Massive 2022 Keeps Building With Tours From Bonnie Raitt, Action Bronson & Earl Sweatshirt, Jack White And More

The live industry is projected to return bigger than ever in 2022, and the past week alone has seen Jack White, Tim McGraw, Bob Weir, Bonnie Raitt and several more artists announce tours. 

With an expected increase in ticket prices and fans eager to get back to live shows, 2022 looks bright. When Pollstar’s Dec. 13 issue went to press, our tour database already contained 25,509 shows for 2022, including runs by major artists such as Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Elton John, Foo Fighters, Bad Bunny, Kacey Musgraves and Olivia Rodrigo – and the tour announcements show no sign of slowing. 

Jack White’s “Supply Chain Issues Tour” will begin his 49-date international trek in his hometown of Detroit at the Masonic Temple Theatre, April 8-9, with stops in Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Toronto and more before winding down on Aug. 29 in Kansas City, Mo. 

Tim McGraw is also gearing up to go on tour in the spring. The country star just announced a 17-date North American trek that launches April 29 at Walmart AMP in Rogers, Ark., with special guest Russell Dickerson. Stops include Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia and more before wrapping at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Mass., June 4.

Nick Cannon’s 23-date “Wild ‘N Out Tour” will see him bring his MTV series to life, with the run beginning May 20 at Atlanta’s Cellairis Amphitheater at Lakewood and running through early July.  

Bob Weir announced a 17-date run with his band Wolf Bros starting Feb. 9 with four shows at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C., backed by the National Symphony Orchestra. The tour wraps at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, N.Y., on March 30.

Bonnie Raitt joins the ranks of artists touring in 2022 with the announcement of the “Just Like That… Tour.” Featuring Lucinda Williams as the tour’s special guest, the 19-city outing kicks off at The Cove at River Spirit Casino in Tulsa, Okla., on May 20 and concludes in Baltimore June 25.

Shinedown will take along The Pretty Reckless and DIAMANTE for the just-announced, 24-city “The Revolution’s Live Tour.” The U.S. excursion starts at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash., April 1 and closes at Thomson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., May 7, followed by a May 21 appearance at Welcome to Rockville and gigs in Europe. Shinedown has previously announced North American dates booked in January and February.

In the hip-hop world, Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt announced a 15-date co-headlining tour supported by The Alchemist and Boldy James that will hit clubs and theaters from coast to coast from Jan. 29 to March 3. Meanwhile, Freddie Gibbs will play more than 20 U.S. club dates from April 14 to June 2.

Andrew Bird and Iron & Wine unveiled a co-bill tour this week that will see the artists traveling for 26 dates. The tour kicks off at Phoenix’s Van Buren on June 12.

Other tours announced this week include Aziz Ansari, a co-bill from Alejandra Guzmán and Paulina Rubio, Korn with Chevelle and Code Orange, Coheed and Cambria, Papa Roach, Stryper, Casting Crowns, Primus, Don McLean, John 5 & The Creatures, 

As previously reported in Pollstar’s Year End issue, based on Q4 data – which represents the vast majority of the 2021’s touring data – 2022 will likely be a banner year for the live industry. From Q4 2021’s $1.34 billion gross and ticket sales of 15.6 million, Pollstar extrapolated a total gross of $5.63 billion and ticket sales of nearly 65 million for the Top 100 Tours of 2022. Comparing those numbers against 2019’s record-setting year represents a massive 12% jump in ticket sales and a more modest 1% increase in grosses. Of course, we’ll have to see what happens with all of the economic challenges facing the industry in 2022 (see leadoff page 6). Pollstar wishes our readers a Happy New Year! Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear.