Article Contributed by Falcon Publicity
Published on 2026-04-16
Toy Factory Project backstage at The Capitol Theatre | Photo credit: Andy Hawkes
Since debuting as a group at last year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Toy Factory Project has quickly generated excitement among the live music community. With a pair of shows this past February at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, the all-star ensemble honoring the legacy of Marshall Tucker Band co-founder Toy Caldwell further solidified its presence and affirmed that when talented musicians, highly successful in their own right, are able to come together for a rare and special occasion, the magic on stage is not to be missed.
With a limited run of dates scheduled for May, the supergroup is expanding its talent with an exciting new addition to the live lineup.
Anchored by band leader Paul T. Riddle, powerhouse drummer and GRAMMY-winning co-founder of the original Marshall Tucker Band, Toy Factory Project brings together an unparalleled lineup of Grammy-caliber virtuosos: Marcus King (guitar, steel guitar, vocals, The Marcus King Band), Oteil Burbridge (bass, vocals, Dead & Company, The Allman Brothers Band, Oteil & the PeaceMakers), Charlie Starr (guitar, vocals, Blackberry Smoke), and Josh Shilling (piano, organ, vocals, Mountain Heart, Wynonna Judd).
With only three shows under their belt, the stars and schedules aligned for the band to come together for a run of dates this May. Having already sold out back-to-back shows on May 18 and 19 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, North Carolina, limited tickets are still available for May 20 at Music at Maymont in Richmond, Virginia, and a festival appearance May 21 at Delfest in Cumberland, Maryland.
As an added incentive to catch these must-see performances, Toy Factory Project is announcing they’ll be joined by iconic fiddler and mandolinist Sam Bush (Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones).
A GRAMMY Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and the King of Newgrass, Sam Bush is regarded as a leading pioneer of progressive bluegrass music. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Revival, and again as a solo artist, and has received numerous awards and accolades from the Americana Music Association, International Bluegrass Music Association, GRAMMY Awards, and Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, among others.
Percussionist Jimmy Rector (Oteil & Friends, Jaimoe, Melvin Seals, Parliament Funkadelic, Luther Dickinson, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush) will also be on hand for this May run.
Tickets are available at toyfactoryproject.com/tour.
“Toy Factory Project is so excited and thankful that we have the opportunity to bring this music to the people,” Paul T. Riddle shares. “We feel like it is such an honor and privilege to have a legend like Sam Bush as a special guest for these upcoming shows. The energy he brought to our stage at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival was second to none. We are thrilled that he has accepted our invitation and can’t wait to play.”
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.
Toy Factory Project first made its live debut at the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. The set marked a powerful introduction for the band, showcasing their electrifying musicianship and magnetic chemistry while feeding off an enthusiastic crowd and the sheer joy of playing together.
Of the show, Rolling Stone raved: “the showcase became one of the most memorable sets in the 52-year history of the Rocky Mountain festival.”
For the latest updates, follow @toyfactoryproject on social media or visit www.toyfactoryproject.com.
