Today’s recap includes tour announcements, concert cancellations, band reunions and more, as compiled by TicketNews on February 27, 2009.
Top concert headlines include “Epic” rockers Faith No More, who have announced their reunion plans, which are expected to include a European tour. … Jeff Tweedy’s experimental alt-rock/country outfit Wilco has brief spring tour legs set for the U.S. and Europe. … Morrissey has cancelled four shows in Florida due to illness, pushing back the start of his U.S. tour to March 6.
In other event news, award-winning rapper Lil Wayne has a new round of spring tour dates booked into early April — and a trial date for weapons charges set for late April. … Current economic conditions have put an end to the San Francisco Blues Festival, which had run yearly since 1973 up until this point. … Finally, fans of country legend George Strait can catch an all-star tribute concert to the crooner during the April 6 taping for ACM’s “Artist of the Decade” show, to be broadcast at a future date.
Those are the complete reports for this final Friday in February. For more artist itinerary information, read some of the day’s other concert and tour updates in brief:
Beyoncé has extended her European tour plans again with a handful of new dates for the summer. The new events are set for June 1 at Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland; June 3-4 at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland; and June 9 at the O2 Arena n London, England. The singer’s European tour launches April 26 at Arena in Zagreb, Croatia. She only has five shows scheduled for North America, so far, with four in Canada in late March and one in the U.S. on April 1 in Seattle.
Diana Krall has added some summer concerts in the U.S. to her tour itinerary. Previously, the singer just had plans for a spring tour of her native Canada, running from April 15 at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary, AB, through May 13 at Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, BC. The six new U.S. shows are: June 16 at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD; July 2 at Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, MA; July 3 at U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford, NH; August 8 at The Pearl in Las Vegas, NV; August 12 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, CA; and August 23 at Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA.
Willie Nelson is keeping true to his road dog reputation with more concerts scheduled through spring and into summer. The new concert events are in addition to his previously announced March tour, which picks up March 1 at Paramount Theatre in Austin, TX, and closes March 22 at Springdale Convention Center in Springdale, AR. More than 10 shows have been added for April, May and June, including six concerts with Ray Price. Those dates are: April 5 at K-Rock Centre in Kingston, ON; April 7 at Ottawa Civic Centre in Ottawa, ON; April 8-9 at Massey Hall in Toronto, ON; April 10 at Place Des Arts in Montreal, QC; and April 11 at the John Labatt Centre in London, ON.
Merle Haggard is hitting the road hard this spring and summer after a recent health scare. The singer-songwriter has 30 concerts booked from March 4 at DC’s Country Junction in Lowell, IN, through September 30 at Christopher Chan Center in San Luis Obispo, CA. Along the way, the country musician will perform March 11 at Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX; April 1 at Wells Faro Center in Santa Rosa, CA; April 3 at Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA; June 18 at Alabama Theatre in Myrtle Beach, SC; July 11 at Crystal Grand Music Theatre in Wisconsin Dells, WI; and September 27 at Van Duzer Theater in Arcata, CA, among other concert dates.
