There are not enough words in my brain to quantify how much I adore the Louisville, KY music duo Flagship Romance. My journey with the band began in 2012 when they opened for Goo Goo Dolls at Jacksonville’s gorgeous Florida Theater. I saw them again a few months later when they opened for Caitlin Crosby at The Social in my adopted hometown of Orlando, FL. Then saw them again at the Plaza Live Orlando a few years later but I cannot fathom who they opened for. Lisa Loeb, maybe? Each time was just as riveting as the first.

At the time they were based in Jacksonville and very much had a Civil Wars vibe going on. They aspired to work with Dave Cobb and very much seemed on the poise of something truly spectacular. While the latter is still very much a reality, the Dave Cobb idea never materialized. But hey, there’s still time. And I sure as heck am hoping it still happens.

In the 12 years since that Lisa Loeb show, the duo left Florida, relocated to New Mexico for half a decade and now make their home in one of my favorite places: Louisville, KY. Uber-prolific, they’ve released five albums, a handful of EPs and a litany of digital singles and covers. They’ve tackled LGBTQIA+ issues, anxiety, heartbreak, loss, despair, and much, much more in their 15+ year career.

Now they are about to embark on a return trip to Europe later this month that extends through early September. I haven’t seen the band perform live in probably a decade (or more) but I remain an ardent admirer from afar. This second European tour is a highlight in a career that has had many starts, stops, peaks and valleys.

For those reading this blog who live in or have friends in Europe, here are their summer 2025 tour dates:

July 29 – Utena, Lithuania
July 30 – Moletal, Lithuania
July 31 – Ignalina, Lithuania
Aug. 1 – Jurmala, Latvia
Aug. 2 – Ventspils, Latvia
Aug. 3 – Priekule, Latvia
Aug. 7 – Vumezi, Latvia
Aug. 8 – Kasmu, Estonia
Aug. 9 – Kiili, Estonia
Aug. 17 – Bojanow, Poland
Aug. 19 – Zaniemysi, Poland
Aug. 27 – Hallstatt, Austria
Aug. 29 – Karlsrune, Germany
Aug. 39 – Mainz, Germany
Sept. 1 – Wiesbaden, Germany
Sept. 4 – Herdecke, Germany
Sept. 6 – Korback, Germany
Sept. 7 – Korbach, Germany

Mark my words, they are a live act not to be missed.