By CLTure
June 14, 2026
Thundercat, the Compton-raised progressive R&B bass virtuoso and singer-songwriter known for his genre-bending work with producer Flying Lotus and his contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s landmark 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, has announced a U.S. tour, including multiple North Carolina stops at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville on October 13, The Ritz in Raleigh on October 14, and The Fillmore in Charlotte on October 15 with Winston-Salem anime rapper TiaCorine.
Coming off the release of his fifth studio album, Distracted, in April, the tour marks Thundercat’s first new project since 2020’s It Is What It Is, which won the Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album. The acclaimed bassist and producer has been one of Kendrick Lamar’s most influential collaborators, helping shape the rapper’s jazz-, funk-, and experimental-infused sound across multiple projects, including To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), untitled unmastered. (2016), DAMN. (2017), and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022).
One of the most innovative musicians of his generation, Thundercat has built a career at the intersection of jazz, funk, hip-hop, and R&B, beginning as a member of the influential thrash band Suicidal Tendencies before becoming a central figure in Los Angeles’ experimental music scene.
Throughout his career, Thundercat has released several critically acclaimed solo albums, including The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011), Apocalypse (2013), Drunk (2017), and It Is What It Is (2020). Beyond his work with Kendrick Lamar, he has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Kamasi Washington, Anderson .Paak, Erykah Badu, and Mac Miller. His signature six-string bass style, virtuosic technique, and psychedelic jazz-funk approach have established him as one of the most respected instrumentalists in modern music.
Released through Brainfeeder, the independent label founded by Flying Lotus, Distracted is Thundercat’s first album in six years and features guest appearances from Tame Impala, Lil Yachty, Mac Miller, Willow Smith, A$AP Rocky, and Channel Tres.
Artist presales begin Thursday, July 16, at 10 a.m. with tickets going on sale to the general public on Friday, July 17, at 10 a.m.
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