Dropkick Murphys tour announces annual St. Patrick’s Day dates

Celtic rock group the Dropkick Murphys have unveiled plans for their annual St. Patrick’s Day tour, which culminates with a traditional holiday stand in the band’s hometown of Boston, MA. The 2009 outing kicks off February 20 at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, CA, and wraps March 10 at Northern Lights in Albany, NY.

The 16-date jaunt across the States includes a February 23 performance at the Showbox in Seattle, WA, a February 28 concert at Congress Theater in Chicago, IL, and a March 6 gig at the Roseland Ballroom in New York, NY. Presales for next year’s shows began at 10 a.m. (local time) on November 22.

“The details for the Boston shows will follow next week,” the band stated on their Web site. “Don’t worry the news on Boston will be worth the wait!”

The Dropkick Murphy’s recently wrapped their final U.S. tour leg of 2008, with a November 22 show at Coyote’s Music and Dance Hall in Louisville, KY. The band has been touring behind their September 2007 release and sixth studio album, “The Meanest of Times,” which peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200.

Last-minute support on the trek came from Angel City Outcasts and Everybody Out. The Celtic rockers had originally announced The Loved Ones and The Mahones as the opening acts in late September, but both bands pulled out of the venture shortly before the November 6 kickoff in Maine. Opening acts have not been announced for the 2009 tour.

Dropkick Murphys itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)