Sarah McLachlan tour maps more 2011 concert dates with ‘Friends’

Sarah McLachlan has expanded her tour plans for 2011 from a previously announced 23-date itinerary into a robust 40-date trek across North America. The on-going Sarah & Friends Tour still contains two distinct legs — one in the states, and one through the provinces — but a gap that formerly separated the two has been filled with new events.

Most of the updates fall in the U.S. portion of the tour, which launches New Year’s Eve at Caesars Circus Maximus Theatre in Atlantic City, NJ. The additions begin with a second night at the Beacon Theatre in New York, NY, where the singer-songwriter will now play January 12 and 13.

From there, the American jaunt continues with a January 14 concert at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, and then restarts after a brief break with a February 2 event at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR. The U.S. calendar presently concludes with a February 17 show at Murat Theatre in Indianapolis.

In McLachlan’s native Canada, the next leg of the tour kicks off March 1 at the Memorial Centre in Victoria, BC. Second nights have been added in a couple cities, keeping McLachlan on-stage March 17-18 at Massey Hall in Toronto, ON, and March 24-25 at St. Denis Theatre in Montreal, QC. A new end-date has also been assigned for March 26 at General Motors Centre in Oshawa, ON.

Ticket sales have opened in select cities already, though public onsales for a few more recently announced concerts are still upcoming, such as the December 17 onsale for Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre show.

Ticket prices also vary, depending on the market. Based on current Ticketmaster.com event listings, the majority of prices seem to fall within the $30 to $70 price range, though several markets in Canada list ticket face values up to $95.

Despite suffering soft ticket sales on the 2010 Lilith Tour, McLachlan has enjoyed the relative success of her headline tour.

The Sarah & Friends Tour launched in November with nine events in the United States. The program features a headline set by the veteran singer-songwriter, as well as opening sets and accompaniment provided by Butterfly Boucher and Melissa McClelland (the tour’s titular “friends”).

Sarah McLachlan itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)