After a summer of much-praised high-profile festival performances, pop prog rockers Umphrey’s McGee heads indoors this fall to play in many of the country’s most beloved theatres. As always, along the way Umphrey’s continues to raise the bar for fan experiences, with their innovative and interactive Stew Art events planned in at least a few markets, and an incredibly creative first-time offer of “Enhanced Experience” fan packages for their always-epic Halloween Monster Mash-Up in St. Louis on October 30 and 31.
Media and fan reviews from Bonnaroo, Summerfest, Gathering of the Vibes, and All Good all confirmed, there is good reason that Umphrey's McGee has become a standout festival favorite, garnering coveted performance slots playing in front of the country’s largest audiences. Now, Umphrey’s takes their much-hailed live show indoors to venues in the southeast, Midwest and western States. The band’s complete fall tour schedule is listed below.
For this year’s Halloween Monster Mash-Up at St. Louis’ Pageant on October 30 and 31, Umphrey’s McGee unveils another unparalleled fan-centric experience - their “Partyin' Peeps Enhanced Experience” fan packages. Package amenities include express entry into the venue each night, a limited edition Halloween Jeff Wood 3D hologram poster, VIP area access with private cocktail service, an exclusive piece of Umphrey's McGee Halloween merchandise, a private post-show party, and more. At the Platinum Partyin' Peeps level, fans get a chance for them and twenty of their friends to have their own private dressing room backstage, a private meet and greet photo session with the band in costume, a tour of the Umphrey's McGee bus, and more. Visit umphreys.com more all the details.
Umphry’s McGee’s will host their Stew Art Series (aka, “S2”) – an interactive fan experience where audience members “conduct” the band’s live improvisations - in at least of few markets along the fall tour. Presented as individual events before that evening’s already schedule show, Umphrey’s Stew Art Series is a crowd-sourced improvisation experiment, in which all the music performed by the group on stage is entirely directed by S2 audience members. Check out this S2 video from the inaugural S2 event in Milwaukee.
S2 events have been received with overwhelming enthusiasm and to rave reviews. For S2, sold-out crowds of 50 fans submit their ideas by texting descriptive words, phrases, and pop culture references (pretty much whatever comes to mind), to the Umphrey's Mozes mobile interface. The suggestions are then filtered by the band’s long time Sound Caresser Kevin Browning and projected on a screen for the band to digest and turn into the next phase of the jam. The band’s music varies stylistically with suggestions ranging from “an afternoon bus ride in Jamaica” to “drinking pina coladas…in a hurricane”. As one elated fan commented after a show, “S2 was the coolest thing I have ever been a part of. It’s always been a dream of mine to meet the band, and the opportunity to participate in leading the Jam for the band was a dream come true as well.” Stay tuned to umphreys.com for confirmation on S2 fall events.
Umphrey’s McGee’s current list of fall tour dates is as follows:
Saturday, September 4 North Coast Music Festival Chicago IL
Thursday, September 23 Valarium Knoxville TN
Friday, September 24 Minglewood Hall Memphis TN
Saturday, September 25 The Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City OK
Sunday, September 26 George's Majestic Lounge Fayetteville AR
Tuesday, September 28 El Rey Theatre Albuquerque NM
Wednesday, September 29 Orpheum Theatre Flagstaff AZ
Friday, October 1 The Depot Salt Lake City UT
Saturday, October 2 Knitting Factory Reno NV
Sunday, October 3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Speedway Meadows San Francisco CA
Wednesday, October 6 Arcata Theatre Arcata CA
Thursday, October 7 McDonald Theatre Eugene OR
Friday, October 8 The Showbox Seattle WA
Saturday, October 9 The Wilma Theatre Missoula MT
Thursday, October 21 Mr. Smalls Theatre Millvale PA
Saturday, October 23 House of Blues - Cleveland Cleveland OH
Wednesday, October 27 People's Court Des Moines IA
Saturday, October 30 - Sunday, October 31 The Pageant St. Louis MO
Thursday, November 11 - Friday, November 12 Bear Creek Music & Art Fest, Live Oak, Fla
Thursday, January 20 - Monday, January 24 Mayan Holidaze Puerto Morelos MEX
