Dixie Chicks vow to continue tour
Despite rumors to the contrary, the Dixie Chicks will go ahead with plans for their upcoming summer tour, according to a message posted on the band’s website.
Earlier media reports had indicated the trio might be forced to cancel or postpone most or all of its summer dates owing to tepid ticket sales in many markets. While the bulk of the itinerary remains in place for the moment, public ticket sales for several dates have been at least temporarily halted, while some appearances have been pulled from the schedule for the time being.
Ticket sales have been halted–at least for now–for the band’s scheduled dates in Memphis, Indianapolis, Houston and Oklahoma City. Fresno, CA, TV station KFSN is reporting that the September Dixie Chicks concert in that city has been postponed.
As of press time, tickets were still scheduled to go on the market Saturday (6/10) for planned Dixie Chicks gigs in Columbus, OH; Sacramento, CA; Austin, TX; and Calgary, Alberta.
A swarm of rumors began to swell around the often-controversial country act earlier this week, when Billboard.com reported that early sales figures for advance and pre-sale tickets for many of the tour dates were lagging far behind expectations. Initial ticket counts for the 20-plus arena shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000-6,000 per show in major markets and less in secondaries, the site reported, citing industry sources.
“The tour is not being postponed or canceled at all,” the group’s publicist, Kathy Best, told the Los Angeles Times this week. “There is a reshuffling of dates and as soon as rerouting is confirmed, we will be able to announce the changes. There will be some cancellations due to rerouting and additional dates being added.”
Best didn’t immediately return a phone call and email from LiveDaily this morning.
A message posted Friday (6/9) on the Dixie Chicks’ website stated the group’s intention to go forward with its summer tour plans, but it did leave the door open to some changes.
“Any reports being made about the cancellation of our upcoming Accidents And Accusations tour are completely false,” the band’s statement began.
“We have known since March 2003 that our path in this business would have obstacles at every pass. We have enjoyed meeting each one head-on and we will continue to do so. Dixie Chicks fans are as active and dedicated as they come. This time around we are willingly feeling our way through uncharted territory. Things don’t come as easy as they might have come in the past, and it makes each accomplishment more exciting and appreciated.”
The band infamously courted controversy in 2003 when Chicks’ singer Natalie Maines told an audience in London that she was “ashamed” that President George W. Bush was a fellow Texan. The incident incurred the wrath of conservatives and has made the group a lightning rod for criticism ever since.
In contrast to the reported lagging ticket sales, the band’s latest album, “Taking the Long Way,” is showing healthy sales numbers, selling 526,000 copies its first week of release, according to Nielsen Soundscan, the third largest sales week of any artist this year. The album is currently No. 1 on this week’s Billboard 200 chart.
Early ticket sales for this tour are in marked contrast to the Chicks’ last proper outing in 2003 when a national on-sale moved some 867,000 tickets the first weekend, and second shows were added in several markets. The Chicks ended up with the top-grossing country tour of 2003 at $62 million.
July 2006
21 – Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
22 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mellon Arena
23 – Columbus, OH – Value City Arena
25 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center
28 – Albany, NY – Pepsi Arena
29 – Boston, MA – Banknorth Garden
August 2006
1 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
4 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
13 – Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center
15 – Chicago, IL – United Center
18 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
20 – Kansas City, MO – Kemper Arena
22- St. Louis, MO – Savvis Center
23 – Indianapolis, IN – Conseco Fieldhouse
24 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
26 – Fargo, ND – Fargodome
September 2006
3 – Glendale, AZ – Glendale Arena
8 – Sacramento, CA – ARCO Arena
9 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
14 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
16 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay
23 – Omaha, NE – Qwest Center
24 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Ford Center
27 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum
29 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
30 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
October 2006
1 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
3 – Nashville, TN – Gaylord Entertainment Center
5 – Tampa, FL – St. Pete Times Forum
6 – Jacksonville, FL – Veterans Memorial Arena
7 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – BankAtlantic Center
17 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
20 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
22 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum
27 – Ottawa, Ontario – Scotiabank Place
28 – Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre
November 2006
4 – Edmonton, Alberta – Rexall Place
5 – Calgary, Alberta – Saddledome
8 – Vancouver, British Columbia – GM Place
9 – Portland, OR – Rose Garden
11 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
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