The energy was heavy. You could feel it in the Florida humidity when the first chords of "Brand New Man" ripped through the West Palm Beach air on May 3. Everyone thought the duo was finished back in 2010. That "Last Rodeo" tour felt like a permanent goodbye, didn't it? But here we are, years into a resurgence that nobody—not even the most die-hard honky-tonk fans—saw coming quite like this.
The brooks and dunn tour 2024, officially branded as another leg of their massive REBOOT trek, wasn't just a nostalgia trip. It was a statement. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn didn't just show up; they brought a masterclass in '90s country dominance to over 20 cities across North America. From the swamps of Florida to the "Great White North" of Ontario and Quebec, the 2024 run proved that some things actually do get better with age.
The Setlist That Refused to Quit
Honestly, if you went to a show expecting a short, "greatest hits" medley, you were probably shocked. These guys didn't coast. The setlist was a marathon of 19 songs that spanned three decades.
Starting with the heavy hitters from their 1991 debut, they didn't let up. They leaned into the rock-leaning "Hard Workin' Man" and then pivoted to the tear-jerkers like "Believe." It’s kinda wild to see 20-year-olds in the front row screaming every word to "Neon Moon" alongside people who bought the cassette tape the day it dropped.
What they played every night:
- Brand New Man (The inevitable opener)
- Red Dirt Road
- Neon Moon
- My Maria (That B.W. Stevenson cover that Ronnie still nails)
- Boot Scootin' Boogie
- Only in America (The patriotic finale with the streamers and the military tributes)
The mid-set acoustic moment was a standout too. Kix, who is 69 and somehow still has the cardio of a track star, took the lead on "Lost and Found." It felt intimate, even in a massive amphitheater.
Who Opened the Show?
The 2024 lineup was a clever mix of "old school" and "new Nashville." They didn't just pick names out of a hat.
David Lee Murphy was the backbone of the opening slot. If you don't know the name, you definitely know the songs. He’s the guy behind "Dust on the Bottle," but he also wrote half of the hits you hear on country radio today for guys like Kenny Chesney and Blake Shelton. He played "Living in Fast Forward" and "The More I Drink," and honestly, for a 66-year-old, he had more energy than most TikTok country stars.
Then you had ERNEST. He represents the bridge to the new generation. A hitmaker in his own right, he’s a songwriter who has penned massive tracks for Morgan Wallen. His set was shorter, maybe 25-30 minutes, but it brought in the younger crowd early. In London, Ontario, the arena was reportedly 90% full while he was still on stage. That’s rare for an opener.
The Cities and the Chaos
The tour kicked off in West Palm Beach and Tampa before heading through the heartland. They hit the Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas, and the WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma.
One of the coolest things about this specific 2024 run was the Canadian leg. They played Toronto, Montreal, and London, Ontario in late June. If you’ve never seen a Canadian country crowd, it’s basically a massive choir. Kix even joked on stage about how they realized early in their career that Canada was "good country folks."
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A quick look at the major 2024 stops:
- May 3: West Palm Beach, FL
- May 16: New Orleans, LA (Smoothie King Center)
- May 31: Denver, CO (Ball Arena)
- June 15: Charleston, SC
- June 20-22: Toronto, Montreal, and London (The Canadian stretch)
- August 10: Welch, MN (The finale at Treasure Island)
What Fans Actually Thought
Was it perfect? Mostly. But let's be real. Some fans in London, Ontario complained that the set felt a bit short at about 80 minutes. When you’re paying $150 for a ticket, an hour and twenty minutes can feel like a tease.
But most people didn't care about the clock. They cared about the fact that Ronnie Dunn’s voice—arguably the greatest in country music history—hasn't lost its edge. He can still hit those high notes in "My Maria" that would make a younger singer's throat bleed.
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The production was surprisingly minimal. No massive pyrotechnics or flying stages. Just a giant semi-sheer backdrop for imagery and some solid lighting. It kept the focus on the seven-man band and the two legends at the front.
The Legacy of the Reboot
This tour wasn't just about selling tickets. It was about cementing the fact that the "90s Country" sound is the hottest thing in the genre right now. You see it in the way the crowds were a mix of millennials, Gen Z, and Boomers.
The REBOOT project, which started as a collaboration album, has turned into a multi-year touring juggernaut. It’s the first time the duo has topped the album charts since 2009. They are currently the record-holders for the longest-running country residency in Las Vegas, but the road is where they seem most at home.
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Practical Steps for Fans
If you missed the 2024 run, don't panic. The duo has already announced the Neon Moon Tour for 2025.
- Check the secondary market: For shows that have passed, you can often find high-quality tour merchandise on official sites or reputable resellers if you missed out at the booth.
- Join the newsletter: The "Neon Moon" 2025 dates are already seeing high demand. Sign up at the official Brooks & Dunn website to get pre-sale codes.
- Listen to David Lee Murphy: If you liked his opening set, dive into his songwriting catalog. It's a deep well of country gold.
The 2024 tour proved one thing: Ronnie and Kix aren't ready for the rocking chair just yet. They are still the "hard workin' men" of country music, and they're still the ones to beat.