Simple Minds will return to North America for its first string of shows in five years, according to Vintage Vinyl News. The band kicks things off on September 24th in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Sands Bethlehem Event Center and winds things down over a month later on October 29th in Vancouver, BC at The Orpheum. The current lineup still features co-founders Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill, and is touring behind its latest critically-acclaimed studio set, Walk Between Worlds, which was released in February.
Jim Kerr said in the tour announcement for the band’s fall dates: “The concert stage is where Simple Minds do their best work (and) it is where we forged our distinctive live reputation. A highlight of any touring band’s career has to be when they are given the opportunity to tour North America. Simple Minds will never forget the thrill of that, especially so during those glorious days of the mid-80’s. Magically for us, that thrill returns again as we excitedly announce our latest tour. Playing songs from throughout our extensive catalogue, going right back to the start and bring it all up to the current. It is guaranteed that we aim to give 100 percent of ourselves each and every night — as we look forward to performing in front our loyal fans throughout North America. Hope to see you all there!”
Jim Kerr said that he made a concerted effort to ensure that Walk Between Worlds could stand tall against Simple Minds’ classic works: “Let’s be honest, because I do it myself when you talk about vintage bands, or something — even the ones that you’re fond of. When they bring out a new work, invariably you’re gonna want it with some trepidation because rarely is it as good as it was back in the day. Rarely does it match up, and we not only struggled with that, but we wanted to do everything within our powers and against the odds to come up with an album where you could feel the band engaged as much as we were back in the day.”
JUST ANNOUNCED: Simple Minds North American tour dates (subject to change):
September 24 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Bethlehem Event Center
September 26 – Count Basie Theatre – Red Bank, NJ
September 28 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
September 29 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
September 30 – Toronto, ON – Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
October 2 – New York, NY – Beacon Theater
October 3 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theater
October 5 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theater
October 6 – Washington DC – 930 Club
October 8 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
October 9 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 11 – Cleveland, OH – Hard Rock Cafe
October 13 – Milwaukee, WI – The Pabst
October 14 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore
October 15 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
October 18 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theater
October 20 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra
October 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Pearl Theatre
October 22 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s
October 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Orpheum Theatre
October 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic Auditorium
October 27 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
October 28 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
October 29 – Vancouver, BC – The Orpheum
