Not deterred by New York City's snowstorm, the Dixie Chicks held a late afternoon press conference February 20 at Central Park's boathouse to announce the launch of their first world tour in three years. The tour kicks off March 10 in London and winds down September 22 in Paris.
Sponsored by Lipton, the Chicks will perform in about 60 arenas in North America, May 1-August 4. Australian dates have not been confirmed yet. Tour sponsorship was brokered by Aaron Walton Entertainment.
“It takes the time off from touring to get you ready to go back on the road,” admitted Emily Robison. “We’re hungry to get back out there, and we are all prepared and looking forward to that aspect of our career – being back on stage and doing live shows in front of thousands of people.”
For the first time, they will use an in-the-round stage configuration.
“Our goal is to eliminate that typical audience-performer barrier and to be able to practically reach out and touch our fans," Natalie Maines explained about the in-the-round setup. "To be separate and far off is not what this music is about.
"We wanted to play the Grand Old Opry and Ryman Auditorium every night but our business manager turned it down," she added.
When asked about why they chose arenas over sheds, Robison replied, "It was due to the sound. Our tech people said people on the lawn wouldn't get the best sound and acoustic numbers sound better indoors."
Maines added, "We plan for a grandiose show and the lights and sets would be better indoors."
Opening acts include Joan Osbourne, who will open the first half of the tour, Michelle Branch the second half.
"We chose Michelle Branch as an opening act because she has a different, yet same audience and we always want to expose our audience to someone new," said Robison.
All North American shows, with a few exceptions, will go on sale March 1 at 10AM (local time) through Ticketmaster.
Their 2000 Fly Tour grossed over $47 million in ticket sales and indisputably established the band as superstar headliners with universal appeal.
Dixie Chicks 2003 world tour itinerary:
March 10
ENG London
Shepherd’s Bush Empire
March 19
GER Munich
Elsehalle
May 1
SC Greenville
Bi Lo Center
May 3
FL Orlando
TD Waterhouse Centre
May 4
FL Ft. Lauderdale
Office Depot Center
May 5
FL Tampa
St. Pete Times Forum
May 7
TN Knoxville
Thompson-Bowling Arena
May 9
IN Indianapolis
Conseco Fieldhouse
May 10
MO Kansas City
Kemper Arena
May 11
MO St. Louis
Savvis Center
May 13
IA Ames
Hilton Coliseum
May 14
IL Moline
Mark of the Quad Cities
May 16
AL Birmingham
BJCC Arena
May 17
NC Greensboro
Greensboro Coliseum
May 18
KY Louisville
Freedom Hall
May 20
OK Oklahoma City
The Ford Center
May 21
TX Austin
Frank Erwin Center
May 29-30
IL Chicago
United Center
June 1
OH Cleveland
Gund Arena
June 2
MI Auburn Hills
Palace At Auburn Hills
June 5
WI Milwaukee
Bradley Center
June 6-7
MN St. Paul
Xcel Energy Center
June 9
OH Cincinnati
US Bank Arena
June 10
OH Columbus
Nationwide Arena
June 12
ON Toronto
Air Canada Centre
June 13
NY Buffalo
HSBC Arena
June 14
PA Pittsburgh
Mellon Arena
June 16
TBA
June 17
PA Philadelphia
First Union Center
June 19
MA Boston
Fleet Center
June 20
NY New York
Madison Square Garden
June 23
NY Uniondale
Nassau Veterans Arena
June 25
DC Washington
MCI Center
June 27
NJ Atlantic City
Boardwalk Hall
July 6
TX Dallas
American Airlines Center
July 8
CO Denver
Pepsi Center
July 9
UT Salt Lake City
Delta Center
July 11
BC Vancouver
GM Place
July 12
WA Seattle
Key Arena
July 13
OR Portland
Rose Garden Arena
July 15
CA Oakland
Oakland Arena
July 16
CA San Jose
HP Pavilion
July 17
CA Sacramento
ARCO Arena
July 19
CA Los Angeles
Staples Center
July 20
CA Anaheim
Arrowhead Pond
July 23
CA San Diego
Cox Arena
July 25
AZ Phoenix
America West Arena
July 27
NV Las Vegas
MGM/Mandalay Bay
July 29
TX San Antonio
SBC Center
July 30
TX Houston
Compaq Center
August 1
AR Little Rock
Alltel Center
August 2
TN Memphis
The Pyramid Arena
August 3
GA Atlanta
Philips Arena
August 4
TN Nashville
Gaylord Entertainment Center
September 8
IRE Dublin
Olympia Theater
September 10
ENG Birmingham
NIA Academy
September 11
ENG Manchester
Apollo
September 12
SCO Glasgow
Clyde Auditorium
September 14-15
ENG London
Royal Albert Hall
September 17
GER Berlin, Germany
Columbiahalle
September 18
GER Hamburg
TBA
September 19
NET Amsterdam
Manheim Music Hall
September 21
GER Cologne
TBA
September 22
FRA Paris
Casino de Paris
