Luke Combs is one of the biggest names in country music right now. The North Carolina native exploded onto the scene in 2017 with his double platinum debut album, This One’s For You, which featured hit singles like “Hurricane” and “When It Rains It Pours.” Combs has since released a deluxe edition of that album as well as his 2019 sophomore record, What You See Is What You Get, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
With his meteoric rise to fame and continuously growing fanbase, many Luke Combs fans are curious whether the country star has ever embarked on a worldwide concert tour. In this article, we’ll take a look at Luke Combs’ touring history over the past several years to see if he has indeed ever performed around the globe.
Luke Combs’ Early Career and Shows (2014-2016)
Prior to releasing his first major label album in 2017, Luke Combs was working to establish himself in the country music scene like many aspiring artists. He began performing shows as early as 2014, when he would play small clubs and bars around his home state of North Carolina and other southern states.
In 2015, Combs started to gain more recognition after releasing his first EP, The Way She Rides. He began booking shows at larger venues like the Blind Tiger in Greensboro, NC and opened for artists like Brent Cobb at festivals and concerts. Still, Combs was mostly confined to the southeastern U.S. as an up-and-comer in these early years.
The year 2016 saw Luke Combs gain more traction with the release of his second EP, Can I Get an Outlaw? He began booking shows at more renowned country music venues like the Exit/In in Nashville and New York City’s Mercury Lounge. But these performances were one-off shows rather than extended tours.
Combs’ First Major Headlining Tour (2017)
Things changed quickly for Luke Combs with the release of his debut album, This One’s For You, in June 2017 on Columbia Records. The record’s lead single “Hurricane” was already climbing the country charts and generating buzz around Combs. Shortly after the album release, Combs announced he would be embarking on his first ever headlining concert tour.
The aptly titled “Hurricane Tour” kicked off in October 2017 with a sold-out show in Athens, GA. Combs continued through the end of the year playing mid-size venues primarily in the South and Midwest. He was able to sell out most all of the tour’s 25 dates as his popularity skyrocketed with hits like “When It Rains It Pours” joining “Hurricane” at country radio.
While a great achievement and major touring milestone for Luke Combs, the Hurricane Tour was limited to the U.S. Thus, Combs still had yet to take his music globally or embark on a true world tour.
Opening Arena Shows in 2018
Coming off the success of the Hurricane Tour, Luke Combs found himself in high demand in 2018 as he continued headlining his own shows but also opened for major country stars. He kicked off the year opening a series of arena shows for Jason Aldean in January and February, bringing him in front of bigger crowds than he’d ever faced as a headliner.
In the spring, Combs notched his first performance outside North America with a show supporting Aldean in London’s O2 Arena. While just one show, it was an indicator of Combs’ expanding popularity beyond just the U.S. market.
More openings slots would follow that summer when Combs toured amphitheaters with Brad Paisley. Even while playing short opening sets, these opportunities allowed Combs to test headlining larger venues, laying the groundwork for his future solo tours.
First Worldwide Headlining Tour (2019)
With two hit albums now under his belt, Luke Combs proved in 2019 he was ready for full-fledged worldwide headlining tour. He announced the “Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour” (named after his single of the same name) which kicked off in February with multiple shows across Europe.
Combs played arenas like Manchester Arena in the UK and Melkweg in Amsterdam, thrilling international crowds with his brand of country music often less familiar in these markets. After the European run, Combs would continue touring North America through the fall. In total, the “Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour” spanned 6 legs, 33 countries, and over 175 shows firmly establishing Combs’ status as a global touring artist.
Record-Breaking Stadium Shows (2022)
After pandemic delays in 2020 and 2021 forced postponements of a planned world tour, Luke Combs returned in 2022 with his biggest shows yet. He announced a massive tour starting with a headline performance at the 90,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas—the largest show thus far in Combs’ career.
More stadium shows in venues like Seattle’s Lumen Field and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium would follow, with Combs shattering attendance records left and right. In July, he made history as the first country artist to headline Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium, drawing over 50,000 fans.
While primarily focused on North America, the 2022 tour does feature several international dates including 3 sold-out shows at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. With much of the tour still to come in 2023, Combs is now an undisputed worldwide stadium act at the peak of popularity.
Luke Combs World Tour History at a Glance
Year | Tour Name | Locations |
---|---|---|
2017 | Hurricane Tour | U.S. (South, Midwest) |
2018 | N/A | U.S., London (opening for Jason Aldean) |
2019 | Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour | U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand |
2022 | Middle of Somewhere Tour | U.S. (Nationwide), London, Amsterdam, Dublin |
Conclusion
In the roughly five years since Luke Combs arrived as country’s newest star, he’s wasted no time establishing himself as a worldwide touring act. After early U.S.-focused shows and sporadic international appearances, Combs’ 2019 “Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour” stands as his first full-fledged world tour spanning several continents.
Combs continues breaking attendance records today, now with multiple worldwide stadium shows under his belt in 2022. Given his youth, popularity and proven track record, fans can likely expect Luke Combs to embark on many more world tours as his career progresses in the years and decades to come. His unique voice and signature songs have clearly resonated with country fans across the globe.