Eric Clapton has announced his first dates of 2019 and only U.K. shows of the upcoming year, with a three-night run at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Taking place May 13th, 15th, and 16th of 2019, Clapton has rounded up longtime collaborators, including guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, keyboardist Chris Stainton, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Sonny Emory.
Tickets for Slowhand’s 2019 U.K. run go on sale this Friday, October 26th at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets are limited to 6 per household and are available from the venue box office, by phone and online (no counter sales), BookingsDirect.com and select authorized agents.
Earlier this year, Eric Clapton announced that his final North American shows of 2018 would take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 6th and 7th. In discussion with BBC Radio, he also discussed that he is losing his hearing and suffering from tinnitus, a ringing inside the ear that is often caused by prolonged exposure to loud noise.
In that same interview, Clapton noted, “I’ve had quite a lot of pain over the last year. It started with lower back pain, and turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy,” he added. “[It’s] hard work to play the guitar and I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it will not improve.” Clapton went on to tell BBC’s Stephen Wright that he would be limiting the number of plays going forward, explaining, “‘What I’ll allow myself to do, within reason, is carry on recording in the studio. I don’t want to go off the boil to the point where I’m embarrassing myself.”
For more information on tickets and the upcoming Royal Albert Hall shows, head to Eric Clapton’s website here.
[H/T Jambase]