Michael W. Smith sets plans for Celebration Tour, Christmas outing >> Tour dates and concert ticket info >> LiveDaily

Michael W. Smith sets plans for Celebration Tour, Christmas outing

Published August 12, 2003 04:18 PM

By Rob Evans / LiveDaily Editor

Michael W. Smith [ tickets ] fetes his 20th year as a recording artist by heading up this fall's Celebration Tour, an outing that also features fellow Christian-pop act MercyMe [ tickets ].

"I'm excited about dusting off some of my older songs and performing 20 years worth of music," Smith said in a statement. "It will be fun to share everything from the early hits to the music from the 'Worship' records on this tour. I really think it will be a unique tour both musically and visually with some of the video things we have planned."

MercyMe [ tickets ] continues to support its sophomore album, which was released in the fall of 2002 and remains among the top-selling albums on the Christian retail charts.

The Celebration Tour gets underway in mid-October, and will traverse the arena circuit for nearly a month.

Smith will follow up the Celebration Tour with a Christmas jaunt that will also feature Point of Grace [ tickets ] and The Katinas. That outing runs from late November through mid-December.

A new Smith compilation album titled "The Second Decade 1993-2003" is set for release on Oct. 7, and will include two new studio tracks. Meanwhile, a full album of new studio material is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2004.

Smith has sold more than 9 million albums over the course of his career, according to his publicist. His 2001 album, "Worship," has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping more than a million copies.

His 2002 live album, "Worship Again," hit No. 1 on the Christian album charts.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]

August 2003
15 - Lansing, MI - Oldsmobile Park
16 - Muskegon, MI - Heritage Landing
17 - Schamburg, IL - Alexian Field (Fish Family Fest)
18 - Louisville, KY - Cardinal Stadium, Kentucky State Fairgrounds

September 2003
5 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - Disney World

October 2003
16 - Milwaukee, WI - US Cellular Arena (Celebration Tour)
17 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena (Celebration Tour)
18 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Memorial Coliseum (Celebration Tour)
19 - Cleveland, OH - CSU Convocation Center (Celebration Tour)
21 - Greenville, SC - Pepsi Pavilion (Celebration Tour)
23 - Omaha, NE - Civic Auditorium (Celebration Tour)
24 - Ames, IA - Hilton Coliseum (Celebration Tour)
25 - Champaign, IL - Assembly Hall (Celebration Tour)
26 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center(Celebration Tour)
28 - Mobile, AL - Civic Auditorium (Celebration Tour)
30 - Jackson, MS - Mississippi Coliseum (Celebration Tour)
31 - Tulsa, OK - Mabee Center (Celebration Tour)

November 2003
1 - San Antonio, TX - Municipal Auditorium (Celebration Tour)
2 - New Orleans, LA - UNO Lakefront Arena (Celebration Tour)
4 - Bristol, TN - Viking Hall (Celebration Tour)
6 - Portland, ME - Cumberland Civic Center (Celebration Tour)
7 - Newark, DE - Convocation Center (Celebration Tour)
8 - Norfolk, VA - Norfolk Scope Arena (Celebration Tour)
9 - Huntington, WV - Superstore Arena (Celebration Tour)
28 - Duluth, GA - Gwinnett Arena (Christmas Tour)
29 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Coliseum (Christmas Tour)
30 - Fairfax, VA - Partriot Center (Christmas Tour)

December 2003
1 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center (Christmas Tour)
2 - Trenton, NJ - Sovereign Bank Arena (Christmas Tour)
4 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena (Christmas Tour)
5 - Kansas City, MO - Municipal Auditorium (Christmas Tour)
6 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Center (Christmas Tour)
7 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center (Christmas Tour)
8 - Ypsilanti, MI - Convocation Center (Christmas Tour)
10 - Houston, TX - Houston Arena (Christmas Tour)
11 - Grand Prairie, TX - NextStage (Christmas Tour)
12 - Norman, OK - Tour Lloyd Noble Arena (Christmas Tour)
13 - Southaven, MS - DeSoto Civic Center (Christmas Tour)
14 - Nashville, TN - Gaylord Entertainment Center (Christmas Tour)