Toy Factory Project, the all-star ensemble honouring the legacy of Marshall Tucker Band co-founder Toy Caldwell, has announced their long-awaited Nashville debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

The Ryman Auditorium has long been considered one of the most storied rooms in American music, and a Toy Factory Project performance there carries particular weight given the band’s roots in the same Southern rock tradition that shaped so much of the venue’s history.

The Toy Factory Project show takes place Monday, December 28. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, September 18 at 10 a.m. CT, with Toy Factory Project offering an exclusive fan presale beginning tomorrow, September 16, followed by a Ryman presale on September 17.

Fans can sign up via the band’s newsletter for presale access code information ahead of the Toy Factory Project on-sale.

The Nashville show adds another significant date to what has already been a fast-moving year for Toy Factory Project, with the band steadily building a reputation as one of the most sought-after live acts in the Southern rock and roots scene.

Toy Factory Project is anchored by band leader Paul T. Riddle, the powerhouse drummer and Grammy-winning co-founder of the original Marshall Tucker Band. Around him, Toy Factory Project brings together an unparalleled lineup of Grammy-calibre virtuosos.

That lineup includes Marcus King on guitar, steel guitar and vocals, known for The Marcus King Band; Charlie Starr on guitar and vocals, of Blackberry Smoke; Oteil Burbridge on bass and vocals, known for his work with Dead & Company, The Allman Brothers Band and Oteil & The Peacemakers; and Josh Shilling on piano, organ and vocals, known for Mountain Heart and Wynonna Judd.

For live shows, Toy Factory Project is joined by a leading pioneer of progressive bluegrass music, iconic fiddler and mandolinist Sam Bush of New Grass Revival, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett, alongside percussionist Jimmy Rector of Oteil & Friends and Anthill Cinema.

Of the Ryman show, Charlie Starr said: “There is no other experience quite like playing the Ryman Auditorium. As soon as the first note rings out, you understand why it’s so legendary.”

With only a handful of shows under their belt, Toy Factory Project has quickly generated excitement among the live music community. Their live debut at the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Festival marked a powerful introduction for the band, showcasing their electrifying musicianship and magnetic chemistry in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Of that Telluride performance, Rolling Stone wrote that the Toy Factory Project showcase became one of the most memorable sets in the 52-year history of the Rocky Mountain festival.

Momentum for Toy Factory Project has only grown since, thanks to a run of powerhouse performances. In February 2026, the band played a pair of shows at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, before a limited run of May dates that included sold-out back-to-back shows at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, North Carolina, a performance at Music At Maymont in Richmond, Virginia, and a festival appearance at Delfest.

Each of those Toy Factory Project shows has helped build word of mouth among fans of Southern rock and jam music alike, with sold-out crowds and glowing reviews following the band from venue to venue as they gradually expand their touring footprint.

In August, it was announced that Toy Factory Project will also perform a special New Year’s Eve show on December 31 at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. With tickets already more than 75 percent sold ahead of general on-sale, demand for the New Year’s Eve show has been high, with only a very limited number of tickets still available.

Taken together, the Fox Theatre and Ryman Auditorium bookings give Toy Factory Project two of the most significant shows of their short career so far, bookending the year with performances in two cities steeped in Southern music history.

Paul T. Riddle assembled Toy Factory Project as a heartfelt tribute to his late bandmate and Marshall Tucker Band co-founder, Toy Caldwell. The group breathes new life into Caldwell’s timeless songbook, transforming personal loss into a vibrant celebration of Southern rock’s soul-stirring spirit.

Far more than a typical supergroup, Toy Factory Project is a gathering of musical titans, each a legend in their own right, united to honour the melodies that have echoed through generations of Southern rock fans.

That sense of shared purpose has been evident at every Toy Factory Project show so far, with fans and critics alike noting the genuine chemistry between musicians who could each headline arenas in their own right, yet choose to come together in service of Toy Caldwell’s songbook.

Toy Factory Project brings together Grammy-nominated guitarist and vocalist Marcus King, bass virtuoso Oteil Burbridge, guitarist and vocalist Charlie Starr, and keyboardist and vocalist Josh Shilling, all under the leadership of original Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul T. Riddle. Together, they create a collaboration of the ages, turning each Toy Factory Project performance into a singular, can’t-miss live experience.

With their Ryman Auditorium debut now confirmed alongside a headline New Year’s Eve show in Atlanta, Toy Factory Project’s December run looks set to be a fitting way to close out a breakout year for the band.

For a group still in the early stages of its live career, that kind of trajectory speaks to just how quickly Toy Factory Project has become a must-see act for fans of Southern rock, jam and roots music alike.

For the latest updates, fans can follow Toy Factory Project on social media or visit their official website. Tickets for the Ryman Auditorium show go on general sale this Friday, September 18 at 10 a.m. CT, following presale windows opening September 16 and 17.