GEARING UP FOR SUMMER CONCERT SEASON
FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
If you missed some of your favourite 80S and 90S bands the first time around, there’s a good chance you can catch them on the comeback trail this summer.
Reunions, packaging and pricing are key this year as artists and promoters try to fill seats in a soft economy.
Bands such as FLEETWOOD MAC have also returned after breakups or long spells away.
There’s no dearth of blockbusters to choose from this summer.
COLDPLAY, GREEN DAY and AC/DC (among others) will be out. What may be the year’s biggest tour, U2, cranks up in SEPTEMBER.
The summer festivals are also hot tickets.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN heads Tennessee’s BONNAROO in June. THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND tops the OUTSIDE LANDS gig in SAN FRANCISCO the same month.
A number of double and triple bills are making the rounds: AEROSMITH with ZZ TOP; ERIC CLAPTON and STEVE WINWOOD; ELTON JOHN with BILLY JOEL; DEF LEPPARD along with CHEAP TRICK and POISON – as well as BOB DYLAN with WILLIE NELSON and JOHN MELLENCAMP.
“I think the packaging is an outgrowth of the recession,” remarked GARY BONGIOVANNI, editor in chief of the concert industry publication POLLSTAR.
“You can lower the ticket prices some, but another way is stronger support acts or co-bills. You may have already seen ERIC CLAPTON, but if he’s with STEVE WINWOOD, it may be a reason to go see him again.”
Artists and promoters are extra sensitive about prices this year. Bands such as CROSBY, STILLS & NASH are all offering at least some tickets for about $20 US. Several others start prices at about $30.
Summer is the most important season for the concert industry. Even with the recession, 2009 is shaping up to be a good year.
