Since 2011, organizers of the Greenwich (CT) Town Party have booked world class performers. The annual day-long event has attracted top acts for its artist lineup. The 2017 show featured Steely Dan, which no one knew at the time would become the final Dan concert in which Walter Becker would perform. (The band’s co-founder died on September 3.) Since 2011, artists have included John Fogerty, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Doobie Brothers, Santana, James Taylor, Paul Simon and Buddy Guy.
On Dec. 18, the organizers revealed surprising news that Eric Clapton would headline the 2018 party on Saturday, May 26, the event’s eighth such celebration. The site notes: “1 Day. 12 Bands. 8,000 People. Come Together.”
On March 7, the lineup was filled out with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trout Steak Revival and Charlie Scopoletti & the Truth.
Tickets will go on sale April 5 and are priced at $85. Your chance of attending? Slim.
Why? The Memorial Day weekend event is described as “an annual celebration for the people of Greenwich to come together and participate in a day of music, food, fun, family, and friendship to experience the strength of community.”
So how do you attend? Well, it helps if you’re a Greenwich resident or work for a Greenwich business. The organization’s website addresses who can attend in its FAQs:
“Why can only Greenwich residents, Greenwich business owners, and employees of Greenwich companies and organizations buy tickets to the Greenwich Town Party?”
The non-profit organization’s answer: “The goal of the GTP is to unite a large and diverse Town of Greenwich made up of different neighborhoods behind one common purpose – celebration.”
Clapton has previously announced that he’s done with extensive touring, preferring to do occasional performances without the rigors of full-length tours. The Greenwich concert is currently his only 2018 concert in the U.S. On Dec. 16, the classic rock legend revealed two dates in Germany–July 2 in Cologne and July 3 in Hamburg, his first concerts in the country in four years.
Related: Slowhand has performed several times in 2018, including a private show in Paris
Watch John Fogerty perform at the 2016 event
And here’s James Taylor in 2013
On Nov. 27, the British Summer Time concert series announced that Clapton will headline a very special concert in London’s Hyde Park on July 8, 2018. Joining him will be his one-time bandmate Steve Winwood, Santana and Gary Clark, Jr. The announcement promises even more acts will be added to the bill.
Related: Steely Dan’s final concert at the Greenwich Town Party
Eric Clapton 2018 Concerts (Tickets are available here)
May 26 – Greenwich, CT – Greenwich Town Party
July 2 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
July 3 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclaycard Arena
July 8 – London, England – BST Hyde Park
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