Clapton, in a photo from 2016
Eric Clapton announced on April 22 a limited run of solo concert dates. The September performances in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix will precede the two sold-out editions of his Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, which were announced on March 28.
General on-sale tickets for the three new dates will begin Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. local time at Ticketmaster. (In the San Francisco Bay area, Chase will hold an exclusive pre-sale for cardholders on Tuesday, April 23 at 10 a.m. PT – Thursday, April 25 at 10 p.m. PT; limited tickets are available.)
UPDATE: Clapton has announced a 2020 tour
The fifth installment of the Crossroads Guitar Fest will be held over two nights in Dallas on September 20 and 21. Clapton will be joined by an assembly of many of the world’s foremost classic rock guitarists including Jeff Beck, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Frampton, Robert Cray, and dozens more. (See the complete list below.)
The pair of concerts, at American Airlines Center, are the first such events since Clapton hosted the fourth festival in 2013 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Not all participants will play both nights but Clapton will perform at both concerts. The current list of performers at this year’s event: Alan Darby, Albert Lee, Andy Fairweather Low, Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, Bradley Walker, Buddy Guy Band, Daniel Santiago, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, Clapton, Gary Clark Jr., Gustavo Santaolalla, James Bay, Jeff Beck, Jerry Douglas, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh, John Mayer, Jonny Lang, Keb Mo, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo and Cesar Rojas, Marcus King Band, Pedro Martins, Peter Frampton, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Sheryl Crow, Sonny Landreth, Susan Tedeschi, Tom Misch and Vince Gill.
Watch Clapton and the Allman Brothers Band perform “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad” at the 2013 festival
Though his touring days are over, Clapton continues to have a busy calendar. On January 18, a five-night residency was announced at Tokyo’s legendary Nippon Budokan for April.
Related: Our recap of Clapton’s first of five 2019 shows at Tokyo’s Budokan
Last October 24, he announced three May 2019 concerts at his home away from home, London’s Royal Albert Hall. (Click here for tickets.) He’s also revealed dates in Germany and Austria, one of which will see him close the renowned Dresden Music Festival at a concert hall.
Related: Clapton closes Royal Albert Hall show with “Purple Rain”
See his full 2019 calendar below.
The Where’s Eric website reports that the U.K. and European dates will feature Clapton’s regular seven-piece band: Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Paul Carrack (keyboards), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Nathan East (bass), Sonny Emory (drums), and vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon. For the U.S. dates, Steve Gadd will replace Emory. (The latter replaces Sharlotte Gibson, who filled in for her recently.)
Clapton, who turned 74 on March 30, continues to play the occasional unannounced show. Slowhand’s Chicago gig last September 29, at the Cinespace Film Studio was short, just nine songs, and included such concert regulars as “Key to the Highway,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Wonderful Tonight” and “Cocaine.”
The Chicago performance served as a warmup of sorts; Clapton had two concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden later that week.
The classic rock legend has done several of these insider performances in 2018. On May 26, 2018, for instance, he played the annual Greenwich (Conn.) Town Party. On August 18, he was an unannounced guest performer at pal Jimmie Vaughan’s set in Columbus, Ohio. In January 2018, he appeared at a charitable concert in the U.K. and then at a private event in Paris.
In 2018, he had just five ticketed events, including his July 8 headlining performance in London’s Hyde Park as part of the British Summer Time series. On October 6-7, he performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
He released his first full-length holiday album, Happy Xmas, on October 12, via the Bushbranch/Surfdog label. The collection of 14 songs includes covers of many holiday standards including “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Clapton is the subject of a recent biography, Slowhand: The Life and Music of Eric Clapton, from noted music biographer Philip Norman. The 432-page title is “with Clapton‘s consent and access to family members and close friends,” said the announcement from its publisher.
Eric Clapton 2019 Concerts (Tickets are available here and here)
Apr 13 – Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Budokan
Apr 15 – Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Budokan
Apr 17 – Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Budokan
Apr 18 – Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Budokan
Apr 20 – Tokyo, Japan – Nippon Budokan
May 13 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
May 15 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
May 16 – London, U.K. – Royal Albert Hall
Jun 04 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Jun 06 – Vienna, Austria – Wiener Stadthalle
Jun 08 – Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena
Jun 10 – Dresden, Germany – Messe Dresden
Sep 11 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
Sep 13 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Sep 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena
Sep 20 – Dallas, TX – Crossroads Guitar Festival at America Airlines Center
Sep 21 – Dallas, TX – Crossroads Guitar Festival at America Airlines Center
Related: Links for 100s of classic rock tours
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Come to Perth Western Australia please!
The number of dates shown here… Kinda sounds like a tour to me?
Not an extensive one, but a tour nonetheless. Saying EC’s “touring days are over” seems not entirely accurate.
At any rate, too bad he’s doing these shows in Dallas again. I saw a Crossroads show in Chicago about a decade ago (?) and it was great. EC with Winwood, not to mention Derek Trucks in EC’s band, was a treat. Not to mention Jeff Beck, B.B. King (Only time I got to see him in person), and so many others. A few other cities would be nice.
***** Hyde Park London Sunday 8th July 2018 Eric Clapton Santana ….. ***** First time at this festival event and an unforgettable day of music and musical camaraderie on that Great Oak Stage…I’m still reminiscing about it!
CGF lineup looks great, as always. But there is one huge omission that fans should ask EC about: where is Robin Trower? He would blow all of the others away.