April 30, 2004

Clay Aiken Announces Solo Tour

By Jon Wiederhorn (MTV.com)

If Clay Aiken's co-headlining tour with Kelly Clarkson was a sure thing, his upcoming North American solo tour might be the real measure of the man.

Aiken, who wrapped up his stint with Clarkson April 16, will return to the road on July 8 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The crooner will play 28 concerts, eight of which are at state fairs. Dates are scheduled through September 19 in Springfield, Massachusetts, and one additional show has been booked for October 18 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Before launching his tour, Aiken will play the KIIS-FM Wango Tango show on May 15 in Pasadena, California, which features 21 acts including Janet Jackson, Jessica Simpson, JC Chasez, Maroon 5, Big Boi, Hilary Duff, J-Kwon and William Hung.

On May 11, Aiken will sing a cover of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. A recording of the track was released on March 16 as a B-side for his new single, "The Way."

Clay Aiken's summer tour dates, according to his label:

7/8 - Grand Forks, ND @ Ralph Engelstad Arena
7/9 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Sioux Falls Arena
7/10 - Appleton, WI @ Fox Cities Stadium
7/17 - Greenville, SC @ Bi Lo Center
7/18 - N. Charleston, SC @ N. Charleston Coliseum
7/20 - Portsmouth, VA @ NTELOS Pavilion at Harbor Center
7/24 - Syracuse, NY @ OnCenter
7/29 - Mashantucket, CT @ Foxwoods Casino
7/30 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Caesars
7/31 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Caesars
8/3 - Kingston, RI @ Ryan Center at University of Rhode Island
8/5 - Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook Farms
8/6 - Bethlehem, PA @ Bethlehem Musikfest
8/7 - Clearfield, PA @ Clearfield County Fair
8/11 - Columbus, OH @ Celeste Center
8/12 - Jackson, MI @ Jackson County Fair
8/15 - Des Moines, IA @ Iowa State Fair
8/16 - Indianapolis, IN @ Indiana State Fair
8/19 - Hamburg, NY @ Erie County State Fair
8/20 - Clio, MI @ Clio Amphitheater
8/21 - Clio, MI @ Clio Amphitheater
8/28 - Dayton, OH @ Ervin J. Nutter Center
8/29 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Allen County Memorial Coliseum
9/11 - Spencer, IA @ Clay County Fair
9/15 - Portsmouth, VA @ NTELOS Pavilion at Harbor Center
9/16 - York, PA @ York Fair
9/19 - Springfield, MA @ Eastern States Exposition
10/18 - Raleigh, NC @ North Carolina State Fair