Railroad Revival Tour

The Railroad Revival Tour is a music festival tour created by David Conway that launched in 2011 featuring popular roots, folk, country, rock, bluegrass and Americana acts.

The musicians travelled between shows across the American Southwest in 17 vintage train cars from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.[1] The outdoor concert locations, sometimes attracting over 10,000 fans, are often a stone's throw from the train.[2] The bands eat, sleep and engage in impromptu jam sessions on the train between stops, giving them a chance to collaborate.[3] On stage at night, they often join in on each other's sets, sometimes bringing around 30 musicians up to create a rare and rowdy performance.[4] The organic American roots feeling of the tour also prompts participating musicians to honor U.S. railway history, like Mumford & Sons' tribute to Woody Guthrie in 2011.[5]

The tour included performances by Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show.[6] A documentary, called Big Easy Express, directed by Emmett Malloy premiered at SXSW 2012 and won a Grammy Award in 2013. The film is currently available on iTunes and DVD/Blu-ray Disc.[7]

Railroad Revival Tour bands Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show closed the show together at every stop with "This Train Is Bound for Glory."[8]

The 2012 tour was slated to include performances by Willie Nelson, Band of Horses, Jamey Johnson, and John Reilly and Friends.[9] The tour was cancelled for 2012.[10]

Railroad Revival Tour 2011

The tour included performances by Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show.[11]

Date City Country Venue
April 21, 2011 Oakland United States Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
April 22, 2011 Los Angeles Ports O' Call
April 23, 2011 Tempe Vacant lot
Originally scheduled for the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler.
April 24, 2011 Marfa El Cosmico
April 26, 2011 Austin 4th and Waller Street
April 27, 2011 New Orleans Woldenberg Park

References

  1. ^ "Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe, Old Crow Medicine Show Plot Railroad Revival Tour". American Songwriter. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  2. ^ Senft, Michael (2011-04-24). "The Railroad Revival Tour with Mumford & Sons rocks Tempe". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  3. ^ Patrick Doyle (2011-03-10). "Mumford Sons Reveal What to Expect from Railroad Revival Tour | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  4. ^ Jenny Eliscu (2011-04-26). "Mumford Sons Play High-Spirited Show in Marfa, Texas | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  5. ^ Bierly, Mandi. "Mumford & Sons to launch Railroad Revival Tour this April | The Music Mix | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  6. ^ "Justin Cox: Mumford & Sons Hit the Railroad, a Revival Ensues". Huffingtonpost.com. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  7. ^ Dan Hyman (2012-06-25). "'Big Easy Express' Captures Mumford Sons, Edward Sharpe on Railroad Revival Tour | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Mumford And Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, O.C.M.S - This Train Is Bound For Glory. YouTube.
  9. ^ "Willie Nelson on board for Railroad Revival Tour". Usatoday.com. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  10. ^ "Railroad Revival Tour With Willie Nelson, Band of Horses Canceled". Rolling Stone. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  11. ^ "Mumford, E. Sharpe, Old Crow: Railroad Revival Tour 2011 on JamBase". Ftp.jambase.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2012-08-13.