Chicago tour co-headlines summer dates with Earth, Wind & Fire

Two of the driving forces in classic rock are teaming up for a new co-headlining run this summer. Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire launch their latest trek on June 5 at Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach, AL, and continue on through an August 1 concert at Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena in Stateline, NV.

The outing will hit 30 cities from coast to coast across the nation, including a June 12-13 run at the Borgata in Atlantic City, NJ. Other stops include a June 17 concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, a July 1 performance at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, and a July 28 show at Nokia Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles, CA.

Produced by AEG Live, the 2009 summer tour will feature opening and closing sets with both bands together, as well as separate sets from Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire. It is the first co-headlining affair for the two groups since they staged their acclaimed 2004-2005 trek.

“The Chicago-Earth, Wind & Fire shows are magic and bring out the best in all of us – from the musicians onstage to the fans dancing in the aisles,” said Earth, Wind & Fire founding member Philip Bailey in a statement. “We can’t wait to get out there with our friends again.”

Chicago keyboardist Robert Lamm added, “Earth, Wind & Fire are phenomenal. When we first decided to tour together, we knew it would be good, but I don’t think we could have guessed that the Earth, Wind & Fire-Chicago shows would be some of our all-time favorites to play.”

Chicago / Earth, Wind & Fire itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)