Elton John brings farewell concert tour to Saskatoon
SASKATOON Elton John, the iconic singer behind hits such as Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and Can You Feel The Love Tonight, plans to spend a couple of nights in Saskatoon as part of his global goodbye.
The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour now includes two shows — Oct. 1 and 2, 2019 — at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon.
The concerts are part of 25 new dates announced Wednesday “due to overwhelming demand,” as John has said this is his final tour after five decades in the industry.
Tickets for the Saskatoon concerts go on sale to the general public on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. Various pre-sales are also scheduled starting Sept. 27.
John played sold-out shows in Saskatoon in 2008 and 2011.
“Elton John’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour is a celebration of one of music’s and pop culture’s most legendary and unrivalled performers,” AEG Presents chairman and CEO Jay Marciano said in a statement.
The tour includes more than 300 dates on five continents, and is set to continue until 2021.
“There’s been one common denominator throughout (my musical) journey — you guys out there,” he said to the fans during a recent show in Philadelphia.
“You bought the singles, the albums, the 8-track, the cassette, the CD, the DVD, the merchandise, but most of all, you bought the tickets to the shows.
“You have no idea how much I love to play live,” he continued. “Ten years ago, if you said I would be doing a farewell tour, I would have said you put acid in my drink.”
The Oscar, Grammy and Tony winner’s musical catalogue includes classics such as Benny and the Jets, Your Song, Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting), Candle In the Wind and I’m Still Standing.
The performer has also helped raise more than $400 million through his Elton John AIDS Foundation, which he started in 1990.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined how far it would grow,” he said of the foundation, which John said has reached 100 million people.
“And if there’s one thing I learned in my life, it’s about the extraordinary healing power of love and compassion and caring.”
You have no idea how much I love to play live. Ten years ago, if you said I would be doing a farewell tour, I would have said you put acid in my drink.