The Chieftains Confirm 2011 US Tour!

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - Six-time Grammy winners and the world's most popular Irish traditional music group, The Chieftains, have confirmed an extensive U.S. tour for 2011. The tour will feature an array of surprise guests and local musicians and marks the band's first return to the U.S. following the 2010 release of their critically acclaimed album 'San Patricio.' They'll kick off a month of shows on Feb 17 in Troy, NY. See below for complete dates.

"In 2011, The Chieftains' performances could be better described as a Big Show or a Spectacular rather than a concert," says frontman Paddy Maloney. "There will be upwards of 12 people on stage at all times, with additions of local musicians, special guests I'm not allowed to divulge, anywhere from 6 to 20 local dancers on a couple of pieces, and the Scottish pipe bands performing the 'March to Battle,' which was narrated by Liam Neeson for 'San Patricio.'"

Billboard called 'San Patricio' "as thrilling as it is enlightening," and the New York Times described it as "joy, thoroughly Mexican yet utterly Irish, carried aloft by tin whistles, skin drums, pipes, harps, guitars and stomping feet."

Since releasing 'San Patricio,' the band has collaborated with Herbie Hancock on 'The Imagine Project,' and Maloney has been selected as a Medal of Honour recipient by the National Arts Club.

THE CHIEFTAINS 2011 TOUR DATES:
2/17 Troy, NY @ Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
2/18 New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre
2/20 York, PA @ Strand - Capitol Performing Arts Center
2/22 Seattle, WA @ Seattle Symphony Orchestra
2/23 Olympia, WA @ Washington Center for Performing Arts
2/25 Austin, TX @ Riverbend Centre
2/26 Dallas, TX @ Winspear Opera House
2/27 Fayetteville, AR @ Walton Arts Center
3/1 Bloomington, IN @ IU Auditorium
3/3 Madison, WI @ Oversture Center
3/4 Chicago, IL @ Orchestra Hall
3/5 Rockford, IL @ Coronado Performing Arts Center
3/6 Dayton, OH @ Cityfolk
3/8 Morgantown, WV @ West Virginia University
3/10 Greenville, SC @ Peace Center for Performing Arts
3/11 Atlanta, GA @ Woodruff Arts Center w/symphony
3/12 Atlanta, GA @ Woodruff Arts Center w/symphony
3/13 Raleigh, NC @ Pinecone Memorial Auditorium
3/15 Princeton, NJ @ McCarter Theater
3/16 Newark, NJ @ NJPAC Prudential Hall
3/17 Toronto, ON @ Roy Thomson Hall