Little Steven Reveals Big Plans

courtesy of Big Hassle PR – Little Steven Van Zandt

Little Steven Van Zandt and The Disciples Of Soul will embark on a mission this spring to bring music programs to schools.

The “minister of all that is righteous on E Street” and his Disciples of Soul will be touring to benefit the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation’s national initiative known as “TeachRock” which strives to bring music curriculums to middle and high schools throughout the nation. 

The outing is self-described as “the first ever-rock tour specifically geared to address this crucial societal need.”

The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation was established by Van Zandt to bring music to schools.  TeachRock’s partners include Scholastic Inc., HBO, PBS, Reelin’ In The Years, ABC News, Rock’s Backpages, New York University’s Steinhardt School and the Grammy Museum.

The tour begins April 29 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, N.J.  Other stops include Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Conn., May 1; PlayStation Theater in New York May 2; The Palace in Albany, N.Y., May 4 and Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, N.J., May 5.

Word from Van Zandt’s camp is that more dates will be announced.  The current routing stops one day before Van Zandt, along with The Four Seasons and Blondie’s Debbie Harry are inducted into the New Jersey Hall Of Fame May 6.

Van Zandt released Soulfire, his first solo effort in nearly two decades, in 2017.  “It’s hard to imagine a more joyous and revelatory contemporary blue-eyed soul recording,” wrote Hal Horowitz in American Songwriter.  “The appropriately titled Soulfire is a tough, tight and clearly inspired project as well as a most welcome return from the musical shadows for Steven Van Zandt.”

North American Soulfire box office reports submitted to Pollstar range from the band pulling in less than half the house at Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay in San Diego, Calif., to sold-out shows at places like The Paramount in Huntington, N.Y., and the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, N.J.  

Tickets for all announced shows go on sale March 2.