Eric Church's 3 Nights at Red Rocks: Full Band Firepower to Stripped-Back Solos, Same-Day New Song & More

With an American Flag scarf given by a fan hanging loosely around his neck on night two-of-three as the band finished “Springsteen,” the sunglass-clad superstar had just downed an airplane bottle of Jack, and was clearly living in the moment as much as the audience as he grinned and acknowledged, “2012 broke out in here real quick.” It was a statement that both acknowledged the jubilance as well as the journey that Eric Church embarked on 20 years ago.
 
Earlier this week, arriving at the venue for the first time in nine years, Church joked with his crew, “I was a younger man the last time I walked this ramp.” Between reminiscing of his youngest son first attending in a Baby Bjorn and headphones to now standing side stage for “Holdin’ My Own,” Church’s teary eyes reflected the magnitude of the moment and mirrored its lyrics – “If the world comes knocking, Tell ‘em I'm not home, I'm finally holdin’ my own” – holding the crowd right along with him.
 
“The thing about these shows is you can’t really plan for or manufacture what happens. Either a night, a moment, a show or a melody captures it, or it doesn’t, and this week, every night – and I mean this – for me, it was magic,” Church shared after. 
 
From staying up until 4:22 a.m. on night one and brilliantly deciding during the late-night celebration to add covers on night two like “Gimme Shelter” (during which longtime cohort Joanna Cotten mouthed to him sarcastically in between Merry Clayton’s chorus, “you son of a...”), to being so moved that he debuted a song, “New Old Me,” written that very afternoon on night three, his three-night stint was a creative filled sabbatical in Colorado. 
 
Monday delivered a full-scale production, with a complete horns and strings sections plus a choir for Eric Church vs. The Machine. He played the entire Evangeline vs. The Machine album front to back – and then played 14 more songs. There were some favorites, including “Knives of New Orleans,” and there were some rarities, including “Lynyrd Skynyrd Jones” outside the state of Alabama for only the second time in the last three years.
 
“I’ll see you in another nine years,” Church told the crowd at the conclusion of the evening. Then he chuckled. “Nah, I’m just kidding,” he said. “Shit, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Photo Credit: Anthony D’Angio

Indeed, with his masterful road crew tearing down that extremely complicated set and loading in a completely new one over the course of just a couple hours, the stage was set for night two – Eric Church vs. The ECB – to make its own mark. It was quickly clear that he and the ECB weren’t just playing the songs that have defined the past two-decades – you could see them living those moments again, too. They started playing “Lotta Boot Left to Fill” in Denver at the Grizzly Rose in November of 2006. Tuesday night, it was back.
 
“Damn, we were punks,” Church laughed at the conclusion of the song. But he also knew that being a punk is occasionally what navigated him through a career that has never been stereotypical, and also a key reason why he was standing in the spotlight at a sold-out Red Rocks. “Sorry,” he told the crowd with a grin, “I’m enjoying that more than I should.”
 
Except for “Springsteen” – which still came with a different “Born To Run” intro, because Church just can’t help but push himself to deliver something new with each performance – each of the 23 songs was different on Tuesday, making for 45 different songs played over the first two nights alone.
 
And yet, there was still one more show to come, with Wednesday’s finale delivering an epic clash of Eric Church vs. The Guitar. The scene was set early, with a heavy rain setting in just before Church took the stage and making for an incredible setting as he opened with the instantly recognizable first few chords of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” immediately letting the crowd know they were in for one of those special nights that wouldn’t soon be forgotten.
 
The rain came and went initially, but then it unloaded around 11 p.m. It happened to coincide with Church breaking into a 12-song medley in the middle of “Record Year.” By the time he got to the sixth song of the medley, “Tiny Dancer,” it was pouring. In “Through My Ray-Bans,” there’s a line that says, “Tonight we don’t give a damn.” By the time Church and Cotten finished “Like Jesus Does,” it was a borderline monsoon, and this crowd decided they absolutely, positively did not give a damn.
 
The unscripted backdrop of the night enabled Church to give a performance that instantly goes into his career pantheon. You will never be able to make a list of best Eric Church shows without the Red Rocks rain show in 2025. Likewise, you may not be able to make a list of most memorable Red Rocks shows from any artist without including the Eric Church rain show of 2025. Late in the show, long past midnight and nearly 30 minutes after Church had finished the night’s planned set list and was completely improvising, every single seat was filled as the house lights turned on to illuminate the crowd singing along to “Talladega.” At 12:25 a.m. on a Wednesday, in miserable conditions, there wasn’t a visible empty seat anywhere.
 
In total, he played 32 songs plus that 12-song medley, putting the total at 44 for the nearly two and a half hours he was on stage (and nearly 100 over the three days). Across the unique trilogy of performances, members of the Church Choir also got a sneak peek at the format of his upcoming Free the Machine Tour that kicks off Sept. 12 in Pittsburgh, Pa., as Church will meld what fans saw across three nights at Red Rocks into one show with robust musical arrangements, original band rock outs and powerful stripped configurations of his catalog.
 
“You don’t want nights like these to end, and I think that’s what I chase,” adds the North Carolina native. “Everyone who comes to our shows knows what I mean and it’s why they chase it, too.” 
 
Fans can relive all three nights by re-watching the trilogy of livestreams exclusively on Nugs, now through July 27. 
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

Free the Machine Tour
Sept. 12  ||  Pittsburgh, Penn.  ||  PPG Paints Arena  ||  Elle King
Sept. 13  ||  Columbus, Ohio  ||  Nationwide Arena  ||  Elle King
Sept. 18  ||  Philadelphia, Penn.  ||  Wells Fargo Center  ||  Elle King
Sept. 19  ||  Boston, Mass.  ||  TD Garden  ||  Elle King
Sept. 20  ||  Brooklyn, N.Y.  ||  Barclays Center  ||  Elle King
Sept. 25  ||  Green Bay, Wisc.  ||  Resch Center  ||  Marcus King Band
Sept. 26  ||  Milwaukee, Wisc.  ||  Fiserv Forum  ||  Marcus King Band
Sept. 27  ||  Des Moines, Iowa  ||  Wells Fargo Arena  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 2  ||  Detroit, Mich.  ||  Little Caesars Arena  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 3  ||  Lexington, Ky.  ||  Rupp Arena  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 9  ||  Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Gainbridge Fieldhouse  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 10  ||  Grand Rapids, Mich.  ||  Van Andel Arena  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 11  ||  Cleveland, Ohio  ||  Rocket Arena  ||  Marcus King Band
Oct. 23  ||  Salt Lake City, Utah  ||  Delta Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Oct. 24  ||  Boise, Idaho  ||  ExtraMile Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Oct. 25  ||  Spokane, Wash.  ||  Spokane Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 6  ||  Vancouver, B.C.  ||  Rogers Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 7  ||  Portland, Ore.  ||  Moda Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 8  ||  Seattle, Wash.  ||  Climate Pledge Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 13  ||  Sacramento, Calif.  ||  Golden 1 Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 14  ||  Fresno, Calif.  ||  SaveMart Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 15  ||  Inglewood, Calif.  ||  Intuit Dome  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Eric Church's 'Evangeline vs. The Machine' Earns Resounding Critical Acclaim

With his bold new project Evangeline vs. The Machine out now, Eric Church is once again drawing widespread praise from critics and fans alike for challenging conventions and standing firm in his commitment to artistry. Anchored by the 10-time GRAMMY nominee’s uncompromising vision and genre-defying songwriting, the album is being hailed as one of the most powerful statements of his singular career:

Alongside the release, Church also premiered the official music video for current single “Hands of Time,” already climbing the Top 30 at country radio after arriving with a personal-best 135 first-week stations. The official music video served as an introduction to a series of illustrated companion videos for each song on the album, offering an added element to the artistic mission statement of the project.
 
Church will also bring Evangeline vs. The Machine to the ACM Awards live on Prime Video this Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET, before bringing the next chapter of his critically acclaimed live show to fans in arenas coast to coast with his Free the Machine Tour. Tickets to most shows are available to the general public beginning this Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. local time (with the Philadelphia date on sale May 16).
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

Eric Church Joined Willie Geist on ”Sunday TODAY" Ahead of 'Evangeline vs. The Machine' Release This Friday 5/2

As the release of his highly anticipated new album Evangeline vs. the Machine approaches this Friday, May 2, Eric Church sat down with Willie Geist on NBC’s “Sunday TODAY.” The two discussed Church’s nearly two-decade journey defined by consistent risk-taking and rule-breaking as he enters a bold new chapter with his most sonically ambitious project yet. Watch the in-depth and wide-ranging conversation HERE, and hear the full, extended interview via the “Sunday Sitdown” podcast HERE.
 
“In the day we live in now, with all the social media… you can release a song on Tuesday, another song on Friday, another song on Tuesday,” explained Church in the feature. “I’m an album artist, always have been, and I think we’ve gotten away from that now. The ‘machine’ is consumption; the ‘machine’ is the world we live in – and the interesting thing about ‘Evangeline’ is it’s kind of creativity versus the machine, and ‘Evangeline’ represents that creativity.”
 
Reflecting later in the interview on a short span that included performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival that was tragically impacted by a mass shooting, then facing a life-threatening blood clot and the death of his brother, Church notes, “You can listen to the music, maybe, and you can see that I was brash, arrogant in a lot of ways. But it changes when you have those things happen to you, and I think it made the music more humble, and maybe more observant.”
 
Church further expanded on the album’s themes during a separate appearance on “The Steam Room” podcast with basketball icons Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson, noting, “Everything I look at today involves kids on iPads and kids doing whatever they do on ‘machines,’ and it’s a little bit of a crux between creativity versus the ‘machine’ that tries to manipulate that creativity.” Hear the full conversation HERE.
 
Driven by that sense of artistic purpose, Evangeline vs. the Machine expands the legacy of one of country music’s most fearless storytellers. Anchored by lead single “Hands of Time” – which debuted as the most-added song at Country radio and earned Church a new personal record for first-week impact with 135 stations – the album is available to pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
Following the release, Church will bring the new music and his esteemed catalog to life onstage with a run of high-profile shows, beginning with two To Beat The Devil residency shows at London’s revered Royal Albert Hall on May 16-17. He will then take over Nashville’s Pinnacle for a sold-out, two-night installment of Evangeline vs. The Machine Live on May 23–24. In July, he heads west for what has become a roughly once-a-decade experience at Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where fans can expect a unique set each evening across three sold-out shows: Eric Church vs. The Machine; Eric Church vs. The ECB; and Eric Church vs. The Guitar.
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including 2020’s Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has built a passionate fan base through his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently celebrated the first anniversary Chief’s, his six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Eric Church joined Willie Geist on NBC’s “Sunday TODAY” yesterday, April 27. | Photo Courtesy of NBC

Eric Church's 'Evangeline Vs. The Machine' Listening Events Set for May 2-4 at Indie Record Stores Nationwide

Indie record stores across the country will come alive the weekend of May 2–4 as over 100 locations celebrate the arrival of Eric Church’s highly anticipated new album, Evangeline vs. The Machine, with exclusive listening events. The first fans in each store will be treated to a limited-edition Eric Church poster and all attendees will have the chance to enter a special grand prize giveaway. Full details including participating locations can be found at recordstoreday.com.
 
Arriving May 2, Evangeline vs. The Machine marks another ambitious and sonically rich chapter in the groundbreaking career of one of country music’s most fearless storytellers. Anchored by lead single “Hands of Time” – which debuted as the most-added song at Country radio and earned Church a new personal record for first-week impact with 135 stations – the album is available to pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
Fans attending the listening events will hear the new project in full, an experience Church places heavy importance on when creating. A self-proclaimed “album artist,” Church has always championed the power of cohesive storytelling, and Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception. “An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art – I think it’s important.”
 
“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”

Church will also bring the new music and his esteemed catalog to life onstage later this spring and summer with a run of high-profile shows, kicking off with two To Beat The Devil residency shows at London’s revered Royal Albert Hall on May 16-17 before a sold-out, two-night takeover of Nashville’s The Pinnacle May 23–24 for Evangeline vs. The Machine Live. In July, he heads west for what has become a roughly once-a-decade experience at Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where fans can expect a unique set each evening across three sold-out shows: Eric Church vs. The Machine; Eric Church vs. The ECB; and Eric Church vs. The Guitar.
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram @ericchurchmusic. 

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently celebrated the first anniversary Chief’s, his six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Eric Church Brings 'Evangeline vs. The Machine' to Red Rocks for Three Unique Shows This July

With his new album Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, Stereogum’s “greatest working rock star” Eric Church returns to the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a special three-night run of distinct performances July 14-16, curating a unique, immersive experience for each show:
 
July 14: Eric Church vs. The Machine – a full-scale production featuring his band joined by a dynamic ensemble of strings, horns and choir combining to deliver an epic, must-see set.
 
July 15: Eric Church vs. The ECB – a raw, high-energy set with his original band, including longtime collaborator Joanna Cotten.
 
July 16: Eric Church vs. The Guitar – a stripped-down, intimate evening with Church alone on stage, delivering an acoustic performance like only he can.
 
Church’s history at Red Rocks is one of legend. He made his debut in August 2007 and his August 2016 performance at the venue was captured for a PBS special, highlighted by his hauntingly beautiful cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” A roughly once-a-decade experience, this return to Red Rocks marks his first performance at the venue since that show.
 
Tickets for this special three-night event will be available to Church Choir members on Monday, April 7, before opening to the general public on Friday, April 11. Become a Church Choir member here. Supporting Church across all three nights is Stephen Wilson Jr. and a limited number of three-day tickets are available for fans eager to see the full trio of shows.
 
With these one-off shows on the horizon to celebrate new album Evangeline vs. The Machine, lead single “Hands Of Time” is already impressing, having set a new personal record en route to becoming most added at Country radio last week with 135 first-week stations and earning immediate praise from fans and critics alike. Stereogum lauded the “juicy, fired-up Southern rocker about living in a world that increasingly makes no sense to you;” Rolling Stone celebrated the “nostalgic jukebox, full of allusions to songs and artists that were essential to Church’s career: Bob Seger and ‘Hollywood Nights,’ Tom Petty and ‘Even the Losers,’ AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and Willie and Waylon’s ‘Luckenbach, Texas,’ among them;” and Billboard honored the way “the song builds into a punchy, rock-fueled anthem as Church sings of turning to simple pleasures – particularly music – to fend off the impact of the passing decades.”
 
Among the other songs featured on the forthcoming Jay Joyce-produced album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief's To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.
 

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to deliver immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Eric Church Brings 'Evangeline vs. The Machine Live' to Nashville's The Pinnacle May 23 & 24

Widely renowned for his singular concerts, with Forbes remarking that he “frequently looks to shake up just how fans experience live music,” Eric Church once again offers a unique live experience with an exclusive pair of shows set for May 23 and 24 at Nashville’s newest live music venue, The Pinnacle, in celebration of the release of his highly anticipated May 2 album, Evangeline vs. The Machine. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.
 
Tickets to Evangeline vs. The Machine Live go on sale to premium Church Choir members Monday, March 31 at 10 a.m. CT. Become a premium Church Choir member here.
 
The one-off shows will see Church perform the new album in sequence for the first time, while also treating fans to a number of compelling performances of his most iconic hits. A self-proclaimed “album artist,” Church has always championed the power of cohesive storytelling, and Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception. “An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art – I think it’s important.”
 
“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”
 
Lead single “Hands Of Time” is already impressing, having set a new personal record en route to becoming most added at Country radio this week with 135 first-week stations and earning immediate praise from fans and critics alike. Stereogum lauded the “juicy, fired-up Southern rocker about living in a world that increasingly makes no sense to you;” Rolling Stone celebrated the “nostalgic jukebox, full of allusions to songs and artists that were essential to Church’s career: Bob Seger and ‘Hollywood Nights,’ Tom Petty and ‘Even the Losers,’ AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and Willie and Waylon’s ‘Luckenbach, Texas,’ among them;” and Billboard honored the way “the song builds into a punchy, rock-fueled anthem as Church sings of turning to simple pleasures – particularly music – to fend off the impact of the passing decades.”
 
Among the other songs featured on the forthcoming Jay Joyce-produced album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”); Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”); Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”); and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Church’s “Hands Of Time” Most Added & Personal Best First-Week

Eric Church’s “Hands Of Time” sets a new personal record en route to becoming most added at Country radio this week with 135 first-week stations. The milestone adds to the anticipation for the next ambitious and sonically rich chapter in his groundbreaking career, with new album Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
The song earned immediate praise upon its release last Thursday, March 20, with Stereogum lauding the “juicy, fired-up Southern rocker about living in a world that increasingly makes no sense to you;” Rolling Stone celebrating the “nostalgic jukebox, full of allusions to songs and artists that were essential to Church’s career: Bob Seger and ‘Hollywood Nights,’ Tom Petty and ‘Even the Losers,’ AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and Willie and Waylon’s ‘Luckenbach, Texas,’ among them;” and Billboard honoring the way “the song builds into a punchy, rock-fueled anthem as Church sings of turning to simple pleasures – particularly music – to fend off the impact of the passing decades.”
 
Among the other songs featured on the forthcoming Jay Joyce-produced album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Eric Church's 'Evangeline Vs. The Machine' Arrives May 2; Lead Single “Hands Of Time” Out Now

Eric Church, one of country music’s most fearless storytellers, marks another ambitious and sonically rich chapter in his groundbreaking career with Evangeline vs. The Machine, available everywhere on May 2. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
A self-proclaimed “album artist,” Church has always championed the power of cohesive storytelling, and Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception. “An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art – I think it’s important.”
 
“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”
 
Lead single “Hands Of Time,” impacting Country radio on March 24, is available now as a preview of that endeavor. “As I get older, I’m looking for things that make me feel not as old,” Church explains of the track. “I can honestly say that when I hear music or see something from my past, I feel like I did then; I relate to what it was then. I really believe that a good way to handle that is with music.”

Among the other songs featured on the album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
With such inspired tracks shaping the forthcoming Evangeline vs. The Machine – his first new album since 2021’s Heart & Soul trilogy  – Church continues his legacy of redefining modern country music on his own terms.  
 
Fans can also pre-order an Amazon Music exclusive Evangeline vs. The Machine vinyl in translucent light blue, available via Amazon.com or directly in the Amazon Music app, with fast and free shipping for Prime members. For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram @ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.