RIVAL SONS Bassist Dave Beste To Sit Out Fall 2026 U.S. Tour

RIVAL SONS announced that bassist Dave Beste will sit out the fall 2026 U.S. leg of their "Domestic Bliss" tour. In a statement published October 23, the band said Beste needs to remain at home to handle important matters and that they fully support his decision.

For the run that opens October 30 in Boise, Idaho, and closes November 29 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Darwin Johnson – the current bassist of Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals – will fill in on bass. RIVAL SONS said most dates will feature Canadian blues-rock duo The Blue Stones and Colorado rock trio The Velveteers as support, and thanked Johnson for stepping in on short notice.

The band is also back in the studio working on a new album expected next year; their most recent full-length records, Darkfighter and Lightbringer, were released in 2023. The statement notes that frontman Jay Buchanan released a solo album, Weapons Of Beauty, earlier this year, which debuted at No. 10 on the U.S. Americana chart. Fans should check the band’s official social channels and ticket vendors for date-by-date lineup confirmations and updates.