Play On: Country artists are back on the road, as Brad Paisley kicked off 2010 with his American Saturday Night tour extension in San Antonio (1/7), Oklahoma City (1/8) and Wichita (1/9). The Oklahoman said Paisley’s OKC show “reaffirmed his reputation as a musical triple-threat, expertly tearing through guitar solos and belting out lyrics of his own devising.” Paisley’s was also the first concert at Wichita’s INTRUST Bank Arena. “We walked around backstage and there are still price tags on things,” Paisley told local station KAKE-TV. “I can tell you the chairs in my dressing room were $125.99, if you’d like to know.” The ASN tour picks back up this Thursday (1/14) in Sioux City, IA.
And speaking of tours, if you’re in the mood for sushi and a show, Taylor Swift has added a Feb. 17 Tokyo concert to her Fearless 2010 tour, with openers Gloriana and Kellie Pickler. Next Friday (1/22), George Strait, Reba and Lee Ann Womack open their blockbuster tour in Baltimore. The same night, Jason Aldean will be kicking off in Greenville, SC. Phil Vassar is heading across the pond for a five-date European trek Jan. 26. Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice (2/6), Carrie Underwood’s Play On (3/11) and Brooks & Dunn’s The Last Rodeo (4/23) circuits round out the spring launches. And the Houston Rodeo & Livestock Show (March 2-21) has added Kenny Chesney to its lineup of country performers, which already includes Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley and others.