Update (June 20): The Who have booked yet another show to help amortize the expenses associated with their Desert Trip appearances. Following their earlier announcement that they would be playing Mexico City in between the two festival weekends (see below), the group will now also be playing an October 6 concert in Santa Barbara, CA. It’s said to be their only other U.S. date other than Desert Fest. Tickets go on sale this Sunday, June 26 at 11 am PT here. More dates to come from the other acts?
So you’re playing an event that’s being billed as the biggest classic rock festival since 1985’s Live Aid and it’s spread out over two weekends. Even for the mega stars that are playing Desert Trip – The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Who, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan and Neil Young – a week off is a lot of down time for the scores of crew members that are on their payrolls. Hotels, per diems, etc., can really add up. So what do you do to amortize the costs? You schedule more concerts, naturally!
The Rolling Stones, who headline Desert Trip on Friday, Oct 7 and 14, have scheduled a date for Las Vegas on October 19 at the brand new T-Mobile Arena. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 17 at 10 am PT here, though a pre-sale has begun. Alternatively, you can purchase via our tickets partner, Ticket Network, here. (Expect a second date to be added.)
It’s their first appearance in Sin City since May 2013 as part of their 50 & Counting tour. Earlier this year, the band toured Latin America and finished up with a date in Havana, Cuba.
Related: Eric Clapton joins the Stones in a London studio
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The Who, who are the closing act on both weekends – October 9 and 16 – have booked a show in Mexico City at Palacio de los Deportes for Wednesday, October 12. After completing the North American leg of their Hits 50! tour last month, the band played a series of U.K. and European dates. After 2+ months off, they return with even more overseas dates, followed by Desert Trip.
Mexico City seems like the market of choice. The Who’s Desert Trip “opening act,” Roger Waters, has scheduled two dates at the city’s Foro Sol venue for September 28-29. The Pink Floyd legend is said to be planning a world tour.
Paul McCartney began his One on One tour on April 13 and, except for several 1-2 week breaks, the legend will stay on the road until August 14. Then, just prior to his Saturday, October 8 and 15 Desert Trip appearances, he has two warmup dates scheduled for Sacramento, CA on October 4-5.
Related: McCartney’s post-Beatles hits collection, Pure McCartney, released
The festival’s Saturday opening act, Neil Young, is on an extensive U.K. and European tour with his current band Promise of the Real, that continues through July 23. His only other scheduled dates are post-Desert Trip for his annual Bridge School benefit shows in Mountain View, CA on October 22-23. His new album, Earth, arrives June 24.
Friday night’s opener, Bob Dylan, has been touring since June 4 behind his recent standards album, Fallen Angels. Dates continue through July 17; the Bard is the only Desert Trip performer to not announce fall plans.
