Cole Swindell On His Headlining Tour: ‘This Is Something I’ve Dreamed Of’

Cole Swindell is gearing up to embark on his first headlining tour, and he can't wait hit the stage. 

Written by Cillea Houghton
Cole Swindell On His Headlining Tour: ‘This Is Something I’ve Dreamed Of’
Cole Swindell; Photo by Richard Gabriel Ford/Getty Images

The success of Cole Swindell’s career is solidified with the announcement of his first headlining tour, the 2018 Reason to Drink Tour.

Spending years playing some of the biggest venues in the country while opening for equally prominent names in country music, including Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean, Swindell is stepping out on his own to play extended sets for the multitude of fans he’s garnered along the way.

“It’s going to be different going out, but I’ve been waiting on this. This is something I’ve dreamed of, but the pressure’s kind of on me now,” Swindell tells Sounds Like Nashville and other media about the headlining tour, based off a track of the same name on his upcoming album. “It’s going to be fun to be out there. I’m anxious, I’m ready to get in there.”

But he won’t be going on this new adventure alone, bringing two of the genre’s brightest burgeoning acts, Chris Janson and Lauren Alaina, along with him. “I couldn’t be more happy with the lineup,” he says. “Chris puts on one of the best live shows I’ve seen out there; Lauren Alaina’s one of my favorites and I just think it’s going to be a cool lineup and a lot of fun.”

Being able to make any positive contribution to their careers is an honor for Swindell, who knows how it feels for his peers to use their own star power to help elevate his career. “To take other people out, honestly that’s a big part to me because I’ve had the opportunity to be out with some of the biggest acts, so if I can help their career at all by bringing them in front of my fans, then it’s going to be fun,” he explains.

While gearing up to put on an incredible live show for his loyal fans, Swindell also views the new venture as a crucial step in his rapidly growing career. Though he knows it will take time and tireless efforts to get back to those giant venues he’s played with the genre’s top acts, he’s willing to work as hard as he needs to get there. “It’s time for me to build my fan base one year at a time and one tour at a time and one day, I want to be back in those arenas and those amphitheaters and stadiums that I’ve played in the first four years and I want to be the main guy in there. It’s going to take some time and I’m willing to do it,” he vows. “I got a lot of work to do, but to me, it’s just exciting to have it all on me and know this is our first step to one day playing those big venues again and those dream venues that we talk about.”

With multiple No. 1 hits and a fan base built with faithful followers, Swindell has established himself as one of country music’s promising young performers. He calls being on stage his “safe space.” It’s where he’s in charge and completely in his element. “Every night to me is an adrenaline rush,” he describes. “It doesn’t matter where I’m playing, when I’m up there that’s my spot, I know I’m in control, whatever goes – that’s how I feel.”

The 2018 Reason to Drink Tour launches on Feb. 15 in Allentown, Penn. and continues through spring before wrapping up April 7 in Los Angeles.