s most powerful live performers, has made his tours some of the hottest tickets in the business.
For the Orange Beach stop, Stapleton is bringing along a strong lineup of support acts. The Marcus King Band will open with its blues-infused brand of Southern rock, built around King’s widely praised guitar work and soulful vocals. Also joining the bill is singer-songwriter Brent Cobb, who will be performing songs from his album “Providence Canyon.” The record was recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb, Brent’s cousin, who has also worked extensively with Stapleton and fellow Americana artist Sturgill Simpson.
The Wharf Amphitheater, located at 23325 Wharf Lane in Orange Beach, has become one of the Gulf Coast’s premier outdoor venues for touring country and rock acts, drawing large crowds from across Baldwin County and beyond for its summer concert lineup. Organizers are expecting a sellout crowd for the Stapleton show given the strength of the bill and the momentum behind his current tour.
Tickets for the All-American Road Show range from $40.75 to $80.75 and are available through Ticketmaster. Fans planning to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets early and to arrive with plenty of time for parking and entry, as amphitheater shows in Orange Beach routinely draw heavy traffic along the Wharf corridor on concert nights.