
Carlos Santana
Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage/Getty Images
Santana Plans Epic 2019 Supernatural Now Tour With The Doobie Brothers
The GRAMMY-winning legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is ready to make 2019 the year of Santana. He and his band have not only planned multiple headlining festival appearances, but they have also just announced a three-month tour and brand-new music on the horizon.
Proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Supernatural and the 50th anniversary Woodstock with the Supernatural Now Tour pic.twitter.com/o0gR0Siqq3
— Carlos Santana (@SantanaCarlos) January 16, 2019
The 2019 Supernatural Now tour will take Santana across North America for 29 shows beginning in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 22. The summer tour stops at plenty of amazing venues—many of them outdoors—including the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Austin360 Amphitheater in Austin, Tex., closing out on Aug. 25 at the Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, N.Y., one of the only major outdoor venues in the New York metro area. Fellow GRAMMY-winners the Doobie Brothers will be the special guests for all 29 dates.
The tour announcement also shares that fans who purchase tickets for the concert, for which the presale begins on Jan. 18, will receive "a new full-length album of highly energetic and hypnotic songs, rhythms, melodies and grooves from Santana." There is no further information about when this album will be released, but the world will definitely get a taste of new Santana grooves on Jan. 25 when their new EP, In Search of Mona Lisa, drops.
In an interview with the iconic guitarist, Rolling Stone reports that this album was inspired by his first trip to the Lourve Museum in 2016 and a connection he felt with the spirit of the famous painting.
While Mr. Santana had originally shared being in conversation with organizer Michael Lang to be a part of the official Woodstock 50th celebration, his discussion with the magazine reveals that his band will be performing at the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival in August, the unofficial 50th anniversary celebration of Woodstock, hosted by Live Nation. The event will take place on the site of the historic festival's original home, where a young group from San Francisco wowed the large audience with their performance of "Soul Sacrifice."
"They have an amphitheater there. I'm going to invite whoever is still here, whether it's Joan Baez or members from Sly Stone, and I'm going to play Santana music," he told the publication. "Santana's going to be the house band, but I want to be able to honor those who are still here and maybe invite rappers like Common or Kendrick Lamar."
The group also has plans for other festival appearances before they embark on their summer tour, including a literal rodeo in Houston on March 13, the New Orleans Jazz Fest on April 26 and BottleRock Napa Festival on May 26, plus several stops in Mexico, including the Pal Norte Festival in Monterrey on March 23. And as if that wasn't enough evidence that Santana is ready to own 2019, they have extended their limited-run residency at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas.
On the band's site, Mr. Santana shared some thoughts on the significance of both his Woodstock and Supernatural anniversary:
"Both were monumental moments in my life. Woodstock and Supernatural took me to places I never dreamed were possible. I embraced those incredible moments in my life with all my heart. Both were supreme lessons in maintaining focus, heart and integrity in every step every day and to strive to better oneself with a high standard on and off the stage. I cannot think of these two moments without thinking about Mr. Bill Graham and Mr. Clive Davis. They are two of many angels in my life that helped shape my career."
Supernatural, with unforgettable songs like "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas and "Maria Maria" featuring The Product G&B, will turn 20 on June 15. The timeless 1999 album swept the 42nd GRAMMY Awards with eight total wins, including Album Of The Year.
For info on all performance dates, visit the band's site. Tickets for Supernatural Now tour go on sale to the public on Jan. 25, with fan presale beginning Jan. 18.