Rural Progress Launches Nationwide Concert Tour Celebrating the Rebellious Joy of Rural America as the US reaches its 250th.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania — 02/27/26 — In celebration of rural America’s role in reaching the nation’s 250th anniversary, Rural Progress — a national civic organization committed to non-partisan, progressive values — today announced the launch of the Backroads Tour, a nationwide live music tour designed to bring communities together and honor the rebellious, joyous spirit that has defined rural America since the nation’s founding.
From May through July 2026, the Backroads Tour will travel coast to coast, hosting intimate community concerts that bring together artists, organizers, and local leaders to celebrate the rural leaders who built America and the people carrying on that tradition today.
Each stop will feature nationally recognized artists alongside local performers, reinforcing the message that America’s story is both national and deeply local.
Headliners upon announcement include Raury and Joe Troop, who will headline different segments of the tour, with more artists to be announced. The lineup will feature a diverse representation of artists with rural roots and strong connections to rural America.
The following is a statement from Dom Holmes, Director of Culture & Community at Rural Progress:
“This is a really exciting moment for everyone who believes in the power of us together. Once upon a time, we dreamt together boldly about what we could be collectively — and then we went and made it happen. From Woodstock to Farm Aid, we have a history of coming together as a rag-tag group of underdogs to make our bold dreams become reality, and we call these movements.
That’s still very much possible today, but in rural America in places like where I live across the country, we are more disconnected than ever, paying more and getting less, and having our voices shrunk and drowned out by big dollars and corporate interests. We need community and movement now more than ever and this will be the glue that brings that together.”
Unlike traditional concert tours, this initiative is mission-driven. Produced by a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening civic culture and community connection through arts and culture, the tour seeks to:
Seed community engagement & movement
Celebrate the history of bold envisioning of a shared future
Highlight the cultural & civic contributions of rural communities
Create shared spaces for reflection, pride, and celebration
The tour will officially kick off in Atlanta, Georgia on May 23 and culminate on July 4 in Seattle, WA, with 12 shows announced today and additional dates to be announced in the coming months. The tour aims to inspire bold creativity and community power at every stop along the way.
The following is a statement from Matt Hildreth, Executive Director at Rural Progress:
“America was born in rebellion. Two hundred and fifty years ago, ordinary people on farms, in port towns, in meeting houses, and in taverns made a radical decision. They joined a revolution to overthrow their king.
That revolutionary spirit didn’t live only in Philadelphia. It took root in small towns, in labor halls, churches, community centers, and on front porches where neighbors gathered to debate, organize, and demand a say in their own future.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Backroads Tour carries that same spirit forward.”
For tour dates, partnership opportunities, or more information, visit Backroads.us. Watch the launch video here.
