January 2026

Josh Turner Will Jones This Country Music Thing Tour Blue Gate Performing Arts Center Shipshewana, IN Friday January 16th, 2026 at 7:30pm Josh Turner with Paul Harrigill and Grayson Lilly at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 With a voice as deep and familiar as the roots of the genre itself, Josh Turner brought his “This Country Music Thing Tour” to a sold-out crowd in Shipshewana. From the moment he stepped onstage, Turner made it clear this was a celebration of country music in its purest form — built on storytelling, faith, and tradition rather than flash. Backed by a tight band and greeted by an audience that knew every word, Turner turned the Shipshewana stop into a reminder of why his music continues to resonate decades into his career. Will Jones at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Josh Turner at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Warming up the crowd was Will Jones, who has bluegrass roots and a traditional country sound. He was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is carving his path where Appalachian soul meets outlaw grit. Jones was born into the family band, The Cana Ramblers, and ventured out on his own. His music combines honest storytelling with his rich acoustic guitar tones. Ashley McBryde, Tracy Lawrence, and Josh Turner are just a few of the artists he has had the honor of singing alongside with. He married a preacher’s daughter, and they just welcomed their second child 6 weeks ago. “Lonesome Dove,” “Devil’s Den,” and “When It Rains” are a few of the original songs Jones performed along with a new song, “Sounds Like Home to Me.” He later closed out his set with a cover of Travis Tritt’s “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde.” Josh Turner and Band at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 After a brief intermission, it was time for Josh Turner to take the stage. Turner was born in South Carolina and is known for his unmistakable, buttery baritone voice and timeless songs. He originally started falling in love with music while he sang in his church. In 2003, he was signed to MCA Nashville Records where he released his debut album Long Black Train. Turner originally debuted his song “Long Black Train” on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 2001, where he was interrupted with a standing ovation halfway through the song. Since his debut, Turner has released 10 albums with “This Country Music Thing” as his most recent release from 2024. In 2023 he awarded the Order of the Palmetto in his home state of South Carolina, which is the highest civilian honor, as well as being inducted into the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame in 2024. Josh Turner at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Turner has had much success in his career but loves to give back to the community. Turner and his wife, Jennifer, established the Josh Turner Scholarship Fund for Arts to support students from rural areas who are interested in pursuing the arts. He was invited to perform his song “Two Steppin’ On The Moon” for NASA astronauts on the International Space Station from Mission Control at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. Turner was also asked by NBC’s TODAY to perform “Unsung Hero” for Veteran’s Day, which was written about his grandfather who was a WWII veteran. When the music video for “Unsung Hero” released, it was debuted on CMT and the Paramount Times Square Billboard in NYC. Josh Turner at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Steve Nelson and Shawn Bailey at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 The arena went dark as two red lights ran through the crowd while thunder cracked and sirens started. The band made their way to the stage, followed by Turner as they began playing “Whirlwind.” He followed with “Firecracker” and “Deep South” and later played a new song, “Unsung Hero.” Turner later introduced each of his band members with some jokes and banter which had the crowd laughing and cheering for each member. “Hometown Girl,” “Me and God,” and “Time is Love” are a few of the songs Turner sang during the first half of his set. He later performed a cover of Hank William’s song “I Saw the Light” followed by one of his new songs off his most recent album, “My Side.” Will Jones at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Before closing out the show with some of his hits, Turner sang “Two Steppin’ On The Moon” and “This Country Music Thing,” which are both from his newest album. During his performance of “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Turner’s band had some fun and danced on stage. A two-person kick line was started and later two more band members did a simple heel and toe shuffle. He ended the night with some of his biggest hits, “Would You Go With Me” and “Your Man.” After the final notes, Turner and his band made their way off stage while the crowd gave a standing ovation. Shawn Bailey at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 They waited with anticipation, while shining their phone lights, in hopes for Turner to come perform a specific encore song. With the sound of a train whistle, crowd erupted in cheers as Turner and his band made their way back to the stage to perform “Long Black Train.” As the song came to a close, Turner thanked the crowd for a great night while the band played. Once the stage was cleared out, fans made their way out of the venue carrying the warmth from the night of live music. Josh Turner at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 For additional information on these artists and events happening at Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, please visit: Josh Turner- https://www.joshturner.com Will Jones- https://willjonescountry.com Blue Gate Performing Arts Center- https://www.thebluegate.com/shipshewana/blue-gate-theatre/schedule/ Additional Images: Grayson Lilly at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, 2026 Will Jones at the Blue Gate