Today’s recap includes tour announcements, festival dates and lineups, and more as compiled by TicketNews on February 2, 2009.
Country’s newest golden girl Taylor Swift has announced her first-ever headlining tour. The six-month outing will feature sets and graphics designed by the 19-year-old-musician, as well as affordable ticket prices for fans. American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler will provide opening support along with a special guest.
Rapper The Game will close out this winter on the road, with a two-month tour for his latest (and last?) studio album “LAX.” At the same time, musician Jimmy Buffett is heralding the start of summer with his annual tour. This year’s spring-to-fall run is dubbed Summerzcool 2009.
Two U.S. festivals have announced lineups for the 2009 season. SunFest boasts 311, James Taylor and David Cook as headliners for its five-day events. Meanwhile, Beyonce, John Legend and Al Green are among the performers with top billing at the 15th annual Essence Music Festival.
Those are the complete stories for this Monday. If you’re keen on reading more artist itinerary updates, check out some of the day’s other concert and tour news in brief:
George Thorogood & The Destroyers will launch a tour of the U.S. and Canada later this month. The 25-date trek will focus mainly on the East Coast and run from February 26 at Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee, WI, through March 27-28 at Island Resort & Casino in Harris, MI. Scheduled performances include a February 27 Barrymore Theatre, a March 6 concert at The Colosseum at Caesars in Windsor, ON, a March 11 show at the House of Blues in Boston, MA, a March 16-17 run at Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, CT, and a March 23 concert at the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE. From there, Thorogood will head out for a tour of Europe and the UK, to be followed by a handful of shows in California and Nevada in early June.
Merle Haggard will head out on the road this week for the launch of his 2009 touring season. The country musician has 20 dates booked from February 4 at Colusa Casino Resort in Colusa, CA, through July 17 at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant, MI. The majority of the concerts are booked for February and March, when Haggard will make stops including, a February 6 show at Aliante Casino in Las Vegas, NV, a February 15 gig at Idaho Falls Auditorium n Idaho Falls, ID, a March 6 concert at The Centre in Evansville, IN, and a March 14 set at First Council Casino in Newkirk, OK. After finishing that run, Haggard will launch into the summer with a June 14 appearance at Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN.
Dr. Dog has two separate month-long ventures coming up: a 13-show run in February and a 15-show jaunt in April. The winter tour launches February 11 a The Pour House in Raleigh, NC, and wraps February 24 at Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville, VA. Stops on that run include a February 14 show at Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN, and a February 21 concert at The Social in Orlando, FL. The spring outing picks up April 3 at the Paradise in Boston, MA, and ends April 29 at Mr. Small’s Theatre in Millvale, PA. Highlights include an April 10 gig at Double Door in Chicago, IL, an April 16 set at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, and an April 25 show at Bottletree in Birmingham, AL.
Ratatat has lined up a dozen tour dates for this spring. The outing launches March 21 at Bogart’s in Cincinnati, OH, and wraps April 7 at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin, TX. Along the way, the band will stop for a March 23 show at Metro/Smart Bar in Chicago, IL, a March 25 concert at Slowdown in Omaha, NE, a March 29 gig at Showbox SoDo in Seattle, WA, and an April 1-2 run at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA.
Fixer has a couple solid months of touring ahead, beginning with the band’s February 4 concert at The Studio at Webster Hall in New York, NY, and wrapping with a March 29 show at Planet Rock in Battle Creek, MI. Gig stops include a February 14 show at The Local in Marietta, GA, a February 28 set at Click’s in San Antonio, TX, a March 12 gig at Tequila Joe’s Sports Bar in Jackson, TN, and a March 21 performance at The Pool Room in Toledo, OH. Two shows fall later in the season: May 6 at Wild Willie’s in Mechanicsville, VA, and May 7 at Jesters Pub in Fayetteville, NC.
