Southern rockers The Allman Brothers Band is back in full swing with 22 concerts planned for the late summer/early fall. Kicking off in Bethel, NY on August 12, the tour takes them through a two night stand in Atlanta, GA on October 10-11. There are three dates in October to be determined later. Bob Weir & RatDog will be opening 12 shows while Phil Lesh and Friends will open three. Both Weir and Lesh are former founding members of the Grateful Dead.
The opening show will mark the first group performance since last September’s featured guest spot at Farm Aid on September 9. Late last year after the group’s summer tour, group co-founder, keyboardist and singer Gregg Allman underwent treatment for Hepatitis C. He battled through two months of debilitating Interferon treatments but has made a complete recovery and is now disease-free.
“I feel great, man,” Allman said in a statement. “The treatment really kicks you in the ass, but I came out stronger. I’m ready to play.”
Due to the side effects of the aggressive treatment, the group had to postpone their annual run of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York City this past spring as well as performances at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and their own Wanee Festival in Florida.
“I’ve known about having the disease for a long time, but was never a candidate for treatment until last year,” added Allman. “When my doctor told me to go for the Interferon, I knew it would be a battle, but I’m great now.” Side effects from Interferon treatment include flu-like symptoms and chronic fatigue. “I just didn’t have the energy to play,” he said, “and we’re a band that puts on two-hour shows that change every single night. You gotta be at full capacity to do that. And now I am.”
During the downtime, some of the members of The Allman Brothers Band stayed busy with other projects: drummer Jaimoe toured with his Jasssz Band; vocalist/lead and slide guitarist Warren Haynes toured non-stop with his band Gov’t Mule; slide and lead guitarist Derek Trucks joined Eric Clapton as guitarist for an extensive world tour and also performed with his wife Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival; and bassist Oteil Burbridge toured with former Grateful Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman.
The Allman Brothers Band itinerary:
(Dates subject to change)
| August 12 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 13 | Wantagh, NY | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 15 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 16 | Mansfield, MA | Tweeter Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 19 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Saratoga Performing Arts Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 20 | Hartford, CT | New England Dodge Music Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 22 | Canandaigua, NY | Constellation Brands PAC (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 23 | Camden, NJ | Susquehanna Bank Center (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 25 | Hershey, PA | Hershey Park Pavilion (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 27 | Clarkston, MI | DTE Energy Music Theatre (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 28 | Chicago, IL | Charter One Pavilion (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| August 30 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre (with Bob Weir & RatDog) |
| September 26 | Fayetteville, AR | Bikes Blues and BBQ Festival |
| September 27 | Robinsonville, MS | Horseshoe Casino |
| September 30 | Columbia, MD | Merriweather Post Pavilion (with Phil Lesh and Freinds) |
| October 1 | TBA | |
| October 3 | TBA | |
| October 4 | TBA | |
| October 7 | Pelham, AL | Verizon Wireless Music Center (with Phil Lesh and Friends) |
| October 8 | Orange Beach, AL | The Amph at The Wharf (with Phil Lesh and Friends) |
| October 10-11 | Atlanta, GA | Chastain Park Amphitheatre |
