The Who, Van Morrison Book Dates for Detroit Concerts

Brian McCollum

Detroit Free Press USA TODAY NETWORK

Monday morning brought concert news from a pair of enduring rock acts: The Who will perform its classic hits with orchestral accompaniment, while Van Morrison has locked down his first Detroit visit since 2008.

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will lead the Who Hits Back! Tour to Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 4, part of a North American run set to kick off in April. As on the band’s 2019 tour, which included an LCA show, the Who will be joined by an orchestral section for much of the set.

Who tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through Ticketmaster. A presale for American Express card holders has begun and will run through 10 p.m. Thursday, with a fan club presale running 10 a.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Thursday.

Townshend and Daltrey’s touring band includes Zac Starkey on drums and Simon Townshend on guitar and backing vocals.

“Pete and I said we’d be back, but we didn’t think we’d have to wait for two years for the privilege,” Daltrey said in a statement. “This is making the chance to perform feel even more special this time around.”

Morrison, meanwhile, has booked a May 22 stop at the Fox Theatre, his first Detroit show since he played the same venue in 2008. Critically acclaimed Michigan duo the War and Treaty has been tapped to open.

Tickets for Morrison’s Fox show will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via Ticketmaster.

The iconoclastic Northern Ireland singer-songwriter made headlines throughout the pandemic for his vocal anti-lockdown pronouncements.