Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band will embark on their Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour next month, starting with two cities hit hard by invading ICE agents, The Boss announced on Tuesday.
“We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair — the cavalry is coming!” Springsteen said in a statement. “We will be rocking your town in celebration and in defense of America — American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American dream — all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington, D.C.”
The tour kicks off March 31 in Minneapolis, followed by a stop in Portland, Ore., which have both become symbols of pushback against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have savaged their communities. The tour will wrap outdoors, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 27.
Several of the 20 scheduled concerts will be in or near New York City — at Newark’s Prudential Center on April 20; at UBS Arena in Long Island’s Belmont Park on May 5; at Madison Square Garden on May 11 and 16, and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on May 14.
Tickets go on sale to the general public via Ticketmaster later this week.
Springsteen coupled the tour announcement with a radio mix of “Streets of Minneapolis,” the song he penned at the end of January to honor the thousands of residents who have taken to the streets to record ICE agents’ movements and deeds, and to support their communities, some at the expense of their lives.
The Grammy-winning artist has long decried the divisive tactics of the Trump administration, both in the U.S. and abroad. In January, at an impromptu New Jersey music festival performance, he told ICE to “Get the f— out of Minneapolis” and dedicated his song “Promised Land” to Renee Good, the first of two civilians to be gunned down by federal agents this year.
In May of last year, Springsteen denounced the “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration” from the stage in Manchester, England.
Springsteen’s concert announcement on Tuesday encouraged people to join one another on common ground.
“Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in, is welcome — so come on out and join the United Free Republic of E Street Nation for an American spring of Rock ‘n’ Rebellion!” Springsteen said in his announcement. “I’ll see you there!”
With News Wire Services
