Blues-rock veteran Billy F. Gibbons has set a new solo tour in motion for early 2026, performing under the banner of Billy F. Gibbons and the BFG Band. The run features 27 (or 28, depending on sources) stops across the U.S. and Canada, beginning January 20 in Napa, California, and wrapping on February 28 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Gibbons is joined by two high-calibre musicians: Chris “Whipper” Layton (known for his work with Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble) and Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin (Hammond organ, bass, backing vocals). Gibbons explains: “I’m joined with Whipper and The Drifter, in our collective Texas collective blues tradition. There’s a bond that speaks volumes about our sonic skew… one might hear a surf tune or some other detour of loudness.”
One particularly meaningful date on the itinerary is January 31 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa — a historic venue where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper played their final show before the 1959 plane crash. Gibbons’ team noted the significance of returning to such a place of rock heritage.
In addition to touring, Gibbons reveals that a new solo album is underway for Concord Records, slated for early 2026. One new track titled “Brown Paper Bag” is expected to be released in conjunction with the tour’s launch.
2026 Solo Tour Dates (Billy F. Gibbons & the BFG Band):
- Jan 20 – Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre
- Jan 21 – Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre
- Jan 23 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
- Jan 24 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Lobero Theatre
- Jan 25 – Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim
- Jan 28 – Santa Fe, NM @ Lensic Performing Arts Center
- Jan 29 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
- Jan 31 – Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
- Feb 1 – St. Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre
- Feb 3 – Columbus, OH @ Southern Theatre
- Feb 4 – Niagara Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
- Feb 6 – Wilmington, DE @ Grand Opera House
- Feb 7 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
- Feb 10 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
- Feb 11 – Plymouth, MA @ Plymouth Memorial Hall
- Feb 13 – Rutland, VT @ Paramount Theatre
- Feb 14 – Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
- Feb 16–17 – New York, NY @ City Winery New York
- Feb 19 – Wilkes-Barre, PA @ F.M. Kirby Center
- Feb 20 – Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Resort Casino
- Feb 21 – Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall
- Feb 23 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
- Feb 24 – Frederick, MD @ Weinberg Center for the Arts
- Feb 26 – Rocky Mount, VA @ Harvester Performance Center
- Feb 27 – Bristol, TN @ Paramount Bristol
- Feb 28 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
With a career rooted in minimal-but-mighty trio power (his ZZ Top years helped define that blueprint), Gibbons is delighted that his solo venture retains that spirit. “The presence and demand of giving it 110% is always the cornerstone,” he explains. “We like the sound that’s big and fat.”
For fans of guitar-driven blues rock, this tour promises the refined swagger of Gibbons’ past, combined with fresh impulses, new collaborators, and a gaze forward. “Ya can’t lose with the blues,” he concludes — and with this in hand, nobody’s betting he will.
