The “2025 Pepper Tree Hill Tour” announced today, with only one stop occurring in the state of Wisconsin, in Ashwaubenon. The new “Pepper Tree Hill” album releases in July.
ASHWAUBENON, Wis. – In conjunction with the release of their newest album on July 11th, “Pepper Tree Hill”, Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters will kick off a tour of the United States in August and perform at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM. Special guest Fran Moran & The Nervous Wrecks will also take the stage during their Ashwaubenon stop.
“Pepper Tree Hill” marks The Boxmasters’ 19th release as the ever-prolific J.D. Andrew and Billy Bob “Bud” Thornton showcase their love as always for the sounds of the sixties and the inspiration of their studio.
“Abbey Road was the studio the Beatles recorded their album “Abbey Road” in and are a huge influence on us,” says Bud. “In a way, since our studio is called Pepper Tree Hill, you could say this is our Abbey Road and you can hear odes to our influences the British Invasion including the Beatles, Badfinger, The Kinks etc.”
Joining The Boxmasters on the title cut “Pepper Tree Hill” is the legendary trumpeter and bandleader Herb Alpert. “I talked to Herb on the phone and he asked what we were up to and told him we were recording a new album and he said to send him a song. He sent it back right away with an immediately recognizable part that you instantly know is Herb Alpert.” Says Bud.
Also joining on the song “Pepper Tree Hill” is longtime collaborator and Boxmaster alum Brad Davis. “Brad was out at the studio while we were working on another album with him and we thought that “Pepper Tree Hill” would be a great song to have him play guitar on and of course he played an amazing part.” Says J.D.
Aside from the song “Pepper Tree Hill”, the rest of the album contains all of the familiar sounds of the sixties that The Boxmasters are fond of. Jangly guitars, Mellotrons, and solid backbeats drive the songs about nostalgia, hope, happiness and with the title song “Pepper Tree Hill,” a salute to the creative atmosphere that The Boxmasters thrive in.
The “2025 Pepper Tree Hill Tour” starts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on August 20th and ends in Los Angeles on October 19th. Some familiar stops like in Kansas City at Knuckleheads, and Tomball, TX at Main Street Crossing are joined by 5 nights at the Bourbon and Bonfire weekends in Livingston, Montana and many other new towns and venues across the country. The performance at the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center is the currently the only scheduled tour stop in the State of Wisconsin.
Formed in 2006 by Thornton and Grammy-winning sound engineer J.D Andrew, The Boxmasters have recorded an impressive and diverse catalogue of music that touches on their love of a wide array of influences, but most importantly, the rock and roll of the 1960’s. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also important to The Boxmasters are The Mothers of Invention, The Allman Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star.
As a touring band, The Boxmasters have cultivated a rabid cult fanbase across the United States, Canada and now Europe and the United Kingdom. Opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Bubbles and The Sh*t Rockers, The Boxmasters have proven to win over large audiences. As a headliner, frequent stops in Kansas City at “Knuckleheads”, Los Angeles at “The Troubadour” and in Sellersville, PA at the “Sellersville Theater” have shown dedicated yet still growing audiences. Two appearances at Levon Helm’s “Midnight Ramble” in Woodstock, New York were highlight performances for the band, as well as the “Ramble at The Ryman” that Levon hosted in 2008. Other highlights include The Boxmasters performing on “The Grand Ole Opry” in 2015, and in 2023 The Boxmasters fulfilled a life-long dream of playing The Cavern Club in Liverpool.
While Billy Bob Thornton is perhaps best known for his on-screen roles and as an Academy Award winner, music has forever been an important part of Thornton’s life, referring to it as the “salvation of (his) youth”. In a 2019 Midland Reporter Telegram interview, Thornton was quoted as saying “I actually grew up in music, and movies were kind of an accidental thing that happened to me.”
When not on tour with The Boxmasters, Billy Bob Thornton is currently starring in the Paramount+ series Landman, playing the lead role of Tommy Norris.
Tickets to Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters go on sale Friday, May 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Tickets will be $49, $59, and $69 and can be purchased online at AshwaubenonPAC.org or by calling 1-800-895-0071. TicketStar is the official and only authorized ticketing services provider for the Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center.
###
About Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center
The Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center (APAC) is a state-of-the-art, 736-seat nonprofit performance venue that presents regional, national, and international touring entertainment as well as serves as home to Ashwaubenon School District and community musicals, plays, concerts, and theatre programs. The APAC is dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of our community through a diverse range of performing arts events with a mission to provide exceptional entertainment experiences that inspire, engage, and bring people together.
For more information about the Ashwaubenon PAC, visit ashwaubenonpac.org or follow ‘Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center’ on Facebook or Instagram (@AshwaubenonPAC).