After issuing the year's biggest album by a long shot, Adele announced what will likely be 2016's hottest concert tour early Monday — and it starts in St. Paul.
The British hitmaker's North American tour will kick off with a pair of Xcel Energy Center shows July 5 and 6. Tickets go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. via Adele.com, Ticketmaster and the arena box office for $39.45-$147.
Adele's third album, "25," has already sold 5 million copies in its first three weeks. The concert industry waited with bated breath as she deflected any commitments to touring in interviews, but she came through with a 56-date itinerary. This will be her first tour in five years. Her last trek — which also came to Xcel Center — saw postponements due to a strained voice.
Adele wasn't the only big 2016 tour announced Monday morning with a St. Paul date: Australian hard-rock heroes AC/DC also announced a new itinerary that will take them back to Xcel Center on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. How romantic.
AC/DC's tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $115-$140 through Ticketmaster and the arena. The band is also performing at the Fargodome in Fargo a night earlier, Feb. 13.
After the release of their latest album "Rock or Bust" last year, guitarist Angus Young and singer Brian Johnson carried on without Angus's brother, guitarist Malcolm Young, whose health is in decline, and without drummer Phil Rudd, who was charged in a murder plot in Australia.
Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
