RIAA 2X Platinum-certified singer-songwriter Sam Barber continues his remarkable ascent with the release of his powerful new single, “Man of the Year,” available everywhere now via Lockeland Springs/Atlantic Records. Serving as his first new music since the breakout success of his debut album Restless Mind, the track delivers a raw, unfiltered reflection on struggle, uncertainty, and survival — and marks a striking new chapter for one of country music’s fastest-rising stars.
Written solely by Barber and produced by acclaimed collaborators Ryan Hewitt (Noah Kahan, Cody Jinks) and Joe Becker, “Man of the Year” lays bare the 21-year-old’s inner battles while addressing the weight of the world around him. Barber’s gritty vocals cut through a brooding, atmospheric blend of acoustic strums, shadowy textures, and haunting banjo riffs, offering listeners a cathartic anthem for navigating life’s darkest moments. Lines like “You gotta take it as it goes, ’cause it doesn’t get easier, dear” capture the defiant resilience and hard-won wisdom that have become hallmarks of Barber’s storytelling.
The release follows an extraordinary year for Barber, whose 2024 debut album Restless Mind has amassed over 1.5 billion global streams to date. The record produced career-defining hits including the 2X Platinum-certified “Straight and Narrow,” Billboard Hot 100 hit “Indigo” featuring Avery Anna, and fan-favorite “Better Year” — featured prominently on Paramount’s hit series Yellowstone.
After completing his sold-out RESTLESS MIND WORLD TOUR, which included a landmark debut at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium and major festival appearances across the U.S., U.K., and Europe, Barber is set to launch the SAM BARBER NORTH AMERICA TOUR this summer. The highly anticipated run kicks off May 29 in Isle of Palms, SC, and will include sold-out performances at some of the nation’s most revered venues, including The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, Webster Hall in New York City, and more, with several dates already at capacity. In addition to headlining dates, Barber will appear at top-tier festivals such as CMA Fest, Windy City Smokeout, and Barefoot Country Music Fest, bringing his emotionally charged, soul-baring live show to tens of thousands of new fans nationwide.
SAM BARBER NORTH AMERICA TOUR:
MAY
29 | Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer – SOLD OUT
30 | St. Augustine, FL – The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre ^ – LOW TICKETS
31 | Panama City Beach, FL – Gulf Coast Jam #
JUNE
6 | Nashville, TN – CMA Fest #
7 | Fishers, IN – Nickel Plate Amphitheater – LOW TICKETS
13 | Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall – LOW TICKETS
14 | Cape Giradeau, MO – Freedom Fest #
19 | Lewisburg, WV – Wild Trails Festival #
20 | Wildwood, NJ – Barefoot Country Music Fest #
21 | Norfolk, VA – The NorVa – SOLD OUT
JULY
10 | Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live! – UPGRADED
11 | Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE – UPGRADED
12 | Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre – UPGRADED
13 | Chicago, IL – Windy City Smokeout #
17 | St. Louis, MO – The Factory – LOW TICKETS
18 | Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom – SOLD OUT
19 | O’Neill, NE – Summerfest Celebration #
20 | Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue – SOLD OUT
23 | Columbia, MO – 9th Street Public House – LOW TICKETS
24 | Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre – SOLD OUT
26 | Fargo, ND – UP District Festival Field
AUGUST
7 | Boise, ID – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden
8 | Spokane, WA – Gesa Credit Union Pavilion
9 | Tacoma, WA – Dune Peninsula
11 | Vancouver, BC – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – SOLD OUT
15 | Forest Grove, OR – Grand Lodge
16 | Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre – SOLD OUT
18 | Sacramento, CA – Channel 24 – SOLD OUT
20 | San Francisco, CA – The Warfield – UPGRADED
22 | Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theatre – SOLD OUT
23 | San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay – SOLD OUT
27 | Flagstaff, AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater
28 | Santa Fe, NM – The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing – LOW TICKETS
29 | Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom – LOW TICKETS
SEPTEMBER
5 | Hutchinson, KS – Kansas State Fair # ~
6 | Stillwater, OK – Tumbleweed Dance Hall
13 | Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall – SOLD OUT
OCTOBER
12 | Salt Lake City, UT – RedWest Fest #
31 | Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards
NOVEMBER
1 | Raleigh, NC – The Ritz – SOLD OUT
5 | New York, NY – Webster Hall – SOLD OUT
6 | New York, NY – Webster Hall – SOLD OUT
7 | Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall – LOW TICKETS
8 | Boston, MA – Roadrunner – SOLD OUT
19 | Atlanta, GA – The Eastern
20 | Atlanta, GA – The Eastern – SOLD OUT
21 | St. Petersburg, FL – St. Pete Fest #
22 | Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live – SOLD OUT
DECEMBER
3 | Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels
5 | Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas – SOLD OUT
# festival date
^ support from Waylon Wyatt and Noah Rinker
~ special guest Avery Anna
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