Bleachers to Play Two Nights at The Ryman, May 28 & 29 with Samia

Though, undoubtedly, Jack Antonoff’s introduction to many came thanks to his role as 1/3 of breakout indie pop outfit fun., the prolific New Jersey artist’s career dates back much, much further. Antonoff cut his teeth in the Garden State’s rich punk scene, dabbling in a variety of projects before forming Steel Train, his first group to achieve widespread attention, while still a teenager. Over three albums and constant touring, which overlapped with the start of fun.’s career, the folk-tinged indie group flexed Jack’s range as a frontman, though after the unprecedented attention of fun.’s sophomore effort, Some Nights, Antonoff’s role as guitarist and co-writer for the band briefly became his apparent sole focus. Created first in secret, Bleachers began as a solo creative outlet, the most undiluted taste of his solo artistry of any prior project, for Antonoff while on the road with fun., and debut LP Strange Desire was largely recorded throughout 2013 before the project was formally unveiled, following a few initial festival announcements, in early 2014. By the time Bleachers’ sophomore effort, 2017’s Gone Now arrived, building on the slick, retro, indie/synthpop sound of the project’s debut, and packing in the huge hooks, unabashed love for anthemic pop, and indie rock cred that quickly made the band so beloved, fun. had announced an open-ended hiatus, and Bleachers had become Antonoff’s primary musical outlet. While, more recently, Jack has also become one of music’s most in-demand producers, working with huge artists like Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Clairo, and The Chicks, he’s still carved out time to keep making music of his own, returning in 2021 with Bleachers’ most cohesive, grand, and nostalgic record yet, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night.

A couple years and a few more major production credits later (further collaborations with Swift and Del Rey, as well as The 1975 and Florence and the Machine, among others), and Jack is back as Bleachers once more, set to drop his self-titled fourth album under the moniker this spring, March 8 via new label home Dirty Hit, the British indie label most famous for The 1975. The new record was first announced a few months back, along with first single “Modern Girl,” an energetic, anthemic, Springsteen-esque classic Bleachers romp, followed more recently by “Alma Mater,” which showcases Antonoff’s more melancholy, experimental, and production rich side. Following the announcement of a spring UK tour in support, which promptly sold out, Bleachers recently announced a subsequent run of U.S. dates throughout May and June, bringing the group back to Nashville for the first time since 2017 to headline The Ryman on May 28, as well as a second May 29 show just added due to overwhelming demand.

Breakout Nashville based indie pop singer Samia has been tapped to support all dates, and tickets are on sale now. While the May 28 show is nearly sold out (here), you can still get some great seats on May 29 if you act fast (here)! Hear the first two singles from forthcoming LP Bleachers below.

May 18 – Salt Lake City @ The Great Saltair
May 20 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
May 22 – Omaha, NE @ Steelhouse Omaha
May 23 – Kansas City, MO @ Grinders KC
May 25 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
May 26 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
May 28 – Nashville, TN @ The Ryman Auditorium
May 29 – Nashville, TN @ The Ryman Auditorium
May 31 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater
June 1 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall Lawn
June2 – Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
June4 – Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live!
June5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
June7 – New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl
June 8 – Lafayette, NY @ Beak and Skiff
June 10 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
June 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia
June 14 – Washington, D.C. @ The Anthem
June 15 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage