Journey, Santana, Steve Miller, Doobies To Perform Together

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Update (March 11): The San Francisco Fest 2016 tour has added two very prominent performers to their September 4th date at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The Steve Miller Band – which was formed in the so-called “city by the bay” 50 years ago – and Santana – youngsters at “just” 49 – will join their fellow Bay Area bands for a a historic, all-day “On The Green” performance. Miller is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016 on April 8.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 18 at 10AM via Ticketmaster. American Express card members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Monday, March 14 at 12:00 noon through Thursday, March 17 at 10:00 p.m. Several VIP ticket packages will also be available through Ticketmaster. Click here to purchase tickets,

Read Best Classic Bands‘ earlier story about the three concerts that Santana and Journey are doing together in April.

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A bill featuring Journey and the Doobie Brothers? Sign us up. The two classic rock icons and Bay Area vets have sold a combined total of more than 120 million albums, and now they’re teaming up for a very special tour next summer to celebrate the famed “San Francisco Sound” they helped cultivate. The aptly titled San Francisco Fest 2016 kicks off May 12th in Irvine, California, and circles the country before finishing up back in California at the end of August.

And to seal the deal? Traffic co-founder Dave Mason (who has also enjoyed a substantial career as a solo artist) will be the opening act with his band.

The ever-busy Journey – now fronted by singer Arnel Pineda, a lucky YouTube discovery – is expected to announce even more shows for early 2016. They’ll be welcoming back drummer Steve Smith, who played on some of the band’s best-selling records. He last performed with them in 1998, but has remained in close contact with founding member and lead guitarist Neal Schon, lending his talents to several of Schon’s solo albums. Original member Ross Valory (bass) and longtime member Jonathan Cain (keyboards) round out the core band.

Journey is probably best known for the 1981 hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” one of their 18 Top 40 singles in the U.S. Their last album, Eclipse, the second with Pineda, focused on a more guitar-driven, harder rock sound than their usual radio-friendly pop ballads.

Meanwhile, the Doobie Brothers’ latest addition is Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne, who’s performed on many of the band’s studio albums. He’ll be joining founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, as well as longtime member John McFee. The band’s 2014 release, Southbound, features collaborations with a number of artists – from Zac Brown Band to Brad Paisley and Vince Gill – in remakes of their harmony-laden, roots-based rock’n’roll hits. Here’s one of their 15 Top 40 singles…