On a day that many jam fans were expecting the newest Grateful Dead sensation, Dead & Company, to announce dates, that quartet from Vermont surprised everyone with a major tour announcement of their own. Phish revealed plans for a 23-date summer tour, stretching from June 22nd through September 4th. The announcement came just days after guitarist Trey Anastasio was revealed as a headliner of The Peach Music Festival, returning to the Scranton, PA event for the second time in its five-year history.

Naturally, with new Phish dates comes the opportunity for close inspection. The 23 dates include a total of 14 venues, including (3) two-night runs – Wrigley, The Mann, and The Gorge – and (3) three-night runs – SPAC, Bill Graham, and Dick’s. The remaining eight venues feature some first-timers and some classics, comprising a hearty schedule that any Phish fan (the Southeast excluded) can enjoy.

June 22nd: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN (cap 18,568)

Not only has Phish never performed in the Xcel Energy Center, but the jam band hasn’t visited the state of Minnesota since 2000. The group performed at the Target Center three times from 1996-2000, and even sang the national anthem at a Minnesota Timberwolves game on the night prior to their 1996 concert. As the Target Center is in Minneapolis, this will be the band’s first-ever trip to St. Paul, MN. Maybe they’ll play “Big River”?

June 24th-25th: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL (cap 42,495)

Long-rumored, the home of the Chicago Cubs was confirmed to play host to Phish for two nights at the front end of the summer schedule. This will be Phish’s debut at the historic baseball stadium, but the band is no stranger to the MLB. The group performed at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, in May of 2009. We’re can only hope for two great shows at the Windy City’s own Wrigley Field. 

June 26th: Klipsch Music Center, Noblesville, IN (cap 24,000)

The Klipsch Music Center, better known by its former name Deer Creek, is a Phish favorite. The group has been performing in Noblesville on the regular, dating back to 1995. This performance will be the band’s 23rd at “Deer Creek,” and Anastasio’s 26th (he’s played three times with TAB). Easily one of the more memorable concerts at the venue took place on August 13th, 1996, when the group not only played an acoustic set of material from the soon-to-be-released Billy Breathes, but also featured a 22-minute “Mike’s Song” and Page McConnell playing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” on the theremin. It’s no wonder this show was captured for Live Phish Vol. 12.

June 28-29: The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA (cap 14,000)

The Mann has been a favorite of Phish in recent years, having stopped at the Philly venue in both 2014 and 2015. The band’s history with The Mann runs deep, however, with their first performance there coming in 1992. After a string of shows between 1992-1995, Phish didn’t return until 2014, but has been making it a regular stop ever since. This summer will bring the venue into double digits, hosting the 10th and 11th Phish shows on consecutive nights in June. Here’s an official video from last year’s performance of “Scents And Subtle Sounds.”

July 1st-3rd Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY (cap 25,100)

With last year’s “Fare Thee Well” celebration of the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, diehard Phish phans certainly missed their annual July 4th celebration with the band at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The band performed three-night runs at SPAC in 2012, 2013, and 2014, all centered around Independence Day. Their first trip to SPAC came in 1992, with return visits in 1994, 1995, 2004, 2009, and 2010 for a total of 17 past performances. The venue has also hosted a number of side project sets, including G.R.A.B. and Trey Anastasio Band. Bassist Mike Gordon also jammed with The Dead there in 2003, and Trey Anastasio made an appearance with the Dave Matthews Band there in 2007. The place has got some history!

Watch Phish debut “Yarmouth Road” there in 2013:

July 6th: Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, ME (cap 9,500)

After SPAC, Phish heads into their home turf, New England, for four nights at four different venues. The first is the Cross Insurance Arena of Portland, ME, as Phish heads to Maine for their debut performance at this newly-renovated location. With a capacity of only 9,500 for concerts, the intimate performance is sure to appease the faithfuls who make their way up North for this Wednesday night show. Phish has been performing in Maine since the earliest days of their career, dating as far back as the late 1980’s, though their last visit to the state came in the form of the 2013 tour opener at the Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor. Let’s relisten, shall we?

July 8th: Xfinity Center, Mansfield, MA (cap 19,900)

Mansfield, MA has always been kind to Phish fans. Ever since 1992, when this venue was called the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts, Phish has been performing at the space. Then it was the Tweeter Center, Comcast Center and now, Xfinity Center. At least it’s always been a Center. This show marks the 17th appearance for Phish, with the first coming as an opening set for Santana. Santana would bring the term “hose” into Phish lingo, who reportedly told the band, “When you guys were playing, I was picturing the audience as this sea of flowers, the music was the water, and you guys were the hose.” Kind words from a guitar legend.

Get hosed:

July 9th: Xfinity Theatre, Hartford, CT (cap 30,000)

Phish’s New England run takes them back to the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, CT for the 6th time, as the band played at the amphitheatre in 2000, 2009, and 2010. Connecticut has been a hotspot for great Phish shows throughout the years, and this one is certainly poised for greatness. If anything like this “Catapult > Icculus” from 2009 happens in 2016, fans are certainly in for a treat:

July 10th: Lakeview Amphitheater, Syracuse, NY (cap 17,500)

Ah, to be a Sunday show in Syracuse. It would be an understatement to say that this is Phish’s first concert at Lakeview Amphitheater, since the venue only hosted its first concert in September of 2015. The beautiful outdoor space will be a homecoming of sorts for Jon Fishman, who was recently honored by the Syracuse Area Music Hall Of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award last March. The show marks Phish’s 8th performance in Syracuse, with almost all of them in different venues. The most recent, back in 2009, featured a “Big Black Furry Creature From Mars” that referenced the city as Fishman’s hometown.

July 15th-16th: Gorge Amphitheatre, George, WA (cap 27,500)

After a few days off, Phish hops across the country to start a West Coast tour. When you’re traveling thousands of miles to see the Pacific ocean, you might as well stop at the magnificent Gorge Amphitheatre in George, WA. The band has played (7) two-night runs at the storied venue, in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2013. The venue is the stuff of legends for phans, sporting incredible nature beauty, crisp sound quality, one of the most iconic “Shakedown Streets,” and nearby camping for miles in all directions. 

Of course, the shows are legendary too. On July 17, 1998, the band played a four-song second set there: “2001 > Mike’s Song > Weekapaug Groove > Character Zero.” Enjoy.

July 18th – 20th: Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (cap 7,000)

Phish continues their conquest of the West coast with three nights at the famed Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The city-owned building is named for the pioneering promoter that helped launch the careers of artists like The Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, Santana, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Graham championed the counterculture by promoting its most fundamental element: the music. In many ways, Phish keeps that movement alive, and their continued ventures to the intimate venue only cement that legacy. The band has played three-night runs at Bill Graham in 2012, 2013, and 2014 for a total of nine shows.

In 2014, the band happened to be playing the San Francisco venue at the same time that hometown baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, won the World Series. The crowd erupted, inciting Phish to play “We Are The Champions” in honor of the victory, during “Moma Dance” no less.

July 22nd: The Forum, Inglewood, CA (cap 17,505)

Traveling down the Pacific Coast Highway, Phish makes their next stop at The Forum in Inglewood, CA. The performance marks the band’s fifth-ever, and the third in as many years at the classic Los Angeles-area venue. While Phish has performed elsewhere in the area, including the famed Hollywood Bowl, The Greek Theatre, UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, The Wiltern Theatre and more, it seems that the band has hit their LA stride at The Forum. The room is perfect for live music, with almost a similar feel to MSG in its design.

The band’s last show there featured quite the memorable encore, “You Enjoy Myself.” So you, enjoy yourself.

July 23rd: Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA (cap 20,500)

Continuing down the coastline, Phish finishes the majority of their summer tour with a show at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA. Returning to the San Diego-area venue for the second time, the band’s first visit to Sleep Train in 2014 was quite the fun affair. Phish has played in San Diego throughout their past, and this sunny amphitheatre in a perfect-weather city like Chula Vista could make for a great performance.

Check out this bust-out of “Destiny Unbound” from the 2014 show, coupled with “Timber (Jerry).”

August 26th and 28th: LOCKN’ Festival, Arrington, VA

One of the biggest surprises from the summer festival season was the announcement of the LOCKN’ lineup, which featured the word Phish as its headliner. Phish very rarely plays at festivals that aren’t their own, with some high-profile exceptions like Bonnaroo, Jazz Fest, Austin City Limits and a handful others. Once Trey Anastasio formed a connection with Fare Thee Well promoter Peter Shapiro, it was only a matter of time before the Vermont jammers made their LOCKN’ debut. This isn’t the first LOCKN’ for Anastasio however, as he played a full set with Grateful Dead group Furthur in 2013. Watch it below.

September 2nd-4th: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO (cap 26,000)

THANK YOU! It’s become an annual tradition for Phish to perform over Labor Day weekend at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the Denver-area soccer stadium that has become so near and dear to the hearts of fans. For the 6th year in a row, Phish will return to the stadium, and fans will hope once again for another edition of the setlist spelling game. It all started when Phish decided to open their 2011 Dick’s run by playing a show where all songs started with the letter “S.” In 2012, it was “Fuck Your Face” that got the nod. In 2013, it was “Most Shows Spell Something,” backwards of course. 2014 saw the band almost play “Lushington,” spelling out the song title in the first set before performing “Ha Ha Ha” to have the last laugh on the inside joke. Last year, instead of spelling something in the first show, the band spelled out “THANK YOU” for the encore of the final show, working a majority of the songs into a “Harpua” for the ages.

As we said after that performance… no Phish, thank you!

We’re looking forward to catching all twenty-three of these sure-to-be glorious Phish performances with you. See you on tour!