Today’s recap includes tour announcements, concert updates and more, as compiled by TicketNews on March 31, 2009.

New Kids on the Block are cementing their renewed popularity with a new block of North American concert dates. The recently announced plans will keep the band on the road through this summer with more than 30 additional concerts.

The tween phenomenon continues. Sibling trio Jonas Brothers is selling out venue after venue on the North American leg of its world tour this summer. … Pop rock trio Rookie of the Year has outlined a spring headlining tour to take them up through their appearance at this year’s Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, NJ. … The inaugural Nashville4Africa benefit concert will include headlining sets from Faith Hill, Dierks Bentley and Martina McBride, among others.

Those are the complete reports for this Tuesday. For more of the day’s latest artist updates, read the rest of today’s concert and tour news in brief:


Tony Bennett has outlined plans for scattered concerts from spring through late fall. The 18-date outing launches with April 17-18 shows at MorotCity Casino & Hotel in Detroit, MI, and wraps with a November 6-7 run at Caesars in Atlantic City, NJ. Along the way, the crooner will stop for shows on July 2 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA; July 3 at Place des Arts in Montreal, QC; July 21 at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA; August 28-29 at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL; and September 12 at Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT, among other dates. Bennett is also slated to perform a May 1 set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, LA.

Gordon Lightfoot will follow this year’s spring tour of Canada with a jaunt across the United States. The singer-songwriter has more than 20 new gigs on the books, beginning with a May 6 concert at Landmark Theater in Richmond, VA, and continuing through an August 2 session at Zoellner Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA. Lightfoot will also perform on May 8 at Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, VA; June 24 at The Pines Theater in Northampton, MA; June 27 at Town Hall in New York, NY; and July 26 at Filene Center at Wolf trap in Vienna, VA. At the end of the year, the performer will return to Canada for a November 18-21 stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, ON.

Gin Blossoms will be on the road this year supporting some new tunes. The band’s 2009 itinerary includes about ten new performances and nearly 40 gigs in total. The run begins April 1 at Arizona Bike Week in Scottsdale, AZ, and follows through to a September 16-17 stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. Along the way, the band will stop for a June 14 show at Civic Center Park in Fort Collins, CO, a July 28 performance at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT, an August 16 gig at Starlight Bowl in Burbank, CA, and a September 11 concert at Blarney Island in Antioch, IL, alomg other dates.

Ben Kweller will hit Australia and Europe this spring for separate one-month jaunts, but the Texan rocker will return this June for at least 11 concert dates in the U.S. The run begins June 12 at Bluebird Theater in Denver, CO, and is currently scheduled to wrap June 27 at Emo’s in Austin, TX. Kweller has gig stops planned for June 15 at Chop Suey in Seattle, WA; June 17 at Slim’s in San Francisco, CA; June 19 at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA; and June 25 at the House of Blues in Houston, TX, to name a few.

Sha Na Na has announced additional 2009 performances to carry the group through the year. The next show is penciled in for April 1 at the Largo Cultural Center in Largo, FL, with concerts following through a December 12 gig at an undisclosed venue in Baraboo, WI. Before then, Sha Na Na will shimmy through a May 8-9 stretch at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, OR, a July 25 gig at Kinney Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, NM, a September 17-20 run at Symphony Hall in Seattle, WA, and a November 13-15 stand at South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

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