Chesney Schedules The Joint

This year isn’t exactly filled with chances to see Chesney perform.  The country superstar is purposely limiting the amount of concert dates in 2010 in an effort to take some time off from his trademark monster tours.

But it’s hard to say “no” to a weekend in Vegas, let alone two weekends. You can see Chesney headline The Joint May 14-15 and July 2-3.

Fans know he hasn’t forsaken small rooms even though he’s been known to fill 60,000-seat stadiums. Aside from his major tours the artist has, at times, embarked on unannounced “Keg In The Closet” tours of colleges and beach bars where shows are often announced only hours before they begin.

Plus, even though Chesney is known as a country performer, that doesn’t necessarily mean his setlist is limited to a few Nashville classics mixed in with his own songs. Over the years Chesney and his band have covered many artists not normally associated with country music, including Van Halen, U2 and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

“Obviously we like to play,” Chesney said. “The beauty of The Joint is that not only is it a great rock and roll room, but they’ll let us get up there and play… and play… and play. We have so much fun, because we can throw in all kinds of stuff we don’t get to play in our regular show, and the audiences are diverse enough that no matter what we throw at them, they know the songs!”

The addition of four nights in Las Vegas brings the number of Chesney 2010 appearances to 11, but The Joint engagements are the only non-festival, non-rodeo events listed on the artist’s show card. Previously announced Chesney dates include March 4 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; May 30 at the “Bayou Country Superfest” in Baton Rouge, June 5 at the Bamajam Music & Arts Festival in Enterprise, Ala., and July 18 at the “Craven Country Jamboree” in Saskatchewan.

Tickets for Chesney’s shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas start at $150 and go on sale at high noon Vegas time Saturday, Jan. 30. For more information, click here for the Kenny Chesney Web site.