Today’s recap includes concert and tour announcements, festival updates and more, as compiled by TicketNews on March 23, 2009.
World-renowned rock group U2 has sold out six more European dates on its upcoming tour, for a total of 11 sellouts so far. … Jazz singer Diana Krall has updated her 2009 tour itinerary to include a lengthy tour of the U.S. as well as an early jaunt through her native Canada. … Heavy metal icon Metallica will launch a new tour of the U.S. and Canada at the end of 2009 as the rockers continue to push their 2008 release “Death Magnetic.”
Heavy metal bands Judas Priest and Whitesnake are scheduled to tour together across the U.S. this summer, with nine shows currently confirmed. … SunFest 2009 has added to this years lineup, with acts such as Steve Miller Band, Pennywise and Pepper.
Those are the complete stories for this Monday, but keep reading for more concert and tour updates in brief:
George Jones has set up a massive 46-date tour schedule for 2009. Dates are booked from March 27 at Wheeling Island in Wheeling, WV, through November 28 at Little Nasvhille Opry in Nashville, TN. Stops along the way include April 18 at Alabama Theatre in North Myrtle Beach, SC; April 30 at Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA; June 14 at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, July 15 at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, AZ; August 21 at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA; and September 25-26 at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Renfro Valley, KY.
Heart has added ten addition concerts to the band’s itinerary. The new dates run from April 17 at Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Red Wing, MN, through June 19-20 performances at Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. Other new performances include April 18-19 gigs at Northern Lights Theater in Milwaukee, WI; May 22 at Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville, TN, and June 12 at Stir Concert Cove at Harrah’s in Council Bluffs, IA. The whole tour picks up again March 27 at Hard Rock Hotel in Biloxi, MS, and runs through Octover 17 at Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.
Il Divo, the operatic pop group championed by Simon Cowell, will follow its spring/summer North American tour with a seven-show run of New Zealand and Australia in fall. The jaunt starts October 2 at Vector Arena in Auckland, NZL, and closes October 17 at Acer Arena in Sydney, AUS. Two new dates have also been added in the U.S.: July 3 at the Borgata Event Center in Atlantic City, NJ, and July 7 at Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, IL.
Travis Tritt has penciled in six more performances over the coming months. The first three gigs, set for spring, are April 18 at the Strand Theatre in Shreveport, LA; April 19 at the House of Blues in Houston, TX; and April 26 at Black Bear Casino in Carlton, MN. The final three new dates, set for summer, are July 11 at New Landing’s River Amphitheatre in Peoria, IL; July 18 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY; and August 1 at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, MI. The country musician’s entire 2009 itinerary is currently set at 16 dates, including a number of summer festival appearances.
