NEW YORK (Usherworld.com) - After being forced to cancel the initial 8701 Evolution Tour in December because of a shoulder injury,
Usher has finally announced new dates for the outing, an ambitious trek that will see the R&B star hit more than 40 North American cities.
Kicking off April 25 in Denver, the tour will stop in nearly every major city in the United States and Canada before ending July 7 in New Orleans, according to Usher's Arista Records spokesperson. In a statement issued along with the itinerary, Usher said, "I'm really looking forward to getting out and performing live onstage. Now that my arm is healed, I'm ready to get out there and interact with my fans. Nothing compares to that excitement and energy."
While rehearsing choreography for the tour late last year, Usher dislocated his shoulder and had to have rotator cuff surgery. He has recovered and will launch a monthlong European tour next week (see "On The Mend, Usher Can't Wait To Get On The Road").
Usher is supporting the 8701 Evolution Tour's namesake triple-platinum album, 8701. The record's Neptunes-produced third single, "U Don't Have to Call," the follow-up to the hits "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad," just hit radio and video outlets.
"U Remind Me" earned Usher a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
Opening acts for Usher's tour will be announced at a later date.
8701 Evolution Tour dates, according to Arista:
4/25 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
4/26 - Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion
4/27 - Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
4/28 - Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Arena
5/2 - San Diego, CA @ Coors Amphitheatre
5/3 - Los Angeles, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
5/4 - Sacramento, CA @ Valley Amphitheatre
5/5 - Oakland, CA @ Concord Pavilion
5/8 - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
5/10 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
5/11 - Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
5/12 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
5/16 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
5/17 - Chicago, IL @ Tweeter Center
5/18 - St Louis, MO @ Riverport Amphitheatre
5/19 - Kansas City, MO @ Sandstone Amphitheatre
5/23 - Columbus, OH @ Polaris Amphitheatre
5/24 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
5/25 - Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Center
5/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Gund Arena
5/30 - Nashville, TN @ Amsouth Amphitheatre
5/31 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/1 - Raleigh, NC @ Alltel Pavilion
6/2 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/6 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
6/7 - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park
6/8 - Tampa, FL @ Ice Palace Arena
6/9 - Orlando, FL @ T.D. Waterhouse Center
6/13 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
6/14 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach
6/15 - Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center
6/16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tweeter Center
6/20 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
6/21 - Albany, NY @ Pepsi Center
6/22 - Hartford, CT @ Meadows Amphitheatre
6/23 - Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena
6/27 - Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/28 - Hershey, PA @ Hershey Stadium
6/29 - Washington, DC @ Nissan Pavilion
6/30 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion
7/4 - San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/5 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Music Center
7/6 - Houston, TX @ Compaq Center
7/7 - New Orleans, LA @ Louisiana Superdome
