Concerts: Blind Guardian Announces North American Headlining Tour
German power metallers Blind Guardian will embark on the North American leg of the "Sacred Worlds And Songs Divine 2010 World Tour" in the fall. The trek, which is scheduled to kick off on November 19 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and conclude on December 22 in West Springfield, Virginia, will feature support from California's Holy Grail and Florida's Seven Kingdoms.
Commented Blind Guardian lead vocalist Hansi K?rsch: "Christmas will be a little earlier this year, 'cause the Guardian is coming to town in November and December!
"The band is really excited to announce this upcoming tour. Finally we will get the chance to preach our Sacred Words and play our Songs Divine somewhere near your neighborhood.
"We have prepared a nice package of music and bands for our Northern American followers. Our friends from Holy Grail and Seven Kingdoms will join us on this glorious mission and will have their part in these magical nights to come. Both bands are underground now, but I can feel that the future is theirs. They really carry the spirit of a new American power metal generation.
"Touring the U.S. and Canada does always means a tremendous amount of fun, so we are really anxious to see if the people in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Albuquerque ? where we have not played before ? can scream as loud as their brothers and sisters in New York, Quebec, Toronto, or Hollywood. We'll soon find out when we meet you at the edge of time.
"Of course, we have to arrange some time in between playing and traveling for some Christmas gift shopping. I am sure I will find plenty of cool Star Wars action figures and I am already aware of some great Christmas shops near Washington where I will be able to get some great atypical Christmas tree ornaments.
"Strange worlds we are living in: The funniest ones sometimes have been produced in Germany, where you can't get them in stores, so the U.S./Canada trip definitely pays off.
?As for books: Last time we ended up in Portland for a day, and whether I'll make it to Powell's (City of) Books, you never know. :-) All in all, I have far too many books which I have not yet read, but I am constantly working on it. Since I am getting older and the saying is: 'The older you get, the less sleep you need,' I am very optimistic I will manage to read them all when the nights are getting shorter."
Confirmed North American dates for the "Sacred Worlds And Songs Divine Tour" are as follows:
Nov. 19 - The Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 20 - Nokia Theatre - New York, NY
Nov. 21 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
Nov. 23 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC - Canada
Nov. 25 - Theatre Capitole - Quebec City, QC - Canada
Nov. 26 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ON - Canada
Nov. 27 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI
Nov. 29 - Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
Nov. 30 - The Cabooze - Minneapolis, MN
Dec. 01 - The Garrick Centre - Winnipeg, MB - Canada
Dec. 03 - MacEwan Hall Ballroom - Calgary, AB - Canada
Dec. 04 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB - Canada
Dec. 06 - Showbox at The Market - Seattle, WA
Dec. 08 - The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
Dec. 09 - Henry Fonda Theatre / The Music Box - Los Angeles, CA
Dec. 10 - Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
Dec. 11 - Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
Dec. 12 - Bluebird Theater - Denver, CO
Dec. 14 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Dec. 15 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX
Dec. 17 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
Dec. 18 - The State Theatre - St. Petersburg, FL (Florida Power Fest)
Dec. 19 - The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
Dec. 21 - Lincoln Theatre - Raleigh, NC
Dec. 22 - Jaxx - W. Springfield, VA
At The Edge Of Time, the tenth studio album from Blind Guardian, sold around 4,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 108 on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD landed at position No. 1 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of the Billboard 200.
Blind Guardian's previous CD, A Twist In The Myth, opened with 3,000 units back in September 2006.
At The Edge Of Time recently entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 2 ? the band's strongest chart showing ever in its home country.
An e-card for the album can be accessed at this location.
Photos from the At The Edge Of Time recording sessions can be found at Metal-Hammer.de.
[Source: Blabbermouth]