Concert Review: Asleep at the Wheel in Tucson 2026
The Old Pueblo played host to Texas Swing on June 11 as legendary country music band Asleep at the Wheel swung through Tucson. Fronted by Ray Benson, AATW hits the road on their 2026 Riding High Tour. And this group is no stranger to the road. For better than five decades, Asleep at the Wheel has been thrilling live audiences throughout the United States. This early summer Tucson gig was no exception.
These masters of Texas Swing are as synonymous with the state as any band touring today. Oddly enough, the group was not founded there. Originally formed in West Virginia in 1970, Ray Benson and company permanently relocated to Austin, Texas in 1974. Benson, the band’s soul original member, says “It’s been 55 years for AATW as a band, and 50 of them have been spent in Texas. We are known worldwide for being a Texas band and playing Texas and Western Swing music. It brings us great pride to carry this torch and responsibility. We don’t take it lightly!”
Asleep at the Wheel has amassed over 100 members throughout their remarkable run. The current iteration includes pianist Connor Forsyth, bassist Josh Hoag, steel guitarist Curtis Clogston, saxophonist Nick Brown, and drummer Jason Baczynski. Sharing vocal duties with Benson is newcomer Ian Stewart. The 34-year-old Stewart not only adds fresh blood but provides a blistering fiddle to the group. “It’s crazy to think that Ian Stewart grew up five minutes away from my house,” says Benson. “And that had nothing to do with the reason he is in the band.”
Varying sorts of all ages were represented as the good vibes were palpable. The venue certainly played its part. With its intimate feel and exceptional acoustics, Tucson’s Fox Theatre was the perfect host for the show. Built in 1930, the Fox Theatre is one of the only locations the band will play that is older than the band itself. The June 11 engagement was not Asleep at the Wheel’s first performance at the historic venue. However, the Fox was only too eager to welcome back some old friends.
The show kicked off promptly at 7:30 as the seven-piece band took the stage. Anticipating a fun night, the near capacity crowd erupted as Benson claimed his spot, front and center. And it isn’t difficult to spot Benson. At 6 feet 7 inches tall with a menacing beard, Ray cuts a striking figure on stage. On this night, his imposing physique was only matched by his dynamic guitar playing and powerful vocals.
Right out of the gate the band acquainted themselves nicely. The ensemble set a tone of authentic Americana with songs such as “Route 66”, made famous by Nat King Cole some eighty years earlier. Other American standards include “Red River Valley”, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and a rousing rendition of “Chattanooga Choo Choo.” Rapidly made apparent is the tight synchronicity of the band. This lineup of AATW may not have the unified seasoning of past lineups, but the experienced ear would never know it.
As Benson moves into his salutations to the audience, he proclaims, “We’re gonna do a lot of Bob Wills songs for you tonight. This ain’t one of ‘em.” Straightaway the band breaks into the 1975 Waylon Jennings tune, “Bob Wills Is Still the King”. In this day in age, it must be said that few vocalists can cover Waylon with such veracity as Benson. And true to their word, the set is also filled with iconic Wills numbers such as “Milk Cow Blues” and “San Antonio Rose.” All executed with vigorous precision.
The set also featured some unexpected gems. Chief among them has to be the stirring rendition of Guy Clark’s haunting ballad, “Dublin Blues.” Ian Stewart also shined during this middle portion of the program when his poignant falsetto carried the band in a soulful Hank Williams tribute. Stewart’s version of “Lovesick Blues” landed particularly striking. One tune that was expected was “Hot Rod Lincoln”, first released by the band nearly 40 years ago. AATW’s cover of Charlie Ryan’s 1955 classic always brings the house down. This night was no different.
Though known primarily as a live act, this band has won nine Grammy Awards during their impressive tenure. This trip finds AATW promoting Riding High In Texas, the group’s 32nd album and first since 2021. The project consists of tracks that are all Texas classics or made popular by classic Texans. Not every track from the record made the set, however, the ones that did certainly did not disappoint. Perhaps the most familiar of the “new” numbers was George Strait’s #1 smash “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”
Other highlights from the current album include “Texas” by the incomparable Charlie Daniels Band and “Riding High In Texas”, the project’s lead single. Stewart handles primary vocal duties on the album’s namesake tune to superb effect.
Then, seemingly in an instant, the evening reached the inevitable. The crisp 90-minute program came to an end as the band offered a final piece of Americana nostalgia via Roy Rogers’ “Happy Trails.”
After better than 55 years on the road, this consummate road band still gets it done at a high level. The show was a grand mix of classic country, traditional Texas swing, the American songbook, southern rock and everything in between. Nobody in the audience that night in June of 2026 will forget the passion and immaculate musicianship exhibited by these Lone Star stalwarts. Rest assured, Asleep at the Wheel is most definitely welcome back during their next trip through the Grand Canyon State. For now, it’s on to the next gig…Until we meet again.
