Nashville country artist Corey Kent is on fire. After more than 15 years of carving his own path, the platinum-selling country rocker is now riding high with his sophomore album Black Bandana—hailed as one of NPR’s “Best Albums” of the year. With his "charismatic vocals," as Rolling Stone notes, lifting every track, Kent is preparing to launch his headlining Black Bandana Tour starting September 21 in Paso Robles, CA. Tickets are on sale now.

The album's title track, co-written by Kent alongside Rocky Block, Jordan Dozzi, and Brett Tyler, has drawn critical acclaim for its message of resilience. Billboard describes Black Bandana as "music for those whose lives have been seasoned by rocky times." Kent calls it a rallying cry for perseverance, reflecting his own journey through the music industry’s ups and downs. “When the going gets tough and everybody quits, you be the one that stays the course and never gives up,” Kent says of the album’s themes.

Kent’s recent surprise drop of the music video for his current single “Now or Never,” featuring Lauren Alaina, continues to build excitement for the tour. The Tennessean praised the single as a “‘steel guitar-aided ‘80s-style power ballad,’” and the accompanying video captures that high-stakes drama. Directed by Wales Toney, the clip delivers a powerful duet that explores a seize-the-moment mentality.

Co-writing six of the album’s 10 tracks, Kent’s Black Bandana blends cinematic electric guitars and heart-pounding drums with his gravelly vocals, a sound that reflects the grit and determination that have defined his career. Tracks like “Ain’t Gonna Lie” kick off the album with a rough-edged ‘70s rock vibe, while “Now or Never” channels the orchestral energy of ‘80s hair metal ballads. Meanwhile, songs like “Rust” celebrate love that endures through all seasons.

Kent’s rise to success has been anything but conventional. A native of Bixby, Oklahoma, Kent moved to Texas after losing his first publishing deal in the midst of the pandemic, picking up work on a paving crew to make ends meet. But he refused to give up on his dream. Honky-tonks and dancehalls became his proving ground, where his "black bandana" symbol of resilience first emerged. “It started from riding motorcycles and wanting something over your face so you didn’t swallow a bug,” Kent shares. “But then it turned into a staple I wear on stage, and then a symbol of the path through my career, and life.”

Fast forward to today, Kent has two Platinum certifications under his belt, including for the breakout hit “Wild As Her,” and 950 million career streams. He has shared stages with country heavyweights like Jason Aldean, Ashley McBryde, and Parker McCollum, and recently launched his podcast Bus Call, where he chats with industry friends and athletes like country star Bailey Zimmerman and OSU football star Ollie Gordon.

The Black Bandana Tour will see Kent crisscrossing the U.S. and U.K. through early 2025, with support from artists like Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, and Lauren Watkins on select dates. Fans can expect powerful live performances full of Kent’s signature energy and authenticity.

As Kent himself says, “We all face our own demons. We all face our own setbacks, and I hope this record serves as encouragement... I’m excited about the shows I haven’t played yet. I’m excited about unlocking new levels of my craft.”

For tickets and more information, visit Corey Kent’s official website.

U.S. Dates

September 2024
+9/21/24 – Paso Robles, CA – BarrelHouse Brewing Co. (with Karley Scott Collins)
9/22/24 – Long Beach, CA – Boots In The Park
^9/26/24 – Reedley, CA – The Wakehouse (with Braxton Keith)
^9/27/24 – Bakersfield, CA – Buck Owens Crystal Palace (with Braxton Keith)
9/28/24 – Tempe, AZ – Boots In The Park

October 2024
<10/3/24 – Hays, KS – Fox Theatre (with Kaitlin Butts)
10/4/24 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Grand Theater (with Pat Green)
10/5/24 – Burkburnett, TX – Friendship Festival
#10/10/24 – Little Rock, AR – Little Rock Hall (with Lauren Watkins)
10/11/24 – Bellville, TX – Austin County Fair
#10/12/24 – Terrell, TX – Silver Saloon (with Lauren Watkins)
-10/16/24 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre (with Max McNown)
-10/17/24 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom (with Max McNown)
-10/18/24 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun – Wolf Den (with Max McNown)
-10/19/24 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club (with Max McNown)

November 2024
<11/1/24 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave II (with Kaitlin Butts)
#11/8/24 – Wichita, KS – The Cotillion Ballroom (with Lauren Watkins)
#11/9/24 – Stillwater, OK – Tumbleweed Dance Hall (with Lauren Watkins)
-11/21/24 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre (with Max McNown)
-11/22/24 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s (with Max McNown)
-11/23/24 – North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues (with Max McNown)

International Dates

February 2025
2/1/25 – Dublin, IE – The Academy (Green Room)
2/2/25 – Belfast, NI – The Limelight 1
2/4/25 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 TV Studio
2/7/25 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 2
2/8/25 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy 2
2/9/25 – Bristol, UK – The Trinity Centre
2/11/25 – London, UK – Electric Ballroom

Support Key:

^Braxton Keith
< Kaitlin Butts

• Max McNown

• Karley Scott Collins

Lauren Watkins

Watch the “Now or Never” music video now, and listen to Black Bandana wherever you stream music.

Read our interview with Corey.

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.