Dierks Bentley has been a concrete name in country music for over 20 years now. He was an early 2000s staple with energetic hits like “What Was I Thinkin’ ” and topped country charts in 2023 with “Gold”. But between the eras of “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and “Somewhere On a Beach,” Bentley released a standout bluegrass album that’s packed with instrumental magic and stellar collaborations.
The 2010 album Up On The Ridge features 12 tracks that transport you to his rustic jam sessions. Notably, Chris Stapleton’s background vocals shine through on “Fallin’ For You” and Miranda Lambert teamed up with Jamey Johnson on “Bad Angel.” If you dig deep enough on Bentley’s YouTube channel, you’ll find a few behind-the-scenes videos of the album’s production process. One clip highlights Bentley recording his duet on the late Kris Kristofferson’s 1971 track, “Bottle To The Bottom.”
The album also includes collaborations with the Punch Brothers who are a staple bluegrass string band. The five-member country-classic harmony of the mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass, and fiddle can be heard on “Senor (Tales of Yankee Power),” “Rovin’ Gambler,” and Pride (In the Name of Love).” In the video for “Senor,” Bentley gives a peek inside the Brooklyn recording studio where these collaborations came to life. He shares his excitement about working with the Punch Brothers, saying, “The highlight of the record recording-wise had to be going up to New York and recording with the Punch Brothers. It had to be the most inspiring three days of recording ever.”
While Bentley is generalized as a mainstream country artist, he has a broad appreciation for music and embraces any opportunity to showcase his love for classic country roots and the beauty of traditional string production. Keeping this passion for bluegrass alive, just last year he hopped on the Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty for a bluegrass-infused version of “American Girl.”
It’s bound to be another pretty exciting year for Bentley with the recent release of his new song, “She Hates Me,” and just last month he announced his upcoming Broken Branches tour with opener Zach Top. Who knows, maybe Bentley and Top will team up for some live guitar-picking performances on stage this year.
TOUR DATES:
- 5/29 – Austin, TX – Moody Center
- 5/30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavillion
- 5/31 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
- 6/5 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
- 6/6 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
- 6/7 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
- 6/12 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
- 6/14 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
- 6/19 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
- 6/20 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
- 6/21 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
- 6/26 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome
- 6/27 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
- 6/28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
- 7/10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
- 7/11 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
- 7/12 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
- 7/18 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
- 7/19 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
- 7/31 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
- 8/1 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
- 8/7 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
- 8/8 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- 8/9 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
- 8/14 – Buffalo, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
- 8/15 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
- 8/16 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
- 8/21 – Savannah, GA – Enmarket Arena
- 8/22 – Birmingham, AL – Coca Cola Amphitheatre
- 8/23 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum
- 8/28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
- 8/29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
- 8/30 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
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