Legendary U.K. rock band Simple Minds have announced a major North American headlining tour, featuring support from Soft Cell and Modern English.

The “Alive & Kicking” tour is set to commence on May 16th with a show at Cascades Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will have stops at several famous arenas and amphitheaters such as Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena (May 17), Inglewood, California’s Kia Forum (May 22), Denver, CO’s Ball Arena (May 27), Woodlands, Texas’ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (May 31), Columbia, Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion (June 10), Wantagh, New York’s Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (June 13), Mansfield, Massachusetts’ Xfinity Center (June 15), and Toronto, Ontario’s Budweiser Stage (June 18).

The final concert of the 24-date tour is scheduled to take place on June 22nd at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

The tour marks the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the band’s milestone year 1985, in which they topped the world’s charts with their Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 smash, “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” and RIAA Gold-certified seventh studio album Once Upon A Time.

“Been a while but absence makes the heart grow fonder,” says Jim Kerr. “Simple Minds are ecstatic at the prospect of touring so extensively in the US and Canada this coming Spring.”

“Hindsight is a glorious thing!” continues Kerr. “40 years on and it now feels right for Simple Minds to have ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ included in this classy new nine track edition of Once Upon A Time.”

Simple Minds 2025 Tour Dates:

May 16 – Ridgefield, WA @ Cascades Amphitheater
May 17 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
May 20 – Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
May 22 – Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
May 23 – Greater Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena
May 24 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
May 25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
May 27 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
May 30 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
May 31 – Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
June 1 – Irving, TX @ The Pavillion at Toyota Music Factory
June 4 – Rogers, AR @ The Walmart AMP
June 5 – Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
June 10 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 11 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
June 13 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
June 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Mann Center
June 15 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
June 17 – Montreal, QC @ Centre Bell
June18 – Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
June 20 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
June 21 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
June 22 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

Source: RTT Music News

The Doobie Brothers have announced that their new studio album, Walk This Road, will be released on June 6 via Rhino Records.

The 10-track studio album will see former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald rejoin the band alongside Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee both in the recording studio, writers room and on an upcoming global tour.

The band also recently released two new tracks from the album: “Walk This Road” and “Call Me.” The songs are in addition to the previously released “Lahaina.” Pre-order the album at https://doobies.lnk.to/WTRS

Walk This Road was recorded in the winter of 2024 with producer John Shanks and showcases the band’s unique songwriting process and diverse stylistic perspectives. The album is comprised of and reliant on the songwriting contributions and individual musical styles of all three principal songwriters.

Recurring themes on the album include recovery, enlightenment – “waking up to see the important things you’ve been missing,” says founding member Simmons. The title track, featuring Mavis Staples, embodies a sense of hope and togetherness, in terms of searching for the right path forward.

The band is looking forward to embarking on their 2025 tour to perform their new tracks as well as much-loved, fan-favorite hits.

The announcement of the upcoming album coincided with the news that the Grammy award-winning, Platinum-selling icons will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons would be inducted in the Performing Songwriters category at the organization’s 2025 Induction and Awards ceremony to be held in New York in June.

Walk This Road Tracklist:

1. “Walk this Road” Featuring Mavis Staples
2. “Angels & Mercy”
3. “Call Me”
4. “Learn to Let Go”
5. “State of Grace”
6. “Here to Stay”
7. “The Kind That Lasts”
8. “New Orleans”
9. “Speed of Pain”
10. “Lahaina”

Source: RTT Music News

Aerosmith members Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton are set to reunite for Tyler’s sixth annual “Jam For Janie” Grammys viewing party.

The philanthropic event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 2nd at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California. The benefit show will also feature Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Linda Perry, Matt Sorum and Nuno Bettencourt. Tiffany Haddish will serve as host.

“What the Los Angeles community has endured with these wildfires is unthinkable,” stated Tyler. “Music has healing powers and we hope to bring a moment of joy and levity to our first-responder firefighters and those most affected by the fires. The trauma experienced by the girls we work with is also unthinkable and we will continue to shed light and support the amazing work of Janie’s Fund.”

Aerosmith announced their immediate retirement from touring on August 2nd of last year, citing Tyler’s vocal injury he sustained three shows into the band’s farewell tour the prior year. The legendary rock band was hoping to relaunch the tour in September but canceled all dates.

Source: RTT Music News

Dave Mason has announced that his new album, A Shade Of Blues, will be released on March 21 via his Barham Productions label.

The 11-track A Shade of Blue, his 21st studio album, showcases a wide range of blues and R&B styles.

The songs range from the primal Robert Johnson 12-string acoustic blues of “Come Home in My Kitchen” to the JJ Cale-style folk blues of “Cocaine Blues,” the reggae feel of Mason’s “Just Another Fool in Love,” and the Spanish flamenco/Gipsy Kings guitars of his “El Toro,” adding saxophone player Warren Hill to the final mix.

There are also bluesy re-imaginings of Traffic standards “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” with world-class guitarist Joe Bonamassa adding his distinctive riffs to both tracks. Michael McDonald adds vocal harmony, piano and organ to Mason’s self-penned “It’s Just You and Me,” recorded several years ago in Dave’s current Hawaii home studio.

“My guitar playing has always drawn from the blues. This album leans a little more heavily into that style, but not entirely—that’s why I call it A Shade of Blues,” Mason said.

A Shade Of Blues Tracklist:

1. Use It, Or Lose It
2. Come Home In My Kitchen
3. It’s Just You And Me
4. Cocaine Blues
5. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
6. Born Under A Bad Sign
7. Dust My Blues
8. Dear Mr. Fantasy
9. Just Another Fool In Love
10. El Toro
11. Good To You

Source: RTT Music News