The Heat of The Moment Tour, headlined by Asia and also featuring Focus, Martin Turner ex Wishbone Ash and Curved Air and MC’d by artist Roger Dean, begins on July 3rd and will encompass 21 dates across the USA and Canada. Asia founding member and keyboardist Geoff Downes came up with the idea.
Asia's self-titled debut was the biggest selling album of 1982, hitting the top on the Billboard charts where it remained for nine weeks. The group was also in heavy rotation on MTV. Downes’ brand new iteration of Asia first began to evolve last summer at the concert held in memory of late lead singer, songwriter and bassist, John Wetton.
Downes invited old friend John Mitchell and new-comer Harry Whitley to join him on stage to celebrate Wetton’s life by performing some of Asia's hits. After receiving a postive reception to their set, Downes wondered if something magical had occurred.
"And so it was that the John Wetton tribute last August really reminded me how much Asia’s music belongs on the stage," Downes said. "The response to it all was literally…spine-tingling."
Downes’ new-look Asia features Mitchell on guitars and Whitley on lead vocals and bass. The quartet will be made complete by the addition of drummer Virgil Donati.
Downes continues, "With the addition of Virgil Donati and John Mitchell, two of the finest musicians in the world in their respective classes, this is almost going full circle bearing in mind their previous close collaborations with John (Wetton). Completing this circle is also the amazing Harry Whitley who absolutely floored the audience with his incredible vocal interpretation of the Asia songs that John and I so lovingly wrote over the years.”
The tour will also feature sets from other classic acts — Focus, Martin Turner (ex-Wishbone Ash), and Curved Air. All three support acts boast their founder bandleaders.
Focus will release a new studio album later this year. Led by the indomitable Sir Thijs van Leer, featuring original 1970s drummer Pierre Van Der Linden, plus the virtuoso talents of Menno Gootjes on guitar and Udo Pannekeet on bass.
Martin Turner was lead vocalist, bassist, founding member, and creative force behind Wishbone Ash in the 70s. The group, of course, is best known for such classic albums as Argus and Pilgrimage.
Formed in 1970, Curved Air are one of the founders of progressive rock and a retrospective collection of their most influential and ground-breaking material is currently in the planning stages. Sonja Kristina (vocals) and Kirby Gregory (guitar) will treat audiences to an acoustic set featuring some of the band’s most memorable musical moments. They will be joined by violinist Grzegorz Gadziomski.
Each performance on the tour will be MC’d by artist Roger Dean. For so many, Dean’s artwork is synonymous with the music of the time and stands to represent the very best of British rock music.
The final word goes to Geoff Downes, "I am convinced that John (Wetton’s) spirit is with us as we set out on this new adventure. After all, it is the Year of the Dragon - just as it was in 1982, when we released our first Asia album. It’s as though it was meant to be. Looking forward to seeing you there, my friends – bring it on!"
Heat Of The Moment 2024 Tour Dates:
Wednesday, July 3: Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
Thursday, July 4: Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls, ON
Saturday, July 6: Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA
Sunday, July 7: The Paramount, Huntingdon, NY
Tuesday, July 9: Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
Wednesday, July 10: Count Basie Center, Red Bank, NJ
Friday, July 12: Tropicana Showroom, Atlantic City, NJ
Saturday, July 13: Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, PA
Sunday, July 14: American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA
Tuesday, July 16: Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC
Wednesday, July 17: Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Thursday, July 18: Columbia County Performing Arts Center, Evans, GA
Saturday, July 20: Hard Rock Live, Orlando, FL
Sunday, July 21: Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Pompano Beach, FL
Monday, July 22: Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa, FL
Wednesday, July 24: North Charleston PAC, North Charleston, SC
Thursday, July 25: Macon City Auditorium, Macon, GA
Friday, July 26: Saenger Theatre, Mobile, AL
Sunday, July 28: VBC Mark Smith Concert Hall, Huntsville, AL
Tuesday, July 30: The Arcada Theatre, St Charles, IL
Wednesday, July 31: The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, WI
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