Mannheim Steamroller goes out for 'Fresh Aire' >> Tour dates and concert ticket info >> LiveDaily

Mannheim Steamroller goes out for 'Fresh Aire'

Published January 31, 2008 01:01 PM

By Kym Kilgore / LiveDaily Contributor

New Age outfit Mannheim Steamroller [ tickets ] has assembled its next major US trek, dubbed "The Fresh Aire Music of Mannheim Steamroller."

The coast-to-coast jaunt is set to kick off Feb. 27 in Gainesville, FL, and then head up the East Coast through March, followed by the Midwest, West Coast and South in April and May. Details are listed below.

The outing will focus on music from the "Fresh Aire" series of albums, which Grammy-winning composer Chip Davis began pumping out in 1974. The final offering in the eight-album series was released in 2000.

Mannheim Steamroller, an ever-changing consortium of musicians, will take 15 performers on the upcoming tour, as well as its trademark multimedia images, synchronized lighting and special effects. The program and cast information is available at the group's website.

The classical rock band, which is Davis' brainchild,, finished its 23rd annual Christmas tour last month and released its eighth album of holiday music, "Christmas Song," in October. The set, which features guest vocalists Johnny Mathis and Olivia Newton-John, climbed to No. 5 on The Billboard 200 and was certified platinum within two weeks of its release, according to a press release.

Mannheim Steamroller, which has logged six multi-platinum-selling Christmas albums since 1984, is the top-selling Christmas act of all time and one of the top 50 best-selling artists of the last two decades, according to its website.

While touring last fall, the group moved into new territory by debuting music from its forthcoming album, "Music of the Spheres." The theme was inspired by recordings that Davis made of NASA shuttle launches.

Davis, who began his career writing advertising jingles in the '70s, has sold more than 36 million albums as an independent artist, making him one of the most successful indie acts in the music industry.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]

February 2008
27 - Gainesville, FL - Phillips Center for Performing Arts
28 - Naples, FL- Philharmonic Center for the Arts
29 - Miami Beach, FL - The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

March 2008
3 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live Orlando
4 - Melbourne, FL - King Center for the Performing Arts
7 - Savannah GA - Johnny Mercer Theater
9 - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Civic Center
12 - Rochester, NY - Rochester Auditorium Theatre
14 - Buffalo, NY - Shea's Performing Arts Center
15 - Erie, PA - Warner Theatre
19 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum Complex
20 - Raleigh, NC - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
21 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
22 - Columbia, SC - Koger Center for the Arts
24 - Newport News, VA - Ferguson Center for the Arts Concert Hall
26 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Performing Arts Center
27 - Easton, PA - State Theatre
28 - Worcester, MA - Hanover Theater
29 - Indiana, PA - Indiana University of Pennsylvania
30 - Charlestown, WV - Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences

April 2008
1 - Paducah, KY - Carson Four Rivers Center for the Performing Arts
2 - Evansville, IN - The Centre
5 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre
6 - Davenport, IA - Rivercenter
7 - Duluth, MN - DECC Auditorium
8 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome
9 - Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center
11 - Rockford IL - Coronado Theatre
12 - Lima, OH - Lima Veterans Memorial Civic Center
13 - Dayton, OH - Schuster Performing Arts Center
15 - Effingham, IL - The Rosebud Theatre
16 - Madison, WI - Overture Hall
17 - Jefferson, WI - Jefferson Performing Arts Center
18 - South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center
19 - Aurora, IL - Paramount Theatre
20 - Cedar Rapids, IA - Paramount Theatre
22 - Loveland, CO - Budweiser Events Center
23 - Cheyenne, WY - Cheyenne Civic Center
25 - Great Falls, MT - Great Falls Civic Center
26 - Bozeman, MT - Montana State University
27 - Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center Kennewick
29 - Redding, CA - Redding Convention Center
30 - Santa Barbara, CA - Granada Theatre

May 2008
1 - Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Performing Arts Center
2 - Henderson, NV - Henderson Pavilion
3 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Arts Center/Ikeda Theatre
4 - El Paso, TX - Plaza Theatre