As expected, due to the coronavirus, the Doobie Brothers have postponed their 50th anniversary tour, which was set to barnstorm across North America this summer and fall, and have rescheduled the dates for 2021.
Unfortunately some of the cities originally on the itinerary have been dropped due to scheduling conflicts — with the shows set for Mount Pleasant, Michigan; Sioux City, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Little Rock, Arkansas; Bossier City, Louisiana; and Memphis, Tennessee now cancelled.
According to the Doobies' official website:
The Doobie Brothers regret to announce that their 50th Anniversary Tour has been rescheduled. This decision has been made with the health and safety of The Doobie Brothers’ fans, crew and local employees in mind. The tour will now be rescheduled for 2021 starting on July 17 in West Palm Beach and ending on October 23 in New Orleans, making 46 stops across North America.
Fans are encouraged to hold on to their tickets as they will be valid for the new dates. If ticket holders can no longer attend or would prefer a refund, they will receive an email directly allowing them to request one. For any further ticketing inquiries, fans should reach out to their point of purchase.
Michael McDonald, who's returning to the band for the 50th celebration, told us he might be the most excited of them all for the Doobies to once again hit the road: “It seemed like the 50th anniversary was probably the most opportune time for me to, kind of, come back and tour with the band — y'know, which I'm really, really looking forward to. For me it's always been a real source of pride to be a member of the Doobies.”
Patrick Simmons, the sole member to have survived the numerous lineup changes, admits life as a Doobie Brother has pretty much been a dream come true. We asked him if he ever expected the Doobies to still be played constantly on the radio and out gigging at sold out shows to a die-hard legion of fans over 45 years after forming: “Not in a million years (laughs). Y'know, most bands, y'know, last a year or two and — if they're lucky. For me to have been able to record and make music with all these great, great players — and still be doing it — it's just ridiculous (laughs) — I'm not worthy, y'know? For me, y'know, being a part of a band like this is has always been sort of; I felt, a gift (laughs). Not just musically, but the whole opportunity to kind of like the dream, in terms of being able to pursue something that you love to do and make a living out of it.”
RESCHEDULED: 2021 Doobie Brothers tour dates (subject to change):
July 17 – West Palm Beach, FL – Coral Sky Amphitheatre
July 18 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
July 21 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place
July 23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
July 24 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
July 26 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
July 27 – Raleigh, NC – Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
July 29 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
July 30 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
August 1 – Allentown, PA – PPL Center
August 2 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
August 4 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
August 5 – Wantagh, NY – Jones Beach Theater
August 7 – Darien, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheatre
August 8 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
August 10 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
August 12 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
August 14 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
August 15 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
August 26 – London, ON – Budweiser Gardens
August 27 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
August 29 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August 31 – St. Paul, MN – Minnesota State Fair
September 2 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
September 4 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion
September 5 – Toledo, OH – Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre
September 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
September 9 – Cuyahoga, OH – Blossom Music Center
September 11 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Center
September 12 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel
September 14 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
September 15 – St Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
September 27 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
September 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
October 1 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
October 2 – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheatre
October 5 – Ridgefield, WA – Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre
October 8 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum
October 11 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
October 13 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
October 14 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
October 16 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
October 19 – Irving, TX – Toyota Music Factory
October 21 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
October 23 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center