Today’s recap includes a big announcement from Michael Jackson, tour updates and more, as compiled by TicketNews on March 5, 2009.
Years of speculation can finally come to a rest. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, appeared at an open press conference in London, England, today to announce his long-awaited concert comeback. The beleaguered performer will hit the stage at the O2 Arena for a run of 10 shows, an engagement that he called his “final curtain call.”
Funnyman Robin Williams was forced to postpone four performances in Florida earlier this week after experiencing shortness of breath. But, in breaking news, the rest of the tour has also been postponed now. Williams’s Web site has announced that the comedian will undergo heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement.
Rock musician Ben Folds has added a new round of dates to his 2009 tour itinerary, following his month-long February trek with a new batch of spring concerts. … Finally, the Plain White T’s will hit the road next week for their headlining Three Part Harmony Tour, which will feature three unique sets from the band each night of the outing.
Those are the complete reports for this Thursday. Find out what other recording artists have updated their tour itineraries throughout the day with TicketNews’s concert and tour updates in brief:
Lil Wayne has added just a few more dates onto the spring leg of his I Am Music Tour. The outing begins March 17 at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI. The end date for the outing has been pushed back from April 6 at Qwest Center in Omaha, NE, with the addition of two new concerts: April 8 at Journal Pavilion in Albuquerque, NM, and April 10 at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, IL. Other previously announced gigs include a March 20 concert at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, MD, and a March 28 event at The Pearl in Las Vegas, NV.
Jason Aldean will perform at more than a dozen festivals and fairs across the country this summer. But before hitting the summer festival season, the country musician has some new solo appearances set for the spring. Aldean’s next gig is set for March 6 at Knoxville Coliseum in Knoxville, TN, with more shows following through May 21 at Food Lion Speed Street in Charlotte, NC. Other featured performances are set for March 17 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, CA; April 10 at Wild Bill’s in Duluth, GA; May 14 at Dos Amigos in Odessa, TX; and May 16 at The Showgrounds at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, TX.
Grizzly Bear will follow two concerts at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, TX, with a new 20-show tour of the United States and Canada. The festival gigs are booked for March 19-20, with the outing picking up later on May 24 at Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR. The whole itinerary wraps June 21 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA, with stops booked along the way on May 26 at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC; May 28-29 at Town Hall in New York, NY; June 4 at le National in Montreal, QC; June 12 at Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, TN; and June 19 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA.
Bishop Allen will launch its spring tour of the U.S. next week. The 22-date tour begins March 10 at Other Music in New York, NY, and ends its national run on April 5 ay Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY. Other stops along the way include a March 16 concert at Hi-Tone Café in Memphis, TN, a March 19 appearance at SXSW music festival in Austin, TX, a March 28 show at Hi-Dive in Denver, CO, and an April 3 event at Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA. A European tour follows from April 14 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, through May 9 at Oakford Social Club in Reading, England.
The Beach Boys now have more than 50 concert appearances lined up for this year, with dozens of recent additions to their tour itinerary. The next show is tonight (March 5) at Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley, CO, with new shows also set for March 26 at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa, OK; May 10 at Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, CA; May 13 at Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis, MO; July 9-10 at The Colosseum at Caesars in Windsor, ON; July 25 at the Hatch Shell in Boston, MA; August 19-20 at Casino Rama Entertainment Centre in Rama, ON; and September 18-19 at Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, OR, among other dates.
