Tinsley Ellis reveals 2026 Labor of Love Tour in Rock & Blues Muse
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 01
The Venue
Aurora, IL
Mar 03
xBk Live
Des Moines, IA
Mar 04
Vangarde Arts
Sioux City, IA
Mar 06
Velvet Elk Lounge
Boulder, CO
Mar 07
Ute Theater
Rifle, CO
Mar 08
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 w/ Matt Schofield
Apr 17
Spire Center for Performing Arts
Plymouth, MA
With Labor Of Love, Ellis presents a sincere, edgy self-produced collection of thirteen original tracks, each performed with unfiltered emotional sincerity. The songs tell contemporary stories of floods, fires, voodoo spirits, personal struggles, and prayers answered. From the captivating opening track Hoodoo Woman to the infectious John Lee Hooker-influenced Long Time to the evocative, Skip James-inspired To A Hammer to the Son House-inspired stomp of Sunnyland, Ellis embodies his music in a way that is truly remarkable.
Every performance carries the weight, experience, and hard-earned knowledge Ellis has gained over four decades on the road, making Labor Of Love as profoundly emotive and compelling as any music he has created in his career. It spans the full range of emotions, finding joy in difficult moments, blending delicate beauty with high-energy fervor.
During a break from recording his latest album, Ellis spent time in Bentonia, Mississippi, the birthplace of Skip James and home to blues icon Jimmy “Duck” Holmes. Ellis absorbed the essence of this small Delta town, spending time with Holmes and gaining a deep understanding of authentic Bentonia blues. While there, Ellis performed with Holmes at his renowned Blue Front Café, cherishing every moment. “Once I returned home,” Ellis remarked, “I immediately went back to the studio and infused everything I had just experienced into my music.”
For the album, Ellis utilized six distinct open tunings on his cherished 1969 Martin D-35, his 12-string Martin D-12-20, and his 1937 National Steel O Series guitars. Additionally, for the first time in his career, he played the mandolin on three tracks on the album. These varied instruments and tunings, he explains, offer endless possibilities, keeping him constantly inspired by the music.
“No matter what I play, I like to maintain an edge. For me, playing this music is a labor of love. I learned from the greats like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf. I delved into this music because of them. I always told myself that if I could make a living playing the blues, I would consider myself successful, at least in my own mind.”
Premier Guitar recognizes that he has exceeded this aspiration, proclaiming, “Ellis is a legend in American blues music…he is a treasure of American music. He preaches about the power and magnificence of the blues and is one of the greatest performers in modern blues.”