Anderson, Rabin, Wakeman Say ‘Yes’ To North America

North American prog rock fans should prepare themselves for the newly branded “Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman” which may be coming to a venue near you.

John Davisson – Trevor Rabin of Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman
Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Fla.

The new moniker on what was formerly Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman has been a long time coming, as Jon Anderson co-founded Yes in 1968 with Chris Squire and has some of the rights to the name.

Yes Featuring ARW is not to be confused with Yes, which we wrote about last week, and features Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison, Steve Howe, Alan White, and Geoff Downes.

About the name change, Anderson said “It’s very simple. … The fans want it, we want it and it’s our right to use the name. Yes music is in our DNA!”

The trio is reportedly recording a new album through the summer, and a DVD of the final show of their European tour at O2 Manchester Apollo in the U.K. on March 25 will be out later this year. The touring lineup includes Lee Pomeroy playing bass and Louis Molino III holding down the drums.

The band toured the U.S. last year and is heading back again, “due to popular demand.” The shows start Aug. 26 in Stockton, Calif., and continue for more than a month, wrapping in Clearwater, Fla., on Oct. 11.

The next place the band plays is Japan, in a national run lasting April 17-24. Yes featuring ARW also plays Rock Legends Festival in Slupsk, Poland, July 13 and there is one more European stop planned, O2 Manchester Apollo July 15 in St. Goarhausen, Germany.

Here is the North American plan:

Aug. 26 – Stockton, Calif., Bob Hope Theatre

Aug. 28 – Saratoga, Calif., The Mountain Winery

Aug. 31 – Las Vegas, Nev., The Smith Center For The Performing Arts

Sep. 2 – Layton, Utah, Kenley Amphitheatre

Sep. 3 – Littleton, Colo., Hudson Gardens

Sep. 5 – Kansas City, Mo., Kauffman Center For The Performing Arts

Sep. 7 – Milwaukee, Wisc., Riverside Theatre

Sep. 9 – Hammond, INThe Venue At Horseshoe Casino

Sep. 12 – Kettering, Ohio, Fraze Pavilion For The Perf. Arts

Sep. 13 – Vienna, Va., Filene Center At Wolf Trap

Sep. 15 – Akron, Ohio, Goodyear Theater

Sep. 16 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall

Sep. 18 – Quebec City, Quebec, Grand Theatre

Sep. 19 – Montreal, Quebec, St. Denis Theatre 1

Sep. 23 – Wallingford, Conn., Toyota Oakdale Theatre

Sep. 24 – Brookville, N.Y., Tilles Center For The Perf. Arts

Sep. 27 – Newark, N.J., Prudential Hall

Sep. 29 – Reading, Pa., Santander Performing Arts Center

Sep. 30 – Trenton, N.J., Patriots Theater At The War Memorial

Oct. 1 – Philadelphia, Pa., Verizon Hall

Oct. 4 – Boston, Mass., Orpheum Theatre

Oct. 7 – Niagara Falls, N.Y., Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Oct. 8 – Red Bank, N.J., Count Basie Theatre

Oct. 11 – Clearwater, Fla., Ruth Eckerd Hall

Tickets to the Saratoga gig go on sale today and the other onsale dates vary pretty widely. The band’s new website is YesFeaturingARW.com.