Following their electrifying run on the Sessanta tour alongside A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, Primus will return this summer with the Onward & Upward Tour—an expansive, coast-to-coast trek that marks an exciting new chapter for the band. The tour not only brings the trio’s signature blend of musical innovation back to stages nationwide, but also introduces fans to drummer John Hoffman, whose recent addition to the lineup brings a renewed sense of energy, experimentation, and groove to the legendary outfit.
Kicking off July 5th in Paso Robles, CA, the Onward & Upward Tour will hit 24 cities across the U.S., making stops at iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, The Salt Shed in Chicago, The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York, and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, before culminating in a celebratory two-night stand at Channel 24 in Sacramento on August 7th and 8th. Along the way, Primus will be joined by a pair of equally bold and idiosyncratic artists—Ty Segall and MonoNeon—who will appear on select dates throughout the tour.
A special VIP & Artist Presale launches Wednesday, March 26th at 10am local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 28th at 10am local time. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://primusville.com
The Onward & Upward tour borrows its name from the ever-mutating DNA of Primus itself—a band that’s never been content to sit still or play it straight. That spirit of constant evolution is now hurtling forward with the addition of drummer John Hoffman, whose arrival marks a bold new chapter for the trio. Selected from more than 6,200 global applicants during the band’s wide-open audition process, Hoffman’s deep pocket, wild musical mind, and immediate chemistry with Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde made him the clear choice.
Les Claypool shared the following statement about the tour and the band’s newest member:
“Hitting the road this summer with Hoffer at the helm! This fiery, cheerful, octopus-like drummer from Shreveport, Louisiana has breathed a very potent breath of freshness into this band we all call PRIMUS.
While splitting the drum duties of his first gig with the mighty Danny Carey down in the Dominican Republic, John "Hoffer" Hoffman has launched himself into the PRIMUS world with all guns-a-blazin'. Fresh from their next jaunt around the states with Sessanta Part 2 this Spring, Hoffer, Ler, and The Ol' Colonel will be playing some full length PRIMUS sets at choice venues across the US, dipping into material (mainly at the request of Hoffer) that have not been performed in a many years.
Come see why this amazing fellow was able to rise above over 6100 applicants to win the Interstellar Drum Derby and become the latest, and possibly the greatest, drummer to sit on the PRIMUS drum throne.
ONWARD AND UPWARD!!”
The search for a new drummer was recently chronicled in the band’s newly launched YouTube series, Interstellar Drum Derby, which gives fans an inside look at the journey that led to Hoffman’s selection. With his first full tour on the horizon, Onward & Upward promises to deliver the next wave of Primus’ creative vision.
SESSANTA TOUR 2025
Thursday, April 24th – Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, CA
Friday, April 25th – PH Live at Planet Hollywood – Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, April 27th – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
Tuesday, April 29th – Freeman Coliseum – San Antonio, TX
Thursday, May 1st – BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
Friday, May 2nd – Walmart AMP – Rogers, AR
Sunday, May 4th – The Orion Amphitheater – Huntsville, AL
Tuesday, May 6th – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Hollywood, FL
Thursday, May 8th – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
Saturday, May 10th – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC
Sunday, May 11th – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre – Virginia Beach, VA
Wednesday, May 14th – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH
Thursday, May 15th – The Mann Center – Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, May 17th – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
Sunday, May 18th – EagleBank Arena – Fairfax, VA
Tuesday, May 20th – Petersen Events Center – Pittsburgh, PA
Thursday, May 22nd – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON
Saturday, May 24th – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Sunday, May 25th – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Wednesday, May 28th – The Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
Thursday, May 29th – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
Saturday, May 31st – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, June 1st – Xcel Energy Center – Saint Paul, MN
Tuesday, June 3rd – Baxter Arena – Omaha, NE
Friday, June 6th – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA
Saturday, June 7th – White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA
ONWARD & UPWARD TOUR 2025
Saturday, July 5th – Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, CA*
Monday, July 7th – Sandy Amphitheater – Salt Lake City, UT*
Tuesday, July 8th – Snow King Mountain – Jackson, WY*
Wednesday, July 9th – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO*
Friday, July 11th – The Salt Shed – Chicago, IL*
Saturday, July 12th – Grinders KC – Kansas City, MO*
Sunday, July 13th – The Pinnacle – Nashville, TN*
Tuesday, July 15th – Iroquois Amphitheater – Louisville, KY*
Wednesday, July 16th – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre – Detroit, MI*
Friday, July 18th – Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards – Lafayette, NY*
Saturday, July 19th – Midway Lawn At Champlain Valley Expo – Essex Junction, VT*
Monday, July 21st – The Rooftop at Pier 17 – New York, NY*
Tuesday, July 22nd – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater – Bridgeport, CT^
Wednesday, July 23rd – Red Hat Amphitheater – Raleigh, NC^
Friday, July 25th – Synovus Bank Amphitheater At Chastain Park – Atlanta, GA^
Saturday, July 26th – Live Oak Bank Pavilion – Wilmington, NC^
Monday, July 28th – Saenger Theater – New Orleans, LA^
Tuesday, July 29th – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium – Shreveport, LA^
Wednesday, July 30th – The Bomb Factory – Dallas, TX^
Friday, August 1st – Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ^
Saturday, August 2nd – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre – San Diego, CA^
Sunday, August 3rd – Quarry Amphitheater – Santa Cruz, CA
Wednesday, August 6th – The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA*
Thursday, August 7th – Channel 24 – Sacramento, CA
Friday, August 8th – Channel 24 – Sacramento, CA
• with Ty Segall
^ with MonoNeon
