The month of May is for southern rock and Texas-style boogie, as Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top kick off their headlining tour in Kansas.

The year 1974 was the very first time the two bands were on tour together, when Lynyrd Skynyrd was invited by ZZ Top to join their “Outlaw Tour.” ZZ Top still carries their original lineup of Frank Beard, Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons. However in 1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd experienced tragedy when founding members Steve Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant died in a plane crash. The band today features Johnny Van Zant, the brother of Ronnie, Gary Rossington, a founding member, along with Carol Chase, Dale Krantz-Rossington, Peter Keys, Robert Kearns, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone and Rickey Medlocke.

The two bands “Rebels & Bandoloeros Tour” will kick off in May 12 at Intrust Bank Arena in Witchita. On May 13 they perform in Belton, Texas at Bell Country Expo Center and in May 14 will be in Oklahoma City at Zoo Amphitheatre.

Other tour dates include the Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, Maine on May 19; Tags Summer Stage in Big Flats, NY on May 20; Times Union Center in Albany, NY on May 21; Covelli Center in Youngstown, Ohio on May 22; Civic Center Theatre in Peoria, IL on May 26; Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Lampe, MO on May 27; Century Tel Center in Bossier City on May 28; and Amphitheater At The Wharf in Orange Beach, AL on May 29.

Tickets for the Big Flatts and Bangor shows are on sale already. Tickets for the shows in Orange Beach, Bossier City, Lamp, Peoria, Albany, Oklahoma City and Wichita are going on sale March 25. On April 1 tickets will go on sale for the show in Belton.

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