The 2012 Experience Hendrix concert tour will feature a who's who of rock as we learn the details of the trek's impressive roster and tour dates. The 2012 edition of the tour will launch with a three week run of dates starting March 6th featuring an all-star lineup of musical greats paying homage to the abiding genius of Jimi Hendrix.
This year's tour will include performances by Buddy Guy, Dweezil Zappa, Billy Cox, Robby Kreiger [The Doors], Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, David Hidalgo & Cesar Rosas [Los Lobos], Keb' Mo, Eric Johnson, Brad Whitford [Aerosmith], Living Colour, Chris Layton [Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble],The Slide Brothers as well as other special guests to be announced.
The announcement coincides with latest issue of Rolling Stone wherein Jimi Hendrix was, predictably, designated "The Greatest Guitarist of All Time." The tour will alight in twenty markets including Baltimore, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, , Houston, Austin, Denver and more.
In terms of format, the tour offers multiple opportunities for performers and audiences to witness unique collaborations among the participating artists such as Dweezil Zappa with Billy Cox, Buddy Guy with Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang with Brad Whitford and will highlight these artists and the others performing their favorite Hendrix signature songs including "Little Wing," "Fire," "Purple Haze," and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". As has been the case with previous Experience Hendrix outings, special guests are expected to sit in at many of the dates, making the concerts all that much more memorable for both new and veteran Hendrix fans. Past special guests have included Paul Rodgers, Joe Satriani, Hubert Sumlin, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana and others. The tour's presence has been made known on national TV with Robert Randolph performing classic Hendrix on the Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and Jonny Lang on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show and Kenny Wayne Shepherd playing Jimi Hendrix's actual Woodstock guitar on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Shepherd, a veteran of several Experience Hendrix tours remarked, "Jimi Hendrix's music has really inspired me to push the limits of my own music. He didn't observe any boundaries musically. He was an amazing player and a tremendous showman so I incorporated some of his showmanship in what I do." As far as having been part of the Experience Hendrix touring phenomenon, Shepherd noted, "It touches you on the inside and gets you fired up."
March, 2012 Experience Hendrix Tour confirmed dates (additional dates to be added)
6 - Tue - Baltimore, MD - Strathmore Theater
7 - Wed - Greensboro, NC - War Memorial Auditorium
8 - Thu - Knoxville, TN - Civic Auditorium
9 - Fri - Nashville, TN - Tennessee Performing Arts Center
10 - Sat - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theater
11 - Sun - Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center
14 - Wed - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock
15 - Thu - Clearwarter, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
16 - Fri - Saint Augustine, FL - Saint Augustine Amphitheatre
17 - Sat - Orange Beach, AL - Warf Amphitheatre
22 - Thu - Houston, TX Arena Theater
23 - Fri - Thackerville, OK - Winstar Casino
24 - Sat - Austin, TX - ACL Live @ Moody Theater