Dropkick Murphys’ 20th Anniv. Tour

Dropkick Murphys embarks on an outing celebrating 20 years of bringing Celtic punk rock to the masses.  Stops include the tour opener in Cleveland and four shows in the band’s Boston hometown.  Tickets go on sale this week.

Dropkick Murphys won’t be going it alone.  The 20th anniversary tour includes special guests Tiger Army and Boston’s Darkbuster.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to do this band for twenty years,” bassist/vocalist Ken Casey said.  “Considering the band started on a bet, I’m pretty damn proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.  After 20 years, we are more grateful and enthusiastic than ever. … The best is yet to come!”

The Boston run begins on Saint Paddy’s Day (March 17) and runs through March 20.  Although Dropkick Murphys is currently listing venues for three of the four dates as TBAs, the band will play a late-afternoon show at Agganis Arena March 19. Boston’s Slapshot and The Fenian Sons also grace the ticket along with a “very special surprise band.”  Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 4:30 p.m.

But wait.  There’s more! An official afterparty at House Of Blues follows the Agganis gig and runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.  The afterparty will feature pro boxing and “some musical surprises.”  A limited amount of tickets goes on sale Nov. 27 with remaining tickets on hold for the band’s family and friends.  All proceeds will benefit The Claddagh Fund.

Here are Dropkick Murphys’ 20th anniversary dates:

Feb. 18 – Cleveland, Ohio, House Of Blues
Feb. 19 – Chicago, Ill., Aragon Ballroom
Feb. 20 – St. Paul, Minn., Myth Live
Feb. 21 – Madison, Wis., Orpheum Theater
Feb. 23 – St. Louis, Mo, The Pageant
Feb. 24 – Memphis, Tenn., New Daisy Theatre
Feb. 26 – Dallas, Texas, House Of Blues
Feb. 27 – Austin, Texas, Stubb’s Bar-B-Q / Waller Creek Amph.
Feb. 28 – New Orleans, La., The Civic Theatre
Feb. 29 – Houston, Texas, House Of Blues
March 2 – Nashville, Tenn., Marathon Music Works
March 3 – Charlotte, N.C., Fillmore Charlotte
March 4 – Raleigh, N.C., The Ritz
March 5 – Atlanta, Ga., The Tabernacle
March 6 – Cincinnati, Ohio, Bogart’s
March 8 – Pittsburgh, Pa., Stage AE
March 9 – New York, N.Y., Webster Hall
March 10 – New York, N.Y., Webster Hall
March 11 – Uncasville, Conn., Mohegan Sun Arena
March 12 – Washington, D.C., RFK Stadium (ShamrockFest)
March 13 – Philadelphia, Pa., Electric Factory
March 17 – Boston, Mass., TBA
March 18 – Boston, Mass., TBA
March 19 – Boston, Mass., Agganis Arena
March 20 – Boston, Mass., TBA

Presales begin Nov. 25 and general onsales launch Nov. 27.  Check out DropkickMurphys.com for more details.