Eric Church is wasting no time making his mark on 2026. With ‘Evangeline vs. The Machine' earning a nomination for Best Contemporary Country Album at next weekend’s GRAMMY Awards, the 11-time nominee kicked off the new year at full speed, launching leg two of his Free the Machine Tour with an intimate underplay at Washington, D.C.’s The Anthem on January 22. The performance marked the return of a tour that first captivated audiences in 2025, reinforcing Church’s reputation as one of country music’s most boundary-pushing live performers, praised by Pollstar for his high-energy, Springsteen-esque marathon shows.
The Free the Machine Tour resumes with the same ambition and immediacy that defined its earlier run, balancing arena-scale production with moments of raw, stripped-back intensity. That live electricity is captured on the new release of ‘Give Me Back My Hometown (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025),' a newly reimagined version of Church’s two-times Platinum, chart-topping hit. The track appears on ‘Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),' arriving February 13 via MCA, a 19-track live album recorded at The Pinnacle in Nashville.
The live album serves as a companion piece to the IMAX-exclusive theatrical release ‘Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive,' screening February 11 and 14. Earlier this week, Church hosted a special preview screening in Nashville for members of his devoted Church Choir, offering a first look at the immersive film experience. The performance showcases Church playing his GRAMMY-nominated eighth studio album front-to-back before diving into select catalog favorites, all reimagined with an expansive ensemble featuring a six-piece band, four-piece horn section, four-piece string section, an eight-piece choir and longtime collaborator Joanna Cotten. Filmed across two nights, the IMAX presentation delivers a perspective and scale that elevates the live show into something cinematic and singular.
With a new live release out, a major tour back on the road and both a film and album arriving in February, Church’s 2026 is already defined by momentum. It’s a multi-layered creative moment that underscores his ability to evolve while remaining unmistakably himself, continuing to challenge expectations and reaffirm his place at the forefront of modern country music.
More information on all upcoming projects, tour dates and releases can be found at EricChurch.com, with updates available via Facebook and Twitter/X at @ericchurch and Instagram at @ericchurchmusic.
Evangeline vs. The Machine Comes Alive Track List
denotes songs out now
- Hands Of Time (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Bleed On Paper (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)*
- Johnny (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Storm In Their Blood (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Darkest Hour (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Evangeline (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Rocket’s White Lincoln (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Clap Hands (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Desperate Man (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)*
- Give Me Back My Hometown (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)*
- Homeboy (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Sinners Like Me (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Creepin’ (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Knives Of New Orleans (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)*
- Smoke A Little Smoke (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- The Outsiders (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Hell Of A View (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)*
- Mistress Named Music (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
- Springsteen (Live At The Pinnacle, Nashville, TN / May 24, 2025)
2026 Free the Machine Tour Remaining Markets, Venues and Special Guests
Jan. 23 || Washington, D.C. || The Anthem || Caylee Hammack
Feb. 5 || Omaha, Neb. || CHI Health Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 6 || Sioux Falls, S.D. || Denny Sanford PREMIER Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 7 || St. Paul, Minn. || Grand Casino Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 12 || Toronto, Ont. || Scotiabank Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 13 || Buffalo, N.Y. || KeyBank Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 14 || Albany, N.Y. || MVP Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 19 || North Little Rock, Ark. || Simmons Bank Arena || 49 Winchester
Feb. 20 || Kansas City, Mo. || T-Mobile Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 21 || St. Louis, Mo. || Enterprise Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 26 || Tulsa, Okla. || BOK Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 27 || Fort Worth, Texas || Dickies Arena || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 28 || Austin, Texas || Moody Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Mar. 5 || Knoxville, Tenn. || Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center || 49 Winchester
Mar. 6 || Greensboro, N.C. || First Horizon Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 7 || North Charleston, S.C. || North Charleston Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 19 || Birmingham, Ala. || Legacy Arena at the BJCC || 49 Winchester
Mar. 20 || Atlanta, Ga. || State Farm Arena || 49 Winchester
Mar. 27 || Hollywood, Fla. || Hard Rock Live || Kashus Culpepper
Apr. 3 || Greenville, S.C. || Bon Secours Wellness Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 4 || Charlotte, N.C. || Spectrum Center || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 10 || Jacksonville, Fla. || VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 11 || Tampa, Fla. || Benchmark International Arena || Ashley McBryde
