Another dark year for Alpine Valley? Rage Against the Machine postpones

After 13 months without major concerts because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a number of new concerts announced this week.

But in a reality check that suggests we’re not returning to normal just yet, Rage Against the Machine Thursday again rescheduled its reunion tour, which originally had been timed to precede the 2020 presidential election. It had been rescheduled for this summer, with a stop at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy July 10.

At least the band didn’t cancel, like Khalid did Wednesday with his Summerfest headlining performance this year.

Instead, Rage Against the Machine’s “Public Service Announcement” tour can precede the 2022 midterms. It will start March 31, 2022, in El Paso, Texas, and stop at Alpine Valley on July 9, 2022, according to an Instagram post made by the band Thursday. Run The Jewels is still on the bill.

Originally purchased tickets will be honored, but refunds will be available for the next 30 days through the point of purchase.

With Thursday’s postponement, the East Troy amphitheater officially has no concerts on the books for 2021. If it remains dark this year, it will be the third season without a show at the

East Troy amphitheater in the past five years, after consistently hosting concerts every summer since it opened in 1977.

There’s still the possibility new amphitheater shows at Alpine may be announced for late summer or fall.

That’s when Michael Rapino, the CEO of Live Nation, which operates Alpine Valley, has suggested national touring will return on a mass scale, beginning with outdoor amphitheater shows and festivals. Summerfest, for instance, is scheduled for September, and five shows at the remodeled American Family Insurance Amphitheater outside the Big Gig are still on for July through September.

And in what might have been a cryptic post on the largely dormant Alpine Valley Music Theatre Facebook page April 2, a picture from a past packed show was shared with followers, with the caption “Brighter days ahead.”

BRYAN BEDDER/GETTY IMAGES Zack de la Rocha and Rage Against the Machine have postponed their show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, originally scheduled for 2020 and then rescheduled for 2021, to July 9, 2022.