Today’s recap includes concert and tour announcements, updates, cancellations and more, as compiled by TicketNews on March 9, 2009.
World renowned rock band U2 has announced its long-awaited tour plans. The group will spend two years on the road, with 40 to 45 concerts booked per year. The first international and North American dates have already been unveiled for the outing that launches this summer.
In other touring news, critically acclaimed indie group Grizzly Bear has announced plans for a spring tour, which includes several festival appearances including Bonnaroo and SXSW. … Hip-hop up-and-comer Lady Sovereign has a spring tour of her own that is scheduled to hit 20 cities throughout May. … In addition, we also have more on Robin Williams‘s tour postponement. The comedian will be back on the road this fall after undergoing aortic valve replacement.
Heart, composed of sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, has lined up 14 scattered concerts for spring and summer. The next show is penciled in for March 27 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, MS, and more concerts follow through August 29 ay Riverwind Casino in Norman, OK. Other booked performances include a March 29 set at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre in Pompano Beach, FL, a June 27 gig at Divots Event Center in Norfolk, NE, a July 9 show at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay in San Diego, CA, and an August 27 concert at Arena Theater in Houston, TX. In May, the Wilson sisters will head north of the border for a two-show run in Ontario: May 14 at Casino Rama Entertainment Centre in Rama and May 15 at The Colosseum at Caesar’s in Windsor.
The Melvins will hit the tour trail this spring for a week of shows. The four-city tour kicks off in mid-May. The alternative group’s first show is booked for May 15 at Webster Hall in New York, NY, followed by a May 16 performance at Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA, and a May 18 gig at Double Door in Chicago, IL. From there, the Melvins head further west to close the jaunt with a May 20 concert at Emo’s in Austin, TX.
Leo Kottke is about to launch a 13-city circuit with a March 21 concert at Rogue Theatre in Grants Pass, OR, with more gigs slated through May 2 at Washington Center for Performing Arts in Olympia, WA. After completing that run, the folk performer has a June 14 show at StageOne in Fairfield, CT, followed by a new eight-show run in fall. The autumn trek begins with an October 16 event at the Hood River Middle School in Hood River, OR, and concludes November 7 at the Clark Center for Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande, CA.
Slightly Stoopid will launch into a 14-city spring tour early next week. The outing picks up on March 17 at Tempe Town Lake in Tempe, AZ, and concludes with an April 4 set at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre in Austin, TX. Other scheduled gig stops include a March 20 session at Congress Theater in Chicago, IL, a March 25 show at Toad’s Place in New Haven, CT, a March 27-28 stand at NorVa in Norfolk, VA, and an April 3 event at the House of Blues in New Orleans, LA.
The Toadies have expanded their spring itinerary with seven new shows since we last checked in with them. Recently planned stops include three dates with venues yet to be announced: April 11 in Albuquerque, NM; April 21 in Salt Lake City, UT; and April 24 in Tulsa, OK. The four fully-booked gigs fall on May 8 at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre in Austin, TX; May 18 at People’s in Des Moines, IA; May 20 at Metro / Smart Bar in Chicago, IL; and May 27 at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza in New York, NY.