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A week ago I joined the 3 day tour by TakeTours from Boston to DC and NY. I googled before the trip and as per what many others said, most of the tour participants are Chinese so the tour was conducted in Mandarin and English.

I travelled with 5 other family members so it was relatively cheaper as there was a buy 2 get 1 free deal, for those paying in RMB it was even cheaper as there was a further discount. The tour was conducted by Sunshine Travel, their office is in Boston Chinatown. I was a bit apprehensive but I ended up choosing this tour as it was my family's first visit to America and we wanted to cover DC and NY and by joining the tour it saved me trouble of planning and booking everything individually.

Extra charges involved (first are optional):

>$35 for first two nights buffet dinner (Not bad. The buffet place - chinese restaurant is in a mall so there are other options around like chuck e cheese etc. if you choose not to join the buffet or you can choose to pay on the spot which I suspect might be cheaper cause on average it seemed like the buffet was priced at $15 per person or less)

>$8 per day for tips

>$1 per day for fuel surcharge

>Lunch for all 3 days

Only my dad decided to go for the $141 package while the rest of us just hung around while the rest of the tour group entered the sights. When we notified the tour guide that the rest of us weren't joining, he was visibly upset (black face). You can select the sights you do want to enter so it's really up to you. My family just decided to walk around the area since we weren't too keen on paying so much just for an hour at each spot.

Accommodations:

First night we stayed at Comfort Inn Tysons in Vienna. It was good, came with simple continental breakfast.

Second night we stayed at Hotel Edison. Good too but if you want to connect to WiFi, the lobby has the best signal, the rooms not so much. No breakfast provided.

Attractions:

Most of the time, we were dropped off at an attraction and then given an hour to walk around then off to the next place.

On the first day the air conditioning of our tour bus malfunctioned so for half the day it was HOT HOT HOT! They only changed the bus on the second day. The blinds on the bus were in bad condition, some were spoilt so it couldn't be pulled down. The windows were a little dirty.

Tour guide:

I can't say for all Sunshine Travel tour guides but mine was very knowledgable with the history and facts about the sights but sadly he was rude and grouchy. Throughout our tour, while we were on the road, he would make snide remarks about everything and anything and was complaining about his work and non-chinese speaking passengers in Mandarin. I'm Chinese so I understood everything he was saying. I was sitting at the third row and I could hear him loud and clear. He was bias and was selectively friendlier and nicer to certain customers. His command of English was good and it was good that my family understands both Mandarin and English as he added some additional information in English which he didn't translate to Mandarin and vice versa.

For the price you pay, it's really reasonable and a good tour. But hopefully you are luckier than me and get a better tour guide as mine was rather unprofessional in his behaviour.

Thanks for your rview. There already is a long TakeTour thread running:

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g1-i12567-k6299452-Take_Tours-Road_Trips.html

"black face" - Angelina L, on one of the other TA posts there is a discussion about the use of the phrase "black face" which some take to mean a racial slur in the US; however, it is my presumption, and my question to you, that in China it is used to indicate a person who has is "unhappy"?

Please advise.

Thanks for your post as there are many who seem to dislike Take Tours, usually those who do not speak Chinese.

Sorry I don't mean it as anything insulting but yes from where I'm from 'black face' means someone is unhappy or grouchy (along that line). It didn't cross my mind that it could be insulting in another culture. Sorry about that.

I'm Chinese (but not from China), and even though I understood most of the tour (thank God for being bilingual), it wasn't the language that I had a problem with but the service that was provided by the tour guide in general. But I can understand that it might have been worst for those who do not understand Chinese.

Angelina, thanks for the return and response. Your post and comments will assist others who are contemplating Take Tours.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface

"Blackface" is one of those American words or phrases with unexpected meanings separate from their literal meaning.

For example, "gay," used to be a popular word in American music and literature, but its current usage would amaze and confuse 19th and early 20th century Americans! I've even known a few older women named, "Gay!"

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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East Coast tour 4 days by Taketours

East Coast tour 4 days by Taketours. Worst experience. Felt more like a school trip. Tour guide had bad time management. Do not recommend for families who need to relax and see attractions properly without hurry. Charged fees for even the free attractions. Not worth the money.

Date of experience : June 27, 2023

Rocky mountain tour in May 2023 by taketours.com

Rocky mountain tour in May 2023: Taketours did not fulfil its commitment for airport pick up. Most of the places indicated in itinerary were passed by.It was 70% travel/hotel stay. Many photo shoot stops (15-20 mimnutes) on the way were skipped despite a request. Guide and driver were in a hurry to complete the day as early as possible(6PM). Food taste of non-Chinese tourists was not taken care of. Majority tourists were Chinese who will take side of the Chinese guide and will show adverse body language to other tourists.

Date of experience : May 20, 2023

The taketours.com or M&Y tour is a scam…

The taketours.com or M&Y tour is a scam company. We took 4 days trip with them. First they provided us 1 to 2 stars hotels and motels at all the places. Those were the worst available hotels in those areas. Whereas we paid for Holiday Inn or equivalent hotels. We were charged 30$ for the niagara fire cracker show, which was free for the public. Only stay and bus ride is included in the package. No food or even water is included in the package. You will not get even free water at the motels/cheap hotels. Hidden charge of $12 per person per day tip (including infants and old) was forcefully collected. The guide named Jason was rude, aggressive, hostile and very abusive, especially when you don't take the optional activities. He was talking more in chinese and was with chinese tourists most of the time. He was not fluent in speaking as well as in understanding English. He spent most of his time trying to collect money from the tourists. Since most of the places in the itinerary was paid and optional the trip cost will increase multifold, or you don't get to see anything. Only you just drive past the cities. Bus seats were full and cramped and they changed four buses in four days. Jason was also driving the bus, which was very unsafe. At times he was driving dangerously. At some places you will have to pay extra for the local guide extra as they say local guide is required at that place. Most probably they are from their company only. Motels/Cheap hotel staff were also rude.

Date of experience : May 23, 2023

2 days to Washington DC become a nightmare.

2 days to Washington DC become nightmare. This company has a really shady business: poor service, chip hotels (dirty towels, inability to lock front doors, poor drainage in toilets and sinks. etc.) and most important hiding fees for every steps of your vacation. Plus broken English with poor knowledge of subject provided by Chinese tour guide. That was made our 2 days vacation absolutely horrible. We felt cheated in every aspect of this vacation.

Date of experience : April 22, 2019

Say NO to Taketours

Horrible terrible racist company, complete rip off, horrible customer care., Doesn't deserve even 1* The tour driver JACK Las Vegas to Antelope (13th Dec 2018)was completely racist and womanizer in the coach, Company promised for a luxury bus for the tour, but a mini van arrived for the trip. The driver JACK was speaking to only Chinese girls in there language, Horrible seating in the mini van. We requested for veggie meal but these guys serves ham During booking even tough collected entry fees and mentioned $9 mandatory, driver JACK demanded for $ 14 Abused Indians Driver JACK forced us to leave the tour in middle

Date of experience : December 14, 2018

I am doing Gods Work Writing This Review

HORRIBLE! Please, just rent a car. Every activity you will do, will be with free or next to nothing in cost. This tour company will charge everything double that PER PERSON! The busses are cramped, uncomfortable, and old. Children have more spacious traveling experiences on school busses! I’m so upset, I can’t even go into detail because I’ll have to relive the experience in my mind! Any positive reviews you find are fake! Do not go on this bus tour! Everything you read below in other reviews mirror my experience. Read them and learn!

Date of experience : July 17, 2022

Don't book tour with take tours

Oh, if you want to get an unnecessary, annoying feeling from traveling, then go ahead choosing this company, they will give you a chance to experience the worst travel agency ever! Take Tours is an online platform helping some brick and mortar travel agency to sell tours. Therefore, anything that happened when you are on tour with a different company, Take Tours can't do anything to help. All they say is wait and after that, sorry. Lol, I just wish I did some research in reading reviews before choosing tours from this website. Beware!

Date of experience : September 06, 2019

Unprofessional and a Scam

Unprofessional, travel guide treated customers like children and lacks respect. Bus driver was extremely unfriendly and intentionally wanted to leave us on the highway service area when we were only a few minutes late. In addition, bus driver seemed to be overfatigued and drove over the highway noise warning strips many times - dangerous. Never ever again. Cheap, but apparently too cheap after all. On top of all, for entrance to additional activities such as a boat tour in Niagara Falls or a discovery movie they charged the regular adult price while they would buy the tickets for a reduced group price and keep the margin for themselves. This is not disclosed to customers. A case for the FTC?

Date of experience : May 19, 2018

Don’t go in taketours travels bad bus…

Don’t go in taketours travels bad bus bad smell and bad time management they come late and they won’t give minimum time to see the places they won’t even bother for passengers rest room issues always they want getoff their duty intime. Charges are also very high . Better pool up with your friends and book good hotels

Date of experience : May 26, 2018

Worst travel experience

Tour guide and bus driver not cooperative. Too many additional charges. Too much time spent traveling with very less time for actual sightseeing. Not worth the money. This tour is definitely not for non-Chinese tourists. Most of the restaurant stops are at Chinese restaurants. Hotels are away from the main city and even breakfast has to be purchased. At Buffalo airport, few passengers left and the driver and guide did not check if the luggage storage door was closed. The door was left open and everyone's luggage started falling out on the freeway!!! Thankfully, nothing was lost but many bags were badly damaged. Guide was pretty unapologetic about this. Worst experience and would definitely not recommend Taketours.

Date of experience : December 22, 2017

Where is my reply- still waiting

Where is my reply- still waiting. Pack of con artists. As my previous review Booking number ID: FT09-470-9257 I have still not received resolve and have sent 6 emails, made same amount of phone calls and nothing. No one has contacted me. This company is a disgrace and the customer service is non existent. I have now taken the legal route as had no other option. Worst experience I've had after spending a lot of money on trip of a lifetime DO NOT USE TAKE TOURS!!!!

Date of experience : December 13, 2017

Company changed the itinerary during my…

Company changed the itinerary during my trip without notifying me. When I inquired about this they simply replied that Lassen (sub-contract company) made a change, despite what was on their website when I paid. I've made a formal complaint, but so far nobody responded. They also removed my review from their website! Taketours lies about their tour packages and refuses to admit it!

Date of experience : August 08, 2018

Taketours Review (beware)

Re: TakeTours is a scam - the tour guide (from Mayi tours). Was extremely rude, and disrespectful towards us. Never stopped for food, or water and was hours on the bus not stopping for a restroom. The tour guide got very angry each time people didn't want to do any of the additional activities (that by the way were charged at a premium (e.g. a visit to a park that was free to the public - he charged us $15 USD - on top of everything we already paid for the tour). Also please note that $12 USD tip per day was compulsory. Overall, please save yourself a bad time and don't travel with them - they're such a scam of a company that even Google reviews are disabled.

Date of experience : September 21, 2022

TakeTour: 6 days US East Coast tour

Taken 6 days US East Coast tour from Washington from 4th June 2018. On date completed 4 days. TakeTour should be named as ChinkiesTour. It will clear all confusion and expectations from other nationals who may look for other available alternatives. Good ...very good for Chinkies I mean Chinese....Lunch ..Dinner...narration....everything is in Chinese...at times English also. At the end ...you will crush yourself for booking with TakeTour...if you are not Chinese.....

Date of experience : June 08, 2018

Think 10 times before booking with…

Think 10 times before booking with taketours.com . Saying this site and there customer policy sucks is understatement by multiple magnitudes. Within hours of booking they refuse to change or cancel the booking. There on call customer care hangs call and chat representative end chat on there own.

Date of experience : June 18, 2019

NEVER AGAIN | taketours.com is a scam

Horrible company, terrible experience. Trust me, you don't want to use taketours services. I saw the bad reviews before but didn't take them seriously. I booked the Woodbury Commons tour for me and my girlfriend. The bus was suppose to pick us up at 08:00. We waited from 07:30 to 08:45. However, it did not show up. What's more, the customer service hasn't replied to my refund request. THEY ARE SCAMMERS.

Date of experience : March 26, 2018

Never again

We thought it was a great deal but it was a horrible experience. Our tour guide was rude and hard to understand in English - He showed up 45 minutes late on the first day, then literally got into a screaming match with another tourist on the bus we was awkward and unprofessional to say the least. They also charged us almost double the RRP for tickets so if you do end up on one of these tours, do NOT buy tickets for optional activites through them! Buy them yourself at the ticket counter. We also spent almost the whole time on the bus - they allowed us 25 minutes at the Grand Canyon after spending 5 hours getting there, and about 30 minutes total at Yosemite. A huge disappointment and not at all worth the cheap price.

Date of experience : April 16, 2018

AVOID. Fraud company. Your tour will not happen.

Booked the Niagara Falls trip 2 months back. The payment was promptly taken. Got an email 2 days before departure that the trip was cancelled! No alternatives given. Yet to get a refund. Unprofessional. Unethical. Avoid at all cost!!!

Date of experience : June 09, 2018

Say no to Taketours

I booked two tickets for dance cruise in Miami in Bayside and they didn't confirm my booking until I called them. Once I got the confirmation and went to the venue I saw that the prices charged by them were exorbitant. For a $10 ride I was charged $19 with no extra inclusions. Who charges almost double even if I consider it to be a convenience fee? Taketours never again!

Date of experience : December 29, 2018

Avoid this company

Avoid this company. It's a scam, after getting in passenger for the fees they will charge for optional activities. Hotel is too far for doing the free attractions and hence you end up paying for transport in name of service fees. Avoid!

Date of experience : August 17, 2022

Take a tour of Europe at Staunton Music Festival's SpringFest concert

STAUNTON — Take a tour of Europe while never leaving Staunton at SpringFest: Baroque Journeys, a Staunton Music Festival weekend concert April 12-14.

Now in its third year, SpringFest offers a three-day celebration of Baroque music, spanning Europe from West to East and culminating with Handel's Italian oratorio  La Resurrezione . All concerts feature period instrument performers. Programs include music for voices, orchestra, and chamber ensembles and feature historical keyboards.

Through this music, and this particular program with its place based music, audiences will be transported to Europe and back in time, too. A new way to travel, if you will. These are masterpieces that have stood the test of time. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" on Saturday night is known to classical music lovers as a crowd pleaser.

Because Staunton Music Festival plays all music composed prior to 1850 on instruments of that era, via “historic performance,” audiences will actually hear it the way that audiences would have heard it back then, when the composer wrote it. That’s unusual, and it happens here in Staunton.

As opposed to the larger summer festival, SpringFest is all early music — all Baroque. The summer festival's music spans more than 600 years into the present day. Every concert this weekend will be performed on period instruments, by artists trained in historic performance. To learn more, visit: https://www.stauntonmusicfestival.org/period-instruments

Carsten Schmidt, Staunton Music Festival's artistic director, will take audiences on a tour of the continent over the course of the weekend's performances. The weekend will culminate with Handel's Italian oratorio La Resurrezione .  

Hamburg to Leipzig

• SpringFest 2024 opens its Baroque Journeys in Germany with works by Telemann and J. S. Bach, including concertos and vocal music.
• 7:30 pm Friday, April 12
• Trinity Episcopal Church
• This free program features solo and chamber music by Couperin, Marais, Lambert, and Rameau.
• Noon on Saturday, April 13
• Free admission
• Revel in the sumptuous richness of the Italian Baroque, featuring period instrument performances of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."
• 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13

London Playhouse

• Blackfriars Playhouse provides the setting for a short concert of instrumental and vocal music from 17th-century England.
• 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 14
• Blackfriars Playhouse

SpringFest Lunch & Lecture

• Lecture: Jon Gibson delivers an extended talk on Handel's oratorio La Resurrezione just before the finale concert.
• 1 p.m. Sunday April 14
• Trinity Church's McCracken Hall

Rome: Handel's Resurrezione

• The SpringFest finale features a single, brilliant work: Handel's Italian oratorio on the resurrection, penned in Rome in 1708.
• 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14

To view the schedule online, visit:  https://www.stauntonmusicfestival.org/springfest

Festival artists

Canadian-American sopranos Molly Netter and Megan Chartrand, bass Peter Walker, violinists Martin Davids (Chicago) and Nicholas DiEugenio (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Jason Fisher and Sarah Darling (Boston), Baroque bassoonist Stephanie Corwin and oboist Geoffrey Burgess (Philadelphia), and more. To find out more about the artists performing, see artists online . 

Tickets: (540) 800-6012 or [email protected]. Event is included in SpringFest Pass and Annual Pass. To learn more about SpringFest and Staunton Music Festival, visit https://www.stauntonmusicfestival.org

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Here’s Where to Buy Little Big Town and Sugarland ‘Take Me Home’ Tour Tickets Online

• By John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Quick Answer: Fans can buy Little Big Town and Sugarland tour tickets online on Ticketmaster , and StubHub or Vivid Seats if passes sell out.

“We got the gang back together!” Little Big Town ‘s Karen Fairchild wrote online as the country icons announced their upcoming tour with Sugarland.

Dubbed the Take Me Home tour, tickets for the North American trek are now on sale — and it’s bound to be one of the hottest tours of the year. The Take Me Home shows kick off in October at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, with dates scheduled all over the country including Pittsburgh, Austin, and wrapping up in Music City.

“25 years of music and we can’t wait to celebrate it with you,” Little Big Town wrote online to announce the Take Me Home tour, which the groups promoted following their cover performance of Phil Collins’ 1985 track of the same name during the CMT Awards in April.

The bands haven’t revealed a set list for the tour dates, but there’s no doubt fans will get to hear their new collab “Take Me Home” in person. Here’s what you need to know about scoring Little Big Town and Sugarland tickets (before they sell out).

Where to Buy Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets Online

If you’re hoping to see the country groups on the road this fall, here’s where you can find available tickets:

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on Ticketmaster

General admission tickets for the Take Me Home tour are now officially on sale over on Ticketmaster . The site is a legitimate and reliable spot to score passes to see Little Big Town and Sugarland in concert, and it’s easy to order and view your tickets directly in the app on your smartphone, or save them to your iPhone Wallet for easier access on show-day.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on StubHub

With a joint tour this highly anticipated, there’s a good chance tickets might sell out after the public on-sale date. If that happens, fans can always try looking for a tickets via a reliable ticket reseller. StubHub currently has Take Me Home tour tickets listed, with prices starting around $52 a piece for the opening night. Editor’s note: Keep in mind you may pay higher than face value for tickets on resale sites.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on Vivid Seats

So, you know every word to “Wine, Beer, and Whiskey,” and do a CMT-worthy rendition of “Better Man” and “Babe” in the car. But if you miss out on tickets during the initial sale to see your go-to groups, you’re not completely out of luck to sing ’em in a stadium near you. You can try looking for passes over on Vivid Seats , which offers trustworthy resale passes online. Better yet, readers can get a $20 discount on first-time ticket purchases of $200+ with the exclusive promo code RS2024 at checkout. Pro tip: We still recommend checking Ticketmaster to see if verified resale tickets are available for the dates you’re looking at to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on SeatGeek

Still looking for tickets to the Sugarland and Little Big Town concerts this fall? You can also shop for Take Me Home tour passes on SeatGeek . And if you’re trying to save a little bit of cash at the same time, you can use our promo code ROLLINGSTONE10 to get an extra $10 off eligible first orders over $250. It’s not a huge discount, but it’s at least enough to go towards merch.

“Last night felt like a real homecoming for us and a full circle moment,” Little Big Town said in statement following the CMT Awards. “When we toured with Sugarland last, we would all be backstage harmonizing different cover songs to try and surprise the audience every night. There’s something about this song that feels so nostalgic of that time. It really is like coming home. The Take Me Home tour feels like a celebration of being a band for 25 years and we’re so excited to throw this party with our great friends Sugarland. We’ll both be playing all our biggest hits and then some.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Little Big Town (@littlebigtown)

Little Big Town + Sugarland Tour Dates 2024

From the opener in Greenville to the final stop in Nashville, here’s the complete fall schedule for the groups’ upcoming tour.

Oct. 24  – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena Oct. 25 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena Oct. 26 – Columbus, OH  @ Nationwide Arena Oct. 31 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden Nov. 1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Nov. 2 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center Nov. 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center Nov. 8 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum Nov. 9 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena Nov. 14 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center Nov. 15 – Sioux Falls, SD  @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Nov. 16 – Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena at The MARK Nov. 21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center Nov. 22 – Fort Worth, TX  @ Dickies Arena Nov. 23 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center Dec. 11 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Dec. 12 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena Dec. 13 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

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Little Big Town and Sugarland Collaboration on CMT Awards Wasn’t a One-Off: LBT Members Talk Covering Phil Collins for Joint Single, Plus Fall Tour

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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For the group’s 25th anniversary, Little Big Town is pouring some sugar on it. Some Sugarland , actually, as the two country groups will be spending some quality time together later this year, in the wake of their joint performance Sunday night on the CMT Music Awards , where they hooked up to sing their newly arranged cover of Phil Collins ‘ 1985 smash “Take Me Home.”

Popular on Variety

There’s a throwback element to the new single and tour, as well as Sunday’s CMTs appearance: The two groups toured together in the late 2000s, and they sang a cover of the Dream Academy’s “Life in a Northern Town” (then joined by Jake Owen as well) on the 2008 show that at the time went under the name of the CMT Flameworthy Awards.

Backstage at Austin’s Moody Center during CMT Awards rehearsals, the four members of Little Big Town sat down to discuss with Variety their feelings about reuniting with their old vocal-harmony pals.

The tour plan preceded choosing which song to do together, says Karen Fairchild. “When we were on the road together years ago, we would really learn songs in the afternoon and then sing ’em,” she recalls. “Like, if we were in Memphis, we’d do ‘Walking in Memphis.’ So it was just something fun that we did on the road. So when this tour was gonna be announced and we were gonna get to do a song, then it was like, what do we do? And this song was Kristian Bush’s (of Sugarland) idea. and then we decided that we should get in the studio, because it sounded so good, and make it our own.”

There’s a more personal, if slightly indirect, connection as well. “We should tell you: Akil Thompson that plays in the band — he’s on keys, but he plays everything — his dad is Chester Thompson. Well, Chester, created the drum part on this. There are so many followers of drummers of just his part on that, on YouTube. So that’s why there’s so many drums out there on the CMTs stage — because Hubert (Payne, the group’s drummer) is channeling his inner Chester Thompson… with Akil sitting next to him. Akil showed us a picture of himself standing side-stage at a Phil Collins concert, watching his dad play on this song, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for him.”

There is plenty of full circling happening now with the Little Big Town/Sugarland reconnection, which couldn’t have happened that many times in other recent years, since the latter duo’s Jennifer Nettles and Bush have been pursuing solo activities more than band work for the most part.

Says Fairchild, “We used to hang out with them because we went to see them open up for Brooks and Dunn, and we played cards one night, and then we just became fast friends.” Although LBT has been in existence as a unit slightly longer, Sugarland broke big in country first, so she tells a story of Nettles and Bush being helpful as they struggled.

“We ran into them again at a festival, back in the day when we were broke and we didn’t have any gear. The guys were locked down on wired packs and we really wanted to invest in some wireless packs — ad this seems really silly now, but back then that was an important thing; we didn’t have any freedom to move around the stage. Sugarland had just had their first big No. 1 or something. And they bought us wireless packs — gave ’em to us and said, ‘Just pay the kindness forward.'”

Says Westbook, “They were so sweet, and I know they felt like they were investing in in our future and helping us out, because they know what that means.”

“And then they bought us wardrobe cases!” adds Fairchild. “And then we gifted those wardrobe cases to Old Dominion, but they kept our names on there, so the guys had Kimberly, Karen, Phillip and Jimi on their wardrobe cases. They just gave those cases away — I don’t know who they gave the old ones to — but we’re trying to just keep the tradition going.”

As for their collaborating now… four-part harmony is hard enough. Isn’t six-part harmony going to be tougher?

They laugh. There isn’t quite so much of that, in actuality, as usually someone is singing a lead vocal that doesn’t have to fit in with the background parts. “The great thing about that is, there’s so many like ad libs in this song,” Schlapman says. “The rest of us keep the harmonies going while the ad libs also go along, so that’s where the six voices come in really handy.” But, as CMT Awards viewers say, all six members of the two groups got in at least a little lead-vocal time as the song went on.

The concluding night of the tour at Nashville’s big arena will mark the first time Little Big Town has headlined in Music City since a multi-night residency at the Ryman in 2017.

“With COVID, we didn’t plan on staying away that long,” says Fairchild. “But touring in the last few years, we did play there with George Strait, but yeah, we have not headlined anything until this Bridgestone show coming up. And that’s gonna be the last night of the tour. So it’s gonna be a party.” Chimes in Schlapman: “Katy-bar the door.”

After the CMTs, Fairchild was trying to figure out how to stick around Austin long enough to get in some vintage clothes-shopping, as is her habit when visiting the city. “This is one of my favorite places to shop, and I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to do that because they have us pretty busy. The vintage shopping here is phenomenal. I could stay and watch the eclipse, I guess, and shop.”

It’s suggested that she could shop in the dark, during the blackout. “She brought a headlamp,” quips Westbrook.

“Spelunking?” says Fairchild. “No, shopping.”

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• Category: Xbox Game Pass

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: LEGO 2K Drive, EA Sports PGA Tour, Harold Halibut, and More

• Megan Spurr, Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

My favorite part about “coming soon” to Game Pass is that it quickly turns into “available today” messaging. From driving to golfing to tomb raiding, there’s plenty here that’s going to be available sooner rather than later. Let’s take a look at the games that are mere moments away from your download queue!

Available Today

Superhot: Mind Control Delete (Cloud, Console, and PC) Returning to the Game Pass library today, Superhot: Mind Control Delete gives you more insight into the signature power fantasy world of Superhot with more story, more signature gameplay, more action, more guns. Keep dancing the slow-motion ballet of destruction for much longer than ever before.

Coming Soon

LEGO 2K Drive (Cloud and Console) – April 3 Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!

Lil Gator Game (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 4 Who wouldn’t want to be an adorable Lil Gator? Embark on a cute “lil” quest, discovering new friends, and uncovering everything its island has to offer. Climb, swim, glide, and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet along the way in this adorable open-world adventure!

EA Sports PGA Tour (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – April 4 EA Sports PGA Tour is coming to The Play List with PC Game Pass and Ultimate via EA Play. Become a Major champion, tee off on the Par 3 Course at Augusta National, along with three new 2024 Major host courses.

Kona (Cloud and Console) – April 9 Another game is making a return to the Game Pass library! A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive in this chilly, interactive tale you won’t soon forget.

Botany Manor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 9 Available on day one with Game Pass! Explore the historic manor home of retired botanist Arabella Greene, who has amassed a collection of rare, long-forgotten flora that require special conditions to help them bloom. Unlock new seeds, look for clues in the items scattered around the residence, and solve each gardening puzzle to revive these plants.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 11 Experience the final chapter of Lara’s origin as she is forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Combining the base game, all seven DLC challenge tombs, as well as all downloadable weapons, outfits, and skills, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to experience Lara’s defining moment.

Harold Halibut (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 16 Available on day one with Game Pass! Harold Halibut is a handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean. Join Harold as he explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of ‘home’. You can learn more about Harold Halibut in Xbox Wire’s recent hands-on preview here .

DLC / Game Updates

No Man’s Sky Orbital Update – Available now Dock your fully customized starship in the sleek new space stations of update 4.6, Orbital! Space stations have been completely overhauled internally and externally; new starships can be constructed from salvaged parts; frigate fleets can reach out for guidance with interstellar expeditions; standing and guilds have been improved, trading and system economies have been deepened – and much more! Learn more about No Man’s Sky ’s Orbital update here on Xbox Wire .

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Final Fantasy XIV Online: Starter Edition – Available now Join over 30 million adventures worldwide in the critically acclaimed online RPG.  From now through April 19, the Final Fantasy XIV Online – Starter Edition base game is now free for a limited time – including a 30-day free play period for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Terms apply. You can also learn how to build your Warrior of Light in Final Fantasy XIV Online here on Xbox Wire .

YouTube Premium 3 Month Trial – Available now Watch your favorite YouTube creators without ads, offline, and in the background. Plus, stream the latest songs from your favorite artists with uninterrupted access to YouTube Music. New users only. Monthly subscription fee starts at the end of trial. Cancel anytime. Not available in all regions. Terms apply .

Battlefield 2042 : Season 7 Field Kit – Available now In the iconic all-out warfare first-person shooter of Battlefield 2042 , Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can get the Battlefield 2042 Season 7 Field Kit containing a Ride’em Crab Boy Weapon Charm, Rising Tide AM40 Weapon Skin, and Dustproof Specialist Headgear.   Check out the other EA Play member rewards and Perks here on Xbox Wire .

Leaving April 15

Make sure you give the following games a proper farewell before they leave the Game Pass library. As always, you can save up to 20% off your purchase to keep them in your library.

• Amnesia Collection (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Amnesia: Rebirth (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Back 4 Blood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Phantom Abyss (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Research and Destroy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Soma (Cloud, Console, and PC)

That wraps us up! Let us know which game you’re planning on playing first over at @Xbox ,  @XboxGamePass or @XboxGamePassPC . Catch you next time!