Rabin, Anderson and Wakeman via their Facebook page
Fans of the progressive rock group Yes, which earned their long overdue inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, are well aware that there are two active editions of the band. There’s the one that’s continuously been called Yes, now led by the guitarist Steve Howe. It also includes the long-tenured drummer Alan White among its members.
Then there’s vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman. The latter launched in 2016 with a well-received North American tour.
Shortly after the Yes members that were chosen for induction into the Rock Hall (briefly) reunited onstage–sans founder Chris Squire who passed in 2015–to perform two songs, the ARW fellows changed their name ever-so-slightly to Yes Featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman. (The band also features bassist Lee Pomeroy and drummer Louis Molino III.)
On April 10, 2018, they announced a 100-show world tour to commence on June 3 in Warsaw, Poland, and feature shows in Scandinavia, Germany, U.K. and North America in 2018, going on to South America, Central and Southern Europe, ending in Japan and the Far East in 2019.
Related: Our 2019 interview with Jon Anderson
The band will return to their roots by performing at Los Angeles’ Whisky a Go Go, the iconic venue they first performed as a headliner in June 1971. Information on tickets to this show will be available at a later date.
The band will then play nine shows in August and September 2018 before continuing the U.S. leg with 20+ shows in early 2019. Most dates will be going on-sale starting April 20.
In August, Warner Bros. Records will be releasing a 2-CD/3-LP anthology of Yes curated by band founder/singer Jon Anderson. There will also be released in August/September (via Eagle Rock) a live CD and DVD of the band’s show from March 2017 recorded live in Manchester, U.K., mixed in OE Audio by Paul Linford and Trevor Rabin. Neither title is available for pre-order yet.
The band are currently working on new recordings for their 50th Anniversary. This will be the first new music in 28 years featuring Jon Anderson/Trevor Rabin/Rick Wakeman together. It is expected these will also be available for release by the end of 2018 or early 2019.
Watch Yes perform their #1 hit at their Rock Hall induction
In 2017, Wakeman told Best Classic Bands: “We’re putting new music together but we’re determined not to rush anything. We don’t want to do it just for the sake that we can. We’re determined that any new music that appears is really of the quality that we want it to be.”
Related: Our interview with Wakeman
Watch them perform “Roundabout” on their 2017 tour
Related: Review of Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman in NYC, November 2016
Yes Featuring Anderson-Rabin-Wakeman Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
Jun 03 – Warsaw, Poland – Warszawa Park Sowińskiego
Jun 05 – Mannheim, Germany – Zeltfestival
Jun 07 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene
Jun 09 – Solvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival
Jun 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
Jun 12 – Newcastle, U.K. – Newcastle City Hall
Jun 13 – York, U.K. – York Barbican
Jun 17 – London, U.K. – The O2 (Stone Free Festival)
Aug 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky a Go Go
Aug 27 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys By the Bay
Aug 29 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Aug 31 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
Sep 01 – Las Vegas, NV – Westgate Resort & Casino
Sep 03 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion
Sep 05 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
Sep 07 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia
Sep 08 – Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Live
Sep 09 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center
5 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationno sf bay area concerts listed…please let YES add some shows to this tour
I will only go if it festures Jon Anderson, not those impostors! Im sick of all this nonsense!
when will info for 2019 date come out?
I wouldn’t hold my breath, Glenn. They’re doing solo things at the moment: https://bestclassicbands.com/jon-anderson-1000-hands-lp-tour-coming/
Please come back 2getter for some more shows disappointed didn’t see an anniversary show seen them October 1st 2017 at the Kimmel center in Philly one of the best concerts I’ve seen it was great probably cause it had been so long seeing then my eyes filled up with tears of happiness can’t wait to see them again YES is the best ever have seen 72 concerts and need to see them again YES FOREVER