Neil Young Announces First Post-Lockdown Tour

Neil Young is ready to return to the road for his first tour since the COVID-19 pandemic began. After playing a few shows in April – including the “Autism Speaks Light Up The Blues” benefit hosted by Kristen and Stephen Stills at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday event at the Hollywood Bowl – Young has announced a run of West Coast dates scheduled throughout July.

Over the past few years Young has been outspoken about avoiding touring until the risk of COVID-19 was lower. He opted not to perform at Farm Aid in 2022, explaining via a letter to a fan posted on NeilYoungArchives.com, that “I am not ready for that yet. I don’t think it is safe in the pandemic. I miss it very much.”

Marsha Vlasic, president of Artist Group International and agent to Young, named Nelson’s birthday bash as her favorite live event so far in 2023. During an interview with Pollstar for Impact 50 she noted, “It was special because everybody came to wish him a beautiful birthday and Neil Young played – and that made me really happy.”

During the show Nelson and Young showed off their 1985 duet, “Are There Any More Real Cowboys?”

When asked in late April about upcoming plans for her clients, Vlasic told Pollstar, “Neil Young is possibly toying with the idea of actually going out and touring.”

The tour dates are now here, starting with four nights at John Anson Ford in Los Angeles July 1-2 and July 4-5. The run is concentrated in California including stops at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, Los Angeles’ The Greek Theatre, San Diego’s The Shell, Berkeley’s Greek Theatre and Napa’s Oxbow RiverStage. Oregon gets a show at Hayden Homes Amphitheater while Washington has two shows lined up at Ridgefield’s RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater and Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre.

The “Coastal Tour” features special guest Chris Pierce. A poster proclaims that Neil will be performing “solo in 3D!”

Following presales, the general onsale begins June 14 at 10 a.m. local time.

An announcement from Live Nation – which promises more dates to follow – says: “In an effort to help minimize scalping and keep ticket prices at face value for fans, the artist is collaborating with the venues ticketed by Ticketmaster to make sure tickets can only be resold at their original price. Fans that want to sell their tickets at these venues can use Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange.”

Young last toured in 2019. Box office reports submitted to Pollstar that year include a July 3 show at Waldbühne Berlin that sold 15,304 tickets and grossed $1.5 million (1,326,091 Euros).

Check out his confirmed schedule below.

NEIL YOUNG COASTAL TOUR

Saturday, July 1 – Los Angeles, CA – John Anson Ford

Sunday, July 2 – Los Angeles, CA – John Anson Ford

Tuesday, July 4 – Los Angeles, CA – John Anson Ford

Wednesday, July 5 – Los Angeles, CA – John Anson Ford

Friday, July 7 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl

Saturday July 8 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Tuesday, July 11 – San Diego, CA – The Shell

Thursday July 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre

Saturday, July 15 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek

Monday, July 17 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Tuesday July 18 – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Thursday July 20 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

Sunday July 23 – Napa, CA – Oxbow RiverStage