A conclusion to the Kanye West and Lady GaGa saga and an announcement from Kenny Chesney are in the mix for the daily tour recap on September 18, as compiled by TicketNews.
Drama often goes hand-in-hand with fame, and tour partners Kanye West and Lady GaGa have already proven that they’re pros. After much confusion and a week of delays, the pair has finally released the official itinerary for the 2009-2010 Fame Kills Tour, which is almost exactly the same as the unofficial itinerary which the artists seemed determined not to own earlier in the week.
In other concert news, Kenny Chesney has decided to significantly scale back his tour plans for 2010. The most noticeable change to the country musician’s calendar will be the absence of a summer tour, which has become an annual staple for the country music industry.
Meanwhile, the world of folk music is mourning the loss of Mary Travers, one third of the iconic harmonizing group Peter, Paul and Mary. Travers lost a long battle with leukemia earlier this week; she was 72.
Those are the complete reports for this Friday, but there are more updates to report in brief. Check out some of the day’s other highlights below:
Michael Franti & Spearhead have added a few more dates to their on-going United States tour. Concerts have been added to the calendar on September 26 at Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis, MN; October 8 at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, CA; and October 10 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA. Franti’s next performance is tonight, September 18 at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA, followed by a September 20-21 stand at The Depot in Salt Lake City, UT.
Passion Pit hits the streets of North American next week with an early fall concert calendar. Dates are in line from September 25-26 at the Central Park SummerStage in New York, NY, through October 17 at the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco, CA. One of the latest additions to the itinerary is a September 30 concert at Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, IL. The one confirmed Canadian gig falls on October 10 at Venue in Vancouver, BC.
Blues Traveler preserves its status as a road dog band with more U.S. performance dates for late 2009. Fronted by John Popper, the blues-rockers take the stage next tonight, September 18 at Pozo Saloon in Pozo, CA. Nearly 30 concerts are scheduled over the coming weeks and months, including recently confirmed shows on October 19 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC; October 27 at Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL; and November 6 at State Theatre in Falls Church, VA.
Michael McDonald has a Christmas album due on September 29 and a December tour itinerary to match. The singer-songwriter hits the road for his fresh batch of dates on December 5 at Snoqualmie Casino in Snoqualmie, WA, and continues on his way through December 20 at Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI. A few other select dates on the 10-city tour are December 9 at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, NV; December 12 at San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, CA; and December 17 at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, VA.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros will spend the latter part of the year completing a 24-date tour of the U.S. and Canada. The band’s North American adventure launches November 3 at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA, and ends December 12 at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. Some of the highlights of the tour are shows on November 6 at The Independent in Austin, TX; November 17 at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY; November 27 at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, IL; and December 8 at Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, BC.
Adrian Belew, a current member of progressive rock group King Crimson and acclaimed session musician, has plans for a one-month solo tour of North America. The singer-songwriter hits the road October 5 at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, MN, and concludes his stint on October 25 at Toad Tavern in Littleton, CO. Some of his other confirmed engagements are October 9 at The Starlite Room in Edmonton, AB; October 13 at Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR; and October 22 at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ.