Bon Jovi is offering the opening slot for their upcoming 15-city tour to local bands.
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The contest, according to the band’s official website, is open to bands in each of the 15 cities they are playing during the spring tour. In a social media post, the band encouraged bands to submit an audition video of original music for their chance to open for them. Once reviewed, one band from each city for the band’s April tour will be chosen to join them as the opening act.
Extending the opening slot to bands on this tour was a way for the band to help artists who have struggled and lost opportunities after being off the road during the pandemic.
“We have all missed touring,” said Jon Bon Jovi said in a statement, “and we know that nothing can replace the energy of a live show for the fans or the band.”
Prior to the pandemic, Bon Jovi was last on tour in 2019 in support of their 2016 album, This House Is Not for Sale, which was followed by their 13th album 2020, a collection of songs reflective of the pandemic, and social and political issues with singles “American Reckoning” and “Do What You Can.”
“The meaning behind it – there’s the obvious,” said Bon Jovi in a statement around the release of 2020. “It’s an election year, and I couldn’t do any worse. So 2020, of course, it’s an election year, but more importantly, it’s that I have a clear vision going forward.”
Bon Jovi’s upcoming tour kicks off on April 1 in Omaha, NE at the CHI Health Center and closes on April 30 in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena.
“If it was up to me, I’d have all 10 songs [from 2020] in the show,” Bon Jovi said in a recent interview. “And obviously I want to play ‘Living on a Prayer’ and ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ every night, but my fans are accepting of the new records.”
Bon Jovi 2022 North American Tour:
April 1 – Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center
April 3 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
April 5 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
April 8 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
April 9 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
April 11 – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 13 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
April 15 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
April 16 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ FLA Live Arena
April 19 – Indianapolis, IN @ Gainbridge Fieldhouse
April 21 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
April 23 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center
April 26 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
April 28 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
April 30 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
Photo: Universal Music / UMe
