THE STRAY CATS RUMBLE IN DEL MAR… AGAIN!
The Stray Cats are heading back to Del Mar, and that alone is enough to get the engine running. The legendary rockabilly trio – Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, and Slim Jim Phantom – have announced a 2026 cross-country summer tour, with a Southern California stop set for Sunday, July 26 at The Sound in Del Mar, California.
For fans who have followed the band from the early days or discovered them somewhere between hot rods, punk records, and upright bass obsession, this one hits the sweet spot. The Stray Cats are not just another legacy act rolling through town. They are one of the most style-defining bands to ever bring rockabilly back into the mainstream, and they still know how to turn a live show into a full-on event.
The 2026 run kicks off July 24 in Las Vegas and rolls across the country through mid-August, with several California dates packed into the opening stretch. Along with Del Mar, the band is also set to hit Highland, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, and Wheatland before continuing east. Tour organizers note that more dates are still expected to be announced.
Setlists on this run are expected to spotlight the songs that made The Stray Cats icons – including “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town,” “Runaway Boys,” and “(She’s) Sexy + 17.” The band also heads into 2026 with renewed momentum after releasing two new tracks last year through Surfdog Records: “Stampede” and a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven.” Those songs marked the first new music from the group in six years.
BRIAN SETZER: “It’s good to be healthy and strong again. There’s something about the unique sound of The Stray Cats that keeps drawing me in. The Gretsch guitar, the acoustic bass, and the stand-up drums still sound pure and fresh today. Come on out and have some fun with us this summer.”
LEE ROCKER: “The Stray Cats are back and ready to blast off! It’s an amazing feeling to join up with Brian and Slim, hit the stage and Rock across America. No one can do it like us Cats, …….nobody comes close”
SLIM JIM PHANTOM: “With The Stray Cats, there’s always some extra magic around the summertime shows. It’s the perfect time for the Cats & Kittens to get dolled up, put the top down & cruise to the greatest Rockabilly show on earth!”
Last year, the iconic multi-million selling band released two new tracks via Surfdog Records: the loud, upbeat “Stampede” which is unmistakably The STRAY CATS and their cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Teenage Heaven.” These songs mark the first new music in six years, listen HERE. Both “Stampede” and “Teenage Heaven” were produced by The Stray Cats, mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, and recorded at The Terrarium in Minneapolis, MN & Laguna Sound in Laguna Beach, CA. “Stampede” was written by Brian Setzer, Peter B. Antonio, Wally Zober, Bert Salmirs, and Mike Himelstein, while “Teenage Heaven” was penned by Jerry Capehart and Eddie Cochran.
THE STRAY CATS 2026 dates are as follows:
DATE | LOCATION | VENUE |
Friday, July 24 | Las Vegas, NV | The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan |
Saturday, July 25 | Phoenix, AZ | Celebrity Theatre |
Sunday, July 26 | Del Mar, CA | The Sound |
Tuesday, July 28 | Highland, CA | Yaamava’ Theater |
Wednesday, July 29 | Highland, CA | Yaamava’ Theater |
Friday, July 31 | Santa Rosa, CA | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts |
**Saturday, August 1 | Saratoga, CA | The Mountain Winery |
Sunday, August 2 | Wheatland, CA | Hard Rock Live |
Tuesday, August 4 | Sandy, UT | Sandy Amphitheater |
Wednesday, August 5 | Colorado Springs, CO | Pikes Peak Center |
Friday, August 7 | TBA | TBA |
Saturday, August 8 | Kansas City, MO | Uptown Theater |
Monday, August 10 | Huber Heights, OH | Rose Music Center at The Heights |
Tuesday, August 11 | TBA | TBA |
Wednesday, August 12 | Northfield, OH | MGM Northfield Park |
Friday, August 14 | Westbury, NY | Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair |
Saturday, August 15 | Atlantic City, NJ | Ocean Casino Resort |
Sunday, August 16 | Morristown, NJ | Mayo Performing Arts Center |
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 13 at 10:00 AM (local time). An artist fan club presale kicks off Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 AM-Thursday, March 12 at 10:00 PM (local time); sign up for the band newsletter HERE to get access.
For Southern California fans, Del Mar is shaping up to be one of the hottest stops of the summer tour.
