Tinsley Ellis announces new tour dates
Atlanta-based blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Tinsley Ellis has announced the first leg of his 2026 Labor Of Love tour in support of his upcoming all-acoustic album, Labor Of Love, set for release on Friday, January 30, 2026.
The solo acoustic tour opens with three Georgia dates before heading up the East Coast through Washington, DC and New York, then moving through the Midwest, Colorado, the Southwest, and Florida. The current run wraps on April 17 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The tour continues Ellis’ recent stretch of solo performances, following what he jokingly dubbed his “Two Guitars And A Car” tour.
Labor Of Love is Ellis’ second acoustic album, following 2024’s Naked Truth, which received a Blues Music Award nomination. The new release marks his first acoustic album composed entirely of original material. It will be available on CD, Georgia peach-colored vinyl, and all major digital platforms, with pre-orders currently available.
Self-produced by Ellis, Labor Of Love features 13 original tracks recorded in a stripped-down acoustic setting. The album draws heavily from traditional blues influences while addressing modern themes and personal experiences. Ellis recorded the album using multiple open tunings on several longtime instruments, including his 1969 Martin D-35, a Martin D-12-20 12-string, and a 1937 National Steel O Series guitar. For the first time in his career, Ellis also plays mandolin on three tracks.
During the writing and recording process, Ellis spent time in Bentonia, Mississippi, immersing himself in the region’s blues traditions. While there, he performed at the Blue Front Café with blues legend Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, an experience that directly shaped the album’s sound and approach.
Ellis has said performing solo acoustic blues allows him greater emotional range and expressiveness onstage. With more than four decades on the road, Labor Of Love reflects both his deep roots in the blues and a continued commitment to its raw, unfiltered core.
2026 Labor Of Love Tour Dates
Jan 29 – Capricorn Studios – Macon, GA
Jan 30 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
Jan 31 – Rialto Club, Hotel Indigo – Athens, GA
Feb 10 – The Tin Pan – Richmond, VA
Feb 11 – Rams Head – Annapolis, MD
Feb 12 – The Loft at Manor Mill – Monkton, MD
Feb 13 – Hub City Vinyl – Hagerstown, MD
Feb 14 – Fanatic’s Pub – Lima, NY
Feb 15 – Sportsmen’s Tavern – Buffalo, NY
Feb 16 – The State Theatre – State College, PA
Feb 18 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH
Feb 19 – 20 Front Street – Lake Orion, MI
Feb 20 – Museum of Art – Muskegon, MI
Feb 21 – Franke Center – Marshall, MI
Feb 22 – The Jazz Kitchen – Indianapolis, IN
Feb 23 – SPACE – Evanston, IL
Feb 24 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
Feb 25 – The West Theatre – Duluth, MN
Feb 26 – McMillan Library Concert Series – Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Mar 1 – The Venue – Aurora, IL
Mar 3 – xBk Live – Des Moines, IA
Mar 4 – Vangarde Arts – Sioux City, IA
Mar 6 – Velvet Elk Lounge – Boulder, CO
Mar 7 – Ute Theater – Rifle, CO
Mar 8 – Swallow Hill – Denver, CO
Mar 10 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
Mar 11 – MIM Music Theater – Phoenix, AZ
Mar 14 – Unit B – Santa Fe, NM
Mar 15 – Outpost – Albuquerque, NM
Mar 18 – The Coda Concert House – Joplin, MO
Mar 20 – Ron Robinson Theater – Little Rock, AR
Mar 21 – The Lyric Theater – Harrison, AR
Mar 25 – Orange Blossom Opry – Weirsdale, FL (with Matt Schofield)
Apr 17 – Spire Center for Performing Arts – Plymouth, MA
