The multi-artist Experience Hendrix Tour is set to return in 2017 to celebrate the music of Jimi Hendrix, long hailed as the genre’s greatest innovator. This latest edition of the annual tour will be the most ambitious one to date, encompassing 29 performance dates in February and March, including a special engagement in Seattle, Hendrix’s hometown, at the city’s historic Paramount Theater.
Now in its second decade, the tour celebrates the musical genius of Jimi Hendrix by bringing together a diverse array of phenomenal musicians, ranging from blues legend Buddy Guy to Black Label Society and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, as well as Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dweezil Zappa, Keb’ Mo’, Doyle Bramhall II, Ana Popovic, The Slide Brothers, Mato Nanji from Indigenous, and Beth Hart will also be featured among many others. Billy Cox, bassist for both the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys, anchors a rhythm section that provides the foundation for exciting renditions of numerous signature Hendrix favorites such as “Purple Haze” and “Little Wing.” The new tour comes on the heels of the 2016 Experience Hendrix Tour, which sold out nearly every one of the 27 venues that hosted it.
Multiple Grammy Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Buddy Guy, whose involvement in music pre-dates even that of Hendrix, shed light on his personal friend, “He was so creative, especially everything he did with the special effects. He took it all to this other place, and he could really play. He was one of a kind. Hendrix brings us together, everybody on this tour.”
Experience Hendrix Tour veteran Zakk Wylde, who named his own son “Hendrix,” spoke about being on the road with the other musicians. “When you listen to all the fellas and the gals that are out there on the tour, it isn’t just the great solos. They are great songs, you know. It’s not just about shredding. I’m totally honored to be part of it.”
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who has closed every show he’s ever played since the age of 15 with the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” commented, “The music of Jimi Hendrix has always been a large influence on my life and music — in no small part due to his blues roots. He showed a lot of his influences and the foundation from which he built his music.” He went on to say, “Jimi Hendrix was one of the greatest performers, entertainers and songwriters of all time, but as far as the guitar goes, he made a statement with his instrument that has yet to be matched.”
During his lifetime, Jimi Hendrix always used the live performance context as a platform for exploration. The fact is evidenced by the release this week of the new live album Machine Gun: The First Fillmore East Show 12/31/1969. The album is a thorough document of Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys’ first concert ever, in its entirety. This trio of Jimi, Buddy Miles and Billy Cox was short lived, but left an indelible mark on music by combining funk, rock and soul at a time when all three genres were in their formative stages. It’s expected that some of the songs featured on the Machine Gun album, including “Hear My Train A Comin’,” and “Power of Soul,” will be heard on the Experience Hendrix Tour, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and Legacy Recordings are releasing the album, on CD, LP and digitally this Friday, September 30.
Fans will get the latest Jimi Hendrix CD Machine Gun: Fillmore East First Show 12/31/69 with their purchase of a pair of tickets from participating venues. Every pair of tickets purchased comes with one (1) physical CD of the new Jimi Hendrix album, Machine Gun scheduled to be released on September 30th, 2016. Check local listings for details.
Tour Dates
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Friday, February 17, 2017 | Portland, OR
Pend Oreille Pavilion at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Saturday, February 18, 2017 | Airway Heights, WA
Paramount Theatre
Sunday, February 19, 2017 | Seattle, WA
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
Monday, February 20, 2017 | Eugene, OR
Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 | Davis, CA
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Thursday, February 23, 2017 | Santa Rosa, CA
The Fox Theater
Friday, February 24, 2017 | Oakland, CA
Grande Exposition Hall at the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino
Saturday, February 25, 2017 | Reno, NV
Ikeda Theater at the Mesa Arts Center
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 | Mesa, AZ
The Wiltern
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | Los Angeles, CA
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Friday, March 3, 2017 | Indio, CA
The Events Center at Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Saturday, March 4, 2017 | Valley Center, CA
Eccles Theater at the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts
Monday, March 6, 2017 | Salt Lake City, UT
Paramount Theatre
Tuesday, March 7, 2017 | Denver, CO
Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
Thursday, March 9, 2017 | Grand Prairie, TX
Thalia Mara Hall
Friday, March 10, 2017 | Jackson, MS
Revention Music Center
Saturday, March 11, 2017 | Houston, TX
Majestic Theatre at the Joci Staus Performing Arts Center
Sunday, March 12, 2017 | San Antonio, TX
Saenger Theatre
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 | New Orleans, LA
Orpheum Theatre
Thursday, March 16, 2017 | Memphis, TN
The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Friday, March 17, 2017 | Tulsa, OK
Peabody Opera House
Saturday, March 18, 2017 | St. Louis, MO
The Louisville Palace
Sunday, March 19, 2017 | Louisville, KY
Taft Theatre
Tuesday, March 21, 2017 | Cincinnati, OH
Old National Centre
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 | Indianapolis, IN
Fox Theatre
Thursday, March 23, 2017 | Detroit, MI
The Chicago Theatre
Saturday, March 25, 2017 | Chicago, IL
Mystic Showroom at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Sunday, March 26, 2017 | Prior Lake, MN
