Foreigner is wasting no time in heading back on the road, with a massive 121-date world tour set for 2021 and 2022. In addition to the band’s current North American shows — which kick off on June 24th in Ottumwa, Iowa and running through November 20th in Pensacola, Florida — the band will announce 15 more countries for a 2022 run later this year.
Frontman Kelly Hansen told Billboard, “We are full-on back on the road. There’s been so many conversations over the last year with promoters and with our agents and with management, trying to figure out what’s the safe thing to do, when can we do this, how can we do that? We’re finally able to say we’re getting out there, we’re getting on the road. That’s a great thing. . . (We’re going) to all kinds of great places we don’t always get to go to.”
Even though Foreigner has never fallen into the category of “critics’ darlings,” songwriter, leader, and guitarist Mick Jones — the sole original founding member still in the band — told us that Foreigner’s album sales and ticket receipts prove that they’ve always struck the right chord with fans: [“How can you complain about people listening, and hearing, and your music reaching so many people? I think it’s wonderful. It’s a great achievement to have these songs having stood the test of time like this, you know, and getting the amount of play they still do.”] SOUNDCUE (:13 OC: . . . they still do)
- Foreigner 2021 North American tour dates (subject to change):
June 24 – Ottumwa, IA – Bridge View Center
June 25 – Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion
June 26 – Bismarck, ND – Bismarck Civic Center
June 29 – Casper, WY – Casper Events Center
June 30 – Billings, MT – MetraPark Arena
July 2 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Great Lawn
July 4 – Fort Bragg, NC – Pope Army Airfield
July 27 – Fresno, CA – Saroyan Theatre
July 28 – Prescott Valley, AZ – Findlay Toyota Center
July 30 – West Valley, UT – Maverick Center
July 31 – Grand Junction, CO – Los Colonias Park Amphitheater
August 1 – Rio Rancho, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center
August 4 – Lubbock, TX – Buddy Holly Hall
August 5 – Enid, OK – Stride Bank Center
August 7 – Park City, KS – Hartman Arena
August 8 – North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
August 10 – West Allis, WI – Wisconsin State Fair
August 11 – Cedar Rapids, IA – McGrath Amphitheatre
August 13 – Arcadia, WI – Ashley For The Arts
August 14 – Interlochen, MI – Kresge Auditorium
August 15 – Peoria, IL – Civic Center Arena
August 17 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion
August 18 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
August 20 – Doswell, VA – AfterHours at Meadow Event Park
August 21 – Selbyville, DE – The Freeman Stage at Bayside
August 23 – Syracuse, NY – New York State Fair
August 25 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre
August 26 – Webster, MA – Indian Ranch
August 27 – Cohasset, MA – South Shore Music Circus
August 28 – Hyannis, MA – Cape Cod Melody Tent
September 9 – Grand Forks, ND – Alerus Center
September 10 – Rapid City, SD – Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
September 11 – Butte, MT – Civic Center
September 14 – Everett, WA – Angel of the Winds Arena
September 15 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Event Center
September 16 – Airway Heights, WA – Northern Quest Resort & Casino
September 18 – Fort Hall, ID – Fort Hall Casino
September 21 – Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
September 22 – Kennewick, WA – Toyota Center
September 26 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
September 29 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery (with orchestra)
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre (with orchestra)
October 2 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl (with orchestra)
October 11 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre (with orchestra)
October 12 – Youngstown, OH – Foundation Amphitheater (with orchestra)
October 13 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena (with orchestra)
October 15 – Johnson City, TN – Freedom Hall Civic Center
October 17 – Knoxville, TN – Civic Auditorium
October 18 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
October 19 – Charleston, WV – Municipal Auditorium
October 21 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center
October 22 – Wilkes Barre, PA – F.M. Kirby Center
October 23 – Baltimore, MD – MECU Pavilion
October 25 – Providence, RI – Performing Arts Center
October 27 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
October 28 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
October 29 – New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre
October 30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
November 4 – Corbin, KY – Corbin Arena
November 5 – Springfield, IL – UIS Sangamon Auditorium
November 6 – Southaven, MS – Landers Center
November 8 – Savannah, GA – John Mercer Theatre
November 9 – Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium
November 10 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
November 12 – Macon, GA – Macon City Auditorium
November 13 – Tupelo, MS – Bancorp South Arena
November 14 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
November 16 – Huntsville, AL – Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
November 17 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Concert Hall
November 19 – Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort & Spa
November 20 – Pensacola, FL – Saenger Theater
FAST FACTS
- Between 1977 and 1988, Foreigner scored 16 Top 40 hits — 14 of which hit the Top 20: “Feels Like The First Time” (#4); “Cold As Ice” (#6); “Long, Long Way From Home” (#20); “Hot Blooded” (#3); “Double Vision” (#2); “Blue Morning, Blue Day” (#15); “Dirty White Boy” (#12); “Head Games” (#14); “Urgent” (#4); “Waiting For A Girl Like You” (#2); “I Want To Know What Love Is” (#1); “That Was Yesterday” (#12); “Say You Will” (#6); and “I Don’t Wanna Live Without You” (#5).
SIDE NOTES
- In 2014, Foreigner finally received a handful of gold and platinum, certifications for digital sales of their classic singles. Gold status indicates 500,000 downloads with Platinum indicating one million downloads.
- The songs that received Gold awards were “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.”
- Platinum status was accorded to “Juke Box Hero,” and Gold and Platinum awards were given to “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
CHECK IT OUT: Foreigner on August 29th, 2015 performing Juke Box Hero” live in San Bernardino, California: