North American audiences will get an extra dose of guitar master Eric Clapton in the New Year. Slowhand will be hitting the national tour circuit on an 11-date run that launches February 25 at Mellon arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
The two-week itinerary is booked primarily for the East Coast and Midwest, ending with a March 13 show at Amway Arena in Orlando, FL. The Who’s lead singer Roger Daltrey will also be along for the ride as a special guest, opening each night’s performance.
Clapton’s early year calendar also includes U.S. engagements on February 27 at Sommet Center in Nashville, TN; March 5 at FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN; and March 9 at Gwinnet Center in Atlanta, GA.
The first public onsales for the tour will start at the end of this week on December 11 and 12 in select markets. Most ticket prices will range from $49.50 to $89.50, except in Raleigh where prices will range from $45 to $85, according to Ticketmaster.
The late winter trek closely trails Clapton’s six-date co-headlining tour with Jeff Beck. That trans-Atlantic spree begins with February 13-14 concerts in London before hopping across the pond for three additional shows in the northeast U.S. and Canada.
Clapton and Beck were originally slated to share the stage at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden for just once night, but that stand has now been extended to February 18-19. Public ticket sales for both New York concerts start December 12 at 10 a.m. EST.
During his U.S. tour, Clapton is expected to perform a variety of songs from his professional catalogue. The musician’s official Web site reports that his backing band will consist of drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Willie Weeks, keyboardists Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond, and backing vocalists Michelle John and Sharon White.
Eric Clapton itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)
| February 25 | Pittsburgh, PA | Mellon Arena |
| February 27 | Nashville, TN | Sommet Center |
| February 28 | Birmingham, AL | Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center |
| March 2 | Tulsa, OK | BOK Center |
| March 3 | Kansas City, MO | Sprint Center |
| March 5 | Memphis, TN | FedEx Forum |
| March 6 | New Orleans, LA | New Orleans Arena |
| March 8 | Raleigh, NC | RBC Center |
| March 9 | Atlanta, GA | Gwinnett Center |
| March 11 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Bank Atlantic Center |
| March 13 | Orlando, FL | Amway Arena |
