2008 Woodie Awards
The Hottest Summer Tours Coming in '04
Gretchen Reif
Issue date: 4/7/04 Section: Arts and Entertainment
To a music fan, summer is sonic heaven - three full months to take in the tours of all your favorite bands. Summer 2004 will undoubtedly be one to remember, with fresh, new artists taking the stage along with solid veterans. Here is a preview of the best summer tours. Stake out your spot on the lawn, get out your lighter, and don't even think about September.
Arguably, the most talked about tour of the summer is Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour. The show is based around the idea that Spears is performing in the magical Onyx Hotel where all of your fantasies become real. The pop star will perform songs off of her latest album, In the Zone, along with revamped versions of classics, such as "Oops! I Did It Again." The tour will showcase Spears' skills as an entertainer, with cabaret-style performances and non-stop dance routines. You can check into the Onyx Hotel in Hershey, PA, on July 4, Bristow, VA, on July 10, and Camden, NJ, on July 12.
Another tour packed with just as much energy and thrill but set in a slightly different key is the 10th annual Vans Warped Tour. The tour will once again feature high-octane punk and alternative bands such as Story of the Year, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, and Flogging Molly. Broadening its fan base, the Warped Tour will devote one of its many stages to unsigned and independent hip hop acts. This will be known as the Code of the Cutz Stage, featuring Lordz of Brooklyn, Sistas of the Underground, and many other fresh acts. The tour will stop in Virginia Beach, VA, on August 3, Washington, D.C., on August 4, and in Philadelphia, PA, on August 6.
Most summer tours stop at cities throughout the nation, playing one-night shows for a screaming frenzy of fans. The Bonnaroo Music Festival is an exception to this rule. Bonnaroo takes place annually on a farm in Manchester, TN, and is a three-day celebration offering up great music, opportunities to meet the artists, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 2004 Bonnaroo is on June 11-13 and boasts an eye-popping line up of diverse musicians. Artists will include Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, Burning Spear, moe., Ani DiFranco, Los Lobos, Guster, and Maroon5. Bonnaroo is not for the casual music fan. Only make the trek to Tennessee if you live the music that you listen to.
Last summer, dirrty pop princess Christina Aguilera teamed up with Justin Timberlake and this summer Aguilera is joining forces again, but with someone you might not expect. The Grammy-award winning singer will headline a tour with special guest Chingy. The rapper, who made a name for himself with the omnipresent "Right Thurr," will join Aguilera for the 29-city tour beginning in early May. The tour will be at the Nissan Pavilion in Virginia on June 15 and in Philadelphia, PA on June 19.
To clarify, never believe an artist when she says that she will never tour again. After her 2001 Drowned World Tour, Madonna declared just this, but three years later the inimitable entertainer is launching the re-Invention Tour. Madonna will perform new and different arrangements of classic songs and new hits from her latest album, American Life. The Material Girl will roll into D.C.'s MCI Center on June 13 and will be at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center on July 4.
Along with these tours, there are many others roaming the nation and coming to a city near you. Check out your favorite artists' websites and get your tickets early, because the summer is all about sitting back and rocking out!
Arguably, the most talked about tour of the summer is Britney Spears' Onyx Hotel Tour. The show is based around the idea that Spears is performing in the magical Onyx Hotel where all of your fantasies become real. The pop star will perform songs off of her latest album, In the Zone, along with revamped versions of classics, such as "Oops! I Did It Again." The tour will showcase Spears' skills as an entertainer, with cabaret-style performances and non-stop dance routines. You can check into the Onyx Hotel in Hershey, PA, on July 4, Bristow, VA, on July 10, and Camden, NJ, on July 12.
Another tour packed with just as much energy and thrill but set in a slightly different key is the 10th annual Vans Warped Tour. The tour will once again feature high-octane punk and alternative bands such as Story of the Year, Taking Back Sunday, Alkaline Trio, and Flogging Molly. Broadening its fan base, the Warped Tour will devote one of its many stages to unsigned and independent hip hop acts. This will be known as the Code of the Cutz Stage, featuring Lordz of Brooklyn, Sistas of the Underground, and many other fresh acts. The tour will stop in Virginia Beach, VA, on August 3, Washington, D.C., on August 4, and in Philadelphia, PA, on August 6.
Most summer tours stop at cities throughout the nation, playing one-night shows for a screaming frenzy of fans. The Bonnaroo Music Festival is an exception to this rule. Bonnaroo takes place annually on a farm in Manchester, TN, and is a three-day celebration offering up great music, opportunities to meet the artists, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 2004 Bonnaroo is on June 11-13 and boasts an eye-popping line up of diverse musicians. Artists will include Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, Burning Spear, moe., Ani DiFranco, Los Lobos, Guster, and Maroon5. Bonnaroo is not for the casual music fan. Only make the trek to Tennessee if you live the music that you listen to.
Last summer, dirrty pop princess Christina Aguilera teamed up with Justin Timberlake and this summer Aguilera is joining forces again, but with someone you might not expect. The Grammy-award winning singer will headline a tour with special guest Chingy. The rapper, who made a name for himself with the omnipresent "Right Thurr," will join Aguilera for the 29-city tour beginning in early May. The tour will be at the Nissan Pavilion in Virginia on June 15 and in Philadelphia, PA on June 19.
To clarify, never believe an artist when she says that she will never tour again. After her 2001 Drowned World Tour, Madonna declared just this, but three years later the inimitable entertainer is launching the re-Invention Tour. Madonna will perform new and different arrangements of classic songs and new hits from her latest album, American Life. The Material Girl will roll into D.C.'s MCI Center on June 13 and will be at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center on July 4.
Along with these tours, there are many others roaming the nation and coming to a city near you. Check out your favorite artists' websites and get your tickets early, because the summer is all about sitting back and rocking out!