At long last the first portion of U2′s 2009 tour plans have been revealed. U2′s stadium tour entitled ‘U2: 360′ will kick off in Barcelona on June 30, 2009. U2 will spend the months of July and August touring Europe in cities like Dublin, Paris, Milan, Berlin, London and more.  The U2 360 Tour will make its debut in the U.S. on 9/12/09 at Soldier Field in Chicago.  So far there are only four announced North American dates including 9/20/09 at Gillette Stadium in MA. More shows will be added shortly.  U2 tickets will be available soon. The band announced plans for U2.com fan club members to get exclusive access via a presale.  More info will be coming shortly.

U2′s new album is now out in the U.S. and the band is promoting it heavy this week and next. There are lots of exciting developments for U2 fans.  U2 is of course playing the Letterman Show all this week but in addition the band has planned 3 intimate performances from March 9 thru March 11 in Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston.  U2 will play a small club show in L.A. on 3/9, a radio show in Chicago on 3/10 and a small club show in Boston on 3/11.  It doesn’t appear that U2 tickets will be available for sale for any of these shows but all the details have yet to be revealed.  Tickets for the U2 Boston show have been available to radio contest winners only so far.  Five major radio stations in Boston are giving tickets away all this week.  There is still no indication of where this U2 show will happen given that most of the likey choices are already booked including the Paradise, the House of Blues and the Orpheum Theatre.  One rumor has U2 playing at the Showcase Live at Gillette Stadium. In other U2 news, the band is set to release their 2009 Tour schedule on Monday 3/9.  U2 has already revealed the tour to be a stadium tour. They will likely play two shows at New England’s Gillette Stadium later this year.

Its already expected to be a big week for U2, but on March 9th according to U2.com the band will release the details of their 2009 tour.  The band’s latest album, ‘No Line on the Horizon’ is slated for international release on Monday 3/2 and U.S. release on Tuesday 3/3.  Many were speculating that Monday would also bring surprise news of a U2 tour announcement.  It has already been revealed that U2 will do a stadium tour in 2009. On Monday we may get some news about U2 tickets and 2009 U2 tour dates although the official word won’t come until March 9th at U2.com.

With a week to go before the release of U2′s latest album, ‘No Line On the Horizon’ anticipation amongst U2 fans is growing.  The album got a five star review from Rolling Stone magazine senior editor, David Fricke in this week’s Rolling Stone.  Rolling Stone also revealed that U2 will bring it’s 2009 tour outdoors. On recent tours U2 has stuck with arenas in North America.  This time around expect to see them at your nearest football stadium.  New Englanders should plan for a couple of U2 shows at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro while the New York, New Jersey crowd can expect some U2 shows at Giants Stadium.  Bono and the gang chose stadiums so they could play to larger crowds.  U2 is also planning a unique stage setup possibly built around a large general admission field section.  More details are expected soon. As of right now no U2 tour dates have been set and no U2 tickets are on sale yet. Stay tuned for more info. You can check listen to the new album in its entirety at http://www.myspace.com/u2 for free.

To celebrate the release of their new album ‘No Line on the Horizon’, U2 will perform on the David Letterman Show for five straight nights from March 2 thru March 6.   There is no indication of what they might play but I hope they do at least one new song per night. Hearing new U2 material live is the best way to judge their songs.  It might be the only way to hear them live for the time being as U2 has not announced any plans for their 2009 tour. A U2 tour is inevitable but when it will come is anyone’s guess. Some recent rumors have U2 playing Fenway Park over the Summer while others think a Fall stop in Boston is more likely.  Wherever they wind up playing check back here for U2 news and U2 tickets.

Rumors of a the Elton John & Billy Joel tour coming to Fenway have turned into a confirmation of the duo playing at Gillette Stadium. On Saturday, July 18th, the Face 2 Face tour will come to Foxborough. This leaves the Summer’s Fenway concert as a question mark – and opens up the possibility of the long-rumored U2 show at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. Elton John and Billy Joel tickets are available now, and you can sign up now to be notified as soon as U2 tickets are available.

U2 will debut its new video for “Get On Your Boots” today on U2.com.  The video for U2′s first single is directed by U2 veteran Alex Courtes.  Alex directed the U2 videos for “Vertigo” and “City of Blinding Lights”.  The video is expected to be visually stimulating with U2 playing in front of graphic art created by Courtes.  Check out U2.com for the video sometime today. As for U2 news related to U2 tickets, there is no new news. Once again, as soon as the 2009 U2 tour is announced we will have information on U2 tickets and U2 tour dates.

U2 fans who are sick of all the rumors about when they might see the band live can take some solace in knowing that the band has at least three confirmed performances on the horizon.  U2 will perform at this year’s Grammy Awards Show on February 8th.  It is not part of any U2 tour but its a live U2 performance nonetheless.  You can also catch U2 perform at the Brit Awards on February 18th and Germany’s Echo Awards later that month.  U2 will likely be performing their new single, ‘Get On Your Boots’ at all three awards shows. No U2 tickets are available for any 2009 shows yet.  A U2 tour announcement is expected soon.  

Will you get the new U2 album, ‘No Line On the Horizon’ before its early March release date? If you want to you’ll have to travel to the band’s hometown to do so.  Their upcoming album scheduled for release on March 2 in Europe and March 3 in the U.S. will be released on February 27 in Ireland only.  No details on how or why the album is getting an early release for U2′s homeland but U2 fans in Dublin won’t complain. U2′s first single off the new album, “Get on Your Boots” has been met with mixed reviews. Some lovers, some haters and some right in the middle.  Either way the sound is definitely not typical U2 and has certainly created a buzz around the rest of the album’s tracks.  Aside from occasional unfounded rumors, there has been no significant news regarding a 2009 U2 tour.  We only know that a U2 tour is certainly inevitable. Stay tuned for info on U2 tickets as news becomes available.

If you have HBO or you happen to be in Washington D.C. you’ll be able to see U2 perform live this Sunday, January 18 at the Lincoln Memorial.  U2 joins other artists such as Bruce Springsteen in a celebration of the 56th Presidential Inauguration.  The concert entitled “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration will air live on HBO on 1/18/09 at 7pm.  If you are in the D.C. area the concert is open to the public but crowds are expected to be very large. No word on how many songs U2 will play or if they will play anything off their upcoming album, ‘No Line on the Horizon’. In addition to U2 and Bruce Springsteen the show will also feature performances by, Sheryl Crow, Usher, Garth Brooks and John Legend.